[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4283 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.4283
One Hundred Fifth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twenty-seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-
eight
An Act
To support sustainable and broad-based agricultural and rural
development in sub-Saharan Africa, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Africa: Seeds of
Hope Act of 1998''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents is as follows:

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TITLE I

-ASSISTANCE FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Subtitle A--Nonemergency Food Assistance Programs

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Subtitle B--Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998

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TITLE II

-WORLDWIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The economic, security, and humanitarian interests of the
United States and the nations of sub-Saharan Africa would be
enhanced by sustainable, broad-based agricultural and rural
development in each of the African nations.
(2) According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the
number of undernourished people in Africa has more than doubled,
from approximately 100,000,000 in the late 1960s to 215,000,000 in
1998, and is projected to increase to 265,000,000 by the year 2010.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the term
``under nutrition'' means inadequate consumption of nutrients,
often adversely affecting children's physical and mental
development, undermining their future as productive and creative
members of their communities.
(3) Currently, agricultural production in Africa employs about
two-thirds of the workforce but produces less than one-fourth of
the gross domestic product in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the
World Bank Group.
(4) African women produce up to 80 percent of the total food
supply in Africa according to the International Food Policy
Research Institute.
(5) An effective way to improve conditions of the poor is to
increase the productivity of the agricultural sector. Productivity
increases can be fostered by increasing research and education in
agriculture and rural development.
(6) In November 1996, the World Food Summit set a goal of
reducing hunger worldwide by 50 percent by the year 2015 and
encouraged national governments to develop domestic food plans and
to support international aid efforts.
(7) Although the World Bank Group recently has launched a major
initiative to support agricultural and rural development, only 10
percent, or $1,200,000,000, of its total lending to sub-Saharan
Africa for fiscal years 1993 to 1997 was devoted to agriculture.
(8)(A) United States food processing and agricultural sectors
benefit greatly from the liberalization of global trade and
increased exports.
(B) Africa represents a growing market for United States food
and agricultural products. Africa's food imports are projected to
rise from less than 8,000,000 metric tons in 1990 to more than
25,000,000 metric tons by the 2020.
(9)(A) Increased private sector investment in African countries
and expanded trade between the United States and Africa can greatly
help African countries achieve food self-sufficiency and graduate
from dependency on international assistance.
(B) Development assistance, technical assistance, and training
can facilitate and encourage commercial development in Africa, such
as improving rural roads, agricultural research and extension, and
providing access to credit and other resources.
(10)(A) Several United States private voluntary organizations
have demonstrated success in empowering Africans through direct
business ownership and helping African agricultural producers more
efficiently and directly market their products.
(B) Rural business associations, owned and controlled by farmer
shareholders, also greatly help agricultural producers to increase
their household incomes.
(b) Declaration of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States,
consistent with title XII of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, to support governments of sub-Saharan African countries, United
States and African nongovernmental organizations, universities,
businesses, and international agencies, to help ensure the availability
of basic nutrition and economic opportunities for individuals in sub-
Saharan Africa, through sustainable agriculture and rural development.

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TITLE III

-MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

(a) Additional Requirements in Carrying Out the Initiative.--In
providing development assistance under the Africa Food Security
Initiative, or any comparable or successor program, the Administrator
of the United States Agency for International Development--
(1) shall emphasize programs and projects that improve the food
security of infants, young children, school-age children, women and
food-insecure households, or that improve the agricultural
productivity, incomes, and marketing of the rural poor in Africa;
(2) shall solicit and take into consideration the views and
needs of intended beneficiaries and program participants during the
selection, planning, implementation, and evaluation phases of
projects;
(3) shall favor countries that are implementing reforms of
their trade and investment laws and regulations in order to enhance
free market development in the food processing and agricultural
sectors; and
(4) shall ensure that programs are designed and conducted in
cooperation with African and United States organizations and
institutions, such as private and voluntary organizations,
cooperatives, land-grant and other appropriate universities, and
local producer-owned cooperative marketing and buying associations,
that have expertise in addressing the needs of the poor, small-
scale farmers, entrepreneurs, and rural workers, including women.
(b) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that,
if there is an increase in funding for sub-Saharan programs, the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
should proportionately increase resources to the Africa Food Security
Initiative, or any comparable or successor program, for fiscal year
2000 and subsequent fiscal years in order to meet the needs of the
countries participating in such Initiative.

