H.R. 2845 — Referred from Senate

IIB 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2845 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 8, 2016Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations AN ACT To promote access to benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the AGOA Enhancement Act of 2015. 2. Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to support efforts to— (1) improve the rule of law, promote free and fair elections, strengthen and expand the private sector, and fight corruption in sub-Saharan Africa; and (2) promote the role of women in social, political, and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. 3. Activities in support of transparency (a) AGOA website (1) In general The President shall establish a website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (in this section referred to as the AGOA website). (2) Contents The President shall publish on the AGOA website the information described in paragraph (1), including— (A) information and technical assistance provided at United States Agency for International Development regional trade hubs; and (B) a link to websites of United States embassies located in eligible sub-Saharan African countries. (3) Actions by United States embassies The Secretary of State should direct United States embassies located in eligible sub-Saharan African countries to— (A) promote the use by such countries of the benefits available under the African Growth and Opportunity Act; and (B) include on a publicly available Internet website of such diplomatic missions a link to the AGOA website. (b) AGOA Forum The President should, after each meeting of the United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, publish on the AGOA website established under subsection (a) the following: (1) All outcomes of the meeting of the Forum, including any commitments made by member countries and the private sector. (2) An assessment of progress made with respect to any commitments made by member countries and the private sector from the previous meeting of the Forum. (c) Other information The President should disseminate information required by this section in a digital format to the public and publish such information on the AGOA website established under subsection (a). (d) Definition In this section, the term eligible sub-Saharan African country means a country that the President has determined meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. 4. Activities in support of trade capacity building (a) In general The President should take the following actions: (1) Develop and implement policies to— (A) encourage and facilitate trans-boundary cooperation among eligible sub-Saharan African countries in order to facilitate trade; and (B) encourage the provision of technical assistance to eligible sub-Saharan African countries to establish and sustain adequate trade capacity development. (2) Provide specific training for business in eligible sub-Saharan African countries and government trade officials of eligible sub-Saharan African countries on utilizing access to the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act and other trade preference programs. (3) Provide capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, formation of cooperatives, and market research and market development. (4) Provide capacity building training to promote diversification of African products and value-added processing. (5) Provide capacity building and technical assistance funding for African businesses and institutions to help such businesses and institutions comply with United States counter-terrorism initiatives and policies. (b) Definition In this section, the term eligible sub-Saharan African country means a country that the President has determined meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. 5. Concurrent compacts under the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (a) In general Section 609 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7708) is amended— (1) by striking the first sentence of subsection (k); (2) by redesignating subsection (k) (as so amended) as subsection (l); and (3) by inserting after subsection (j) the following: (k) Concurrent compacts An eligible country that has entered into and has in effect a Compact under this section may enter into and have in effect at the same time not more than one additional Compact in accordance with the requirements of this title if— (1) one or both of the Compacts are or will be for purposes of regional economic integration, increased regional trade, or cross-border collaborations; and (2) the Board determines that the country is making considerable and demonstrable progress in implementing the terms of the existing Compact and supplementary agreements thereto. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 613(b)(2)(A) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 7712(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking the before Compact and inserting any. (c) Applicability The amendments made by this section apply with respect to Compacts entered into between the United States and an eligible country under the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. Passed the House of Representatives September 7, 2016.Karen L. Haas,Clerk