Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 1.djvu/311

 PUBLIC LAW 106-200—MAY 18, 2000 114 STAT. 275 (2) over 1,000,000 hectares of Africa are affected by desertification; (3) dryland degradation is an underlying cause of recurrent famine in Africa; (4) the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that desertification costs the world $42,000,000,000 a year, not including incalculable costs in human suffering; and (5) the United States can strengthen its partnerships throughout Africa and other countries affected by desertification, help alleviate social and economic crises caused by misuse of natural resources, and reduce dependence on foreign aid, by taking a leading role to combat desertification. (b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.— It is the sense of the Congress that the United States should expeditiously work with the international community, particularly Africa and other countries affected by desertification, to— (1) strengthen international cooperation to combat desertification; (2) promote the development of national and regional strategies to address desertification and increase public awareness of this serious problem and its effects; (3) develop and implement national action programs that identify the causes of desertification and measures to address it; and (4) recognize the essential role of local governments and nongovernmental organizations in developing and implementing measures to address desertification. TITLE II—TRADE BENEFITS FOR CARIBBEAN BASIN Subtitle A—Trade Policy for Caribbean Basin Countries United States- Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act. SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the "United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act". SEC. 202. FINDDJGS AND POLICY. (a) FINDINGS. —Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (in this title referred to as "CBERA") represents a permanent commitment by the United States to encourage the development of strong democratic governments and revitalized economies in neighboring countries in the Caribbean Basin. (2) In 1998, Hurricane Mitch and Hurricane Georges devastated areas in the Caribbean Basin region, killing more than 10,000 people and leaving 3,000,000 homeless. (3) The total direct impact of Hurricanes Mitch and Georges on Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Guatemala amounts to $4,200,000,000, representing a severe loss to income levels in this underdeveloped region. (4) In addition to short term disaster assistance. United States policy toward the region should focus on expanding 19 USC 2701 note. 19 USC 2701 note.

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