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(a) Bilateral Assistance.--In providing microenterprise assistance
for sub-Saharan Africa, the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development shall, to the extent practicable, use
credit and microcredit assistance to improve the capacity and
efficiency of agriculture production in sub-Saharan Africa of small-
scale farmers and small rural entrepreneurs. In providing assistance,
the Administrator should use the applied research and technical
assistance capabilities of United States land-grant universities.
(b) Multilateral Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development shall continue to work with other
countries, international organizations (including multilateral
development institutions), and entities assisting microenterprises
and shall develop a comprehensive and coordinated strategy for
providing microenterprise assistance for sub-Saharan Africa.
(2) Additional requirement.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Administrator should encourage the World Bank Consultative Group to
Assist the Poorest to coordinate the strategy described in such
paragraph.

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ASSOCIATIONS.
(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to support producer-owned cooperative purchasing and
marketing associations in sub-Saharan Africa;
(2) to strengthen the capacity of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa
to participate in national and international private markets and to
promote rural development in sub-Saharan Africa;
(3) to encourage the efforts of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa
to increase their productivity and income through improved access
to farm supplies, seasonal credit, technical expertise; and
(4) to support small businesses in sub-Saharan Africa as they
grow beyond microenterprises.
(b) Support for Producer-Owned Cooperative Marketing
Associations.--
(1) Activities.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development is authorized to utilize
relevant foreign assistance programs and initiatives for sub-
Saharan Africa to support private producer-owned cooperative
marketing associations in sub-Saharan Africa, including rural
business associations that are owned and controlled by farmer
shareholders.
(B) Additional requirements.--In carrying out subparagraph
(A), the Administrator--
(i) shall take into account small-scale farmers, small
rural entrepreneurs, and rural workers and communities; and
(ii) shall take into account the local-level
perspectives of the rural and urban poor through close
consultation with these groups, consistent with section
496(e)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2293(e)(1)).
(2) Other activities.--In addition to carrying out paragraph
(1), the Administrator is encouraged--
(A) to cooperate with governments of foreign countries,
including governments of political subdivisions of such
countries, their agricultural research universities, and
particularly with United States nongovernmental organizations
and United States land-grant universities, that have
demonstrated expertise in the development and promotion of
successful private producer-owned cooperative marketing
associations; and
(B) to facilitate partnerships between United States and
African cooperatives and private businesses to enhance the
capacity and technical and marketing expertise of business
associations in sub-Saharan Africa.

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PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to encourage the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation to work with United States
businesses and other United States entities to invest in rural sub-
Saharan Africa, particularly in ways that will develop the capacities
of small-scale farmers and small rural entrepreneurs, including women,
in sub-Saharan Africa.
(b) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation should exercise
its authority under law to undertake an initiative to support
private agricultural and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa,
including issuing loans, guaranties, and insurance, to support
rural development in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly to support
intermediary organizations that--
(A) directly serve the needs of small-scale farmers, small
rural entrepreneurs, and rural producer-owned cooperative
purchasing and marketing associations;
(B) have a clear track-record of support for sound business
management practices; and
(C) have demonstrated experience with participatory
development methods; and
(2) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation should utilize
existing equity funds, loan and insurance funds, to the extent
feasible and in accordance with existing contractual obligations,
to support agriculture and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa.

