Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 1.djvu/472

 94 STAT. 422

PUBLIC LAW 96-257—MAY 31, 1980 Public Law 96-257 96th Congress An Act

May 31, 1980 [H.R. 6081] Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979. 22 USC 2151 note. 22 USC 2346e.

Appropriation authorization. 22 USC 2346.

Human rights violations.

Presidential encouragement of human rights

22 USC 2304.

22 USC 2151n.

Report to congressional committees.

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize assistance in support of peaceful and democratic processes of development in Central America.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979". SEC. 2. Chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: "SEC. 536. CENTRAL AMERICAN ECONOMIC SUPPORT.—(a) The Congress finds that peaceful and democratic development in Central America is in the interest of the United States and of the community of American States generally, that the recent civil strife in Nicaragua has caused great human suffering and disruption to the economy of that country, and that substantial external assistance to Nicaragua is necessary to help alleviate that suffering and to promote economic recovery within a peaceful and democratic process. The Congress further finds that peaceful and democratic development in certain other Central American countries will be significantly assisted by additional economic support at this time. "(b) There are authorized to be appropriated to the President for use in carrying out section 531 for the purposes set forth in subsection (a) of this section, in addition to funds otherwise available for such purposes, $80,000,000 for the fiscal year 1980, which are authorized to remain available until expended. "(c) In furnishing assisteuice under this chapter to the Government of Nicaragua, the President shall take into account the extent to which that Government has engaged in violations of the right to organize and operate labor unions free from political oppression, has engaged in or permitted violations of human rights, has engaged in violations of the right to freedom of the press, or has engaged in violations of the right to freedom of religion. "(d) The President shall encourage the Government of Nicaragua to respect the right to freedom of the press, the right to organize and operate free labor unions, the right to freedom of religion, as well as all other fundamental human rights. "(e) The Congress reaffirms the requirement of section 502B(a)(l) of this Act that a principal goal of the foreign policy of the United States shall be to promote the increased observance of internationaly recognized human rights by all countries. In furtherance of that goal, assistance to Nicaragua under this section shall be terminated, in accordance with sections 116 and 502B of this Act, if the Government of Nicaragua engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationaly recognized human rights. "(f) The Secretary of State shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report for each six-month period in which funds are expended for Nicaragua under the authorization contained in subsection (b) of this section. Each such report shall discuss fully and

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