
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC2151i]

 
               TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
 
                     CHAPTER 32--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
 
                 SUBCHAPTER I--INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 
  Part I--Declaration of Policy; Development Assistance Authorizations
 
Sec. 2151i. Development and use of cooperatives

    In order to strengthen the participation of the rural and urban poor 
in their country's development, high priority shall be given to 
increasing the use of funds made available under this chapter for 
technical and capital assistance in the development and use of 
cooperatives in the less developed countries which will enable and 
encourage greater numbers of the poor to help themselves toward a better 
life. In meeting the requirement of the preceding sentence, specific 
priority shall be given to the following:

                           (1) Agriculture

        Technical assistance to low income farmers who form and develop 
    member-owned cooperatives for farm supplies, marketing and value-
    added processing.

                        (2) Financial systems

        The promotion of national credit union systems through credit 
    union-to-credit union technical assistance that strengthens the 
    ability of low income people and micro-entrepreneurs to save and to 
    have access to credit for their own economic advancement.

                         (3) Infrastructure

        The support of rural electric and telecommunication cooperatives 
    for access for rural people and villages that lack reliable electric 
    and telecommunications services.

                 (4) Housing and community services

        The promotion of community-based cooperatives which provide 
    employment opportunities and important services such as health 
    clinics, self-help shelter, environmental improvements, group-owned 
    businesses, and other activities.

(Pub. L. 87-195, pt. I, Sec. 111, as added Pub. L. 93-189, Sec. 2(3), 
Dec. 17, 1973, 87 Stat. 716; amended Pub. L. 94-161, title III, 
Sec. 308, Dec. 20, 1975, 89 Stat. 859; Pub. L. 95-88, title I, 
Sec. 107(a), Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 96-53, title I, 
Sec. 122, Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 366; Pub. L. 106-309, title IV, 
Sec. 401(c)(2), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1097.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original ``this Act'', 
meaning Pub. L. 87-195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424, as amended, known 
as the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. For complete classification of 
this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2151 of 
this title and Tables.


                               Amendments

    2000--Pub. L. 106-309 inserted at end ``In meeting the requirement 
of the preceding sentence, specific priority shall be given to the 
following:'' and pars. (1) to (4).
    1979--Pub. L. 96-53 struck out provisions relating to availability 
of funds for fiscal year 1978 for technical assistance.
    1977--Pub. L. 95-88 substituted ``technical and capital assistance 
in the development and use of cooperatives'' for ``assistance in the 
development of cooperatives'' and ``$10,000,000 of the funds made 
available under this chapter for the fiscal year 1978 may be used only 
for technical assistance'' for ``$20,000,000 of such funds shall be used 
during the fiscal years 1976 and 1977, including the period from July 1, 
1976, through September 30, 1976, only for technical assistance''.
    1975--Pub. L. 94-161 earmarked not less than $20,000,000 for 
technical assistance during fiscal years 1976 and 1977, including period 
from July 1, 1976, through Sept. 30, 1976, and deleted similar provision 
making such minimum sum available for use during fiscal years 1974 and 
1975.


                    Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 96-53 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 
512(a) of Pub. L. 96-53, set out as a note under section 2151 of this 
title.


                    Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

    Section 107(b) of Pub. L. 95-88 provided that: ``The amendments made 
by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on October 
1, 1977.''


                                Findings

    Pub. L. 106-309, title IV, Sec. 401(b), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 
1096, provided that: ``The Congress makes the following findings:
        ``(1) It is in the mutual economic interest of the United States 
    and peoples in developing and transitional countries to promote 
    cooperatives and credit unions.
        ``(2) Self-help institutions, including cooperatives and credit 
    unions, provide enhanced opportunities for people to participate 
    directly in democratic decision-making for their economic and social 
    benefit through ownership and control of business enterprises and 
    through the mobilization of local capital and savings and such 
    organizations should be fully utilized in fostering free market 
    principles and the adoption of self-help approaches to development.
        ``(3) The United States seeks to encourage broad-based economic 
    and social development by creating and supporting--
            ``(A) agricultural cooperatives that provide a means to lift 
        low income farmers and rural people out of poverty and to better 
        integrate them into national economies;
            ``(B) credit union networks that serve people of limited 
        means through safe savings and by extending credit to families 
        and microenterprises;
            ``(C) electric and telephone cooperatives that provide rural 
        customers with power and telecommunications services essential 
        to economic development;
            ``(D) housing and community-based cooperatives that provide 
        low income shelter and work opportunities for the urban poor; 
        and
            ``(E) mutual and cooperative insurance companies that 
        provide risk protection for life and property to under-served 
        populations often through group policies.''


                         Declarations of Policy

    Pub. L. 106-309, title IV, Sec. 401(c)(1), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 
1096, provided that: ``The Congress supports the development and 
expansion of economic assistance programs that fully utilize 
cooperatives and credit unions, particularly those programs committed 
to--
        ``(A) international cooperative principles, democratic 
    governance and involvement of women and ethnic minorities for 
    economic and social development;
        ``(B) self-help mobilization of member savings and equity and 
    retention of profits in the community, except for those programs 
    that are dependent on donor financing;
        ``(C) market-oriented and value-added activities with the 
    potential to reach large numbers of low income people and help them 
    enter into the mainstream economy;
        ``(D) strengthening the participation of rural and urban poor to 
    contribute to their country's economic development; and
        ``(E) utilization of technical assistance and training to better 
    serve the member-owners.''


                                 Report

    Pub. L. 106-309, title IV, Sec. 401(d), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 
1097, provided that: ``Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 2000], the Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, in consultation with the 
heads of other appropriate agencies, shall prepare and submit to 
Congress a report on the implementation of section 111 of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151i), as amended by subsection 
(c).''