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(a) Development of Plan.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, in consultation with the
Secretary of Agriculture and appropriate Department of Agriculture
agencies, especially the Cooperative State, Research, Education and
Extension Service (CSREES), shall develop a comprehensive plan to
coordinate and build on the research and extension activities of United
States land-grant universities, international agricultural research
centers, and national agricultural research and extension centers in
sub-Saharan Africa.
(b) Additional Requirements.--Such plan shall seek to ensure that--
(1) research and extension activities will respond to the needs
of small-scale farmers while developing the potential and skills of
researchers, extension agents, farmers, and agribusiness persons in
sub-Saharan Africa;
(2) sustainable agricultural methods of farming will be
considered together with new technologies in increasing
agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa; and
(3) research and extension efforts will focus on sustainable
agricultural practices and will be adapted to widely varying
climates within sub-Saharan Africa.
Subtitle A--Nonemergency Food Assistance Programs

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(a) In General.--In providing nonemergency assistance under title
II of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7
U.S.C. 1721 et seq.), the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall ensure that--
(1) in planning, decisionmaking, and implementation in
providing such assistance, the Administrator takes into
consideration local input and participation directly and through
United States and indigenous private and voluntary organizations;
(2) each of the nonemergency activities described in paragraphs
(2) through (6) of section 201 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1721),
including programs that provide assistance to people of any age
group who are otherwise unable to meet their basic food needs
(including feeding programs for the disabled, orphaned, elderly,
sick and dying), are carried out; and
(3) greater flexibility is provided for program and evaluation
plans so that such assistance may be developed to meet local needs,
as provided for in section 202(f) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1722(f)).
(b) Other Requirements.--In providing assistance under the
Agriculture Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, the Secretary
of Agriculture and the Administrator of United States Agency for
International Development shall ensure that commodities are provided in
a manner that is consistent with sections 403(a) and (b) of such Act (7
U.S.C. 1733(a) and (b)).
Subtitle B--Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998

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This subtitle may be cited as the ``Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust
Act of 1998''.

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(a) In General.--Section 302 of the Agricultural Act of 1980 (7
U.S.C. 1736f-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``or Funds''
after ``Commodities'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) funds made available under paragraph (2)(B) which
shall be used solely to replenish commodities in the trust.'';
and
(C) in paragraph (2) by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) Funds.--Any funds used to acquire eligible
commodities through purchases from producers or in the market
to replenish the trust shall be derived--
``(i) with respect to fiscal years 2000 through 2002
from funds made available to carry out the Agricultural
Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691
et seq.) that are used to repay or reimburse the Commodity
Credit Corporation for the release of eligible commodities
under subsections (c)(2) and (f)(2), except that, of such
funds, not more than $20,000,000 may be expended for this
purpose in each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2002; and
``(ii) from funds authorized for that use by an
appropriations Act.'';
(2) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) by striking ``assistance.--Notwithstanding'' and
inserting the following: ``assistance.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Limitation.--The Secretary may release eligible
commodities under subparagraph (A) only to the extent such
release is consistent with maintaining the long-term value of
the trust.'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) subject to the need for release of commodities from the
trust under subsection (c)(1), for the management of the trust to
preserve the value of the trust through acquisitions under
subsection (b)(2).''; and
(4) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``of the trust'' after
``Reimbursement'' in the heading; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``and the funds shall
be available to replenish the trust under subsection (b)''
before the last period.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Title III of the Agricultural Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 1736f-1
et seq.) is amended by striking the title heading and inserting the
following:
``TITLE III--BILL EMERSON HUMANITARIAN TRUST''.
(2) Section 301 of the Agricultural Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C.
1736f-1 note) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
``This title may be cited as the `Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust
Act'.''.
(3) Section 302 of the Agricultural Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C.
1736f-1) is amended--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``reserve'' and
inserting ``trust'';
(B) by striking ``reserve'' each place it appears (other
than in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1)) and
inserting ``trust'';
(C) in subsection (b)--
(i) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Reserve''
and inserting ``Trust'';
(ii) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``reserve,'' and
inserting ``trust,''; and
(iii) in the heading of paragraph (2), by striking
``reserve'' and inserting ``trust''; and
(D) in the heading of subsection (e), by striking
``Reserve'' and inserting ``Trust''.
(4) Section 208(d)(2) of the Agricultural Trade Suspension
Adjustment Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 4001(d)(2)) is amended by striking
``Food Security Commodity Reserve Act of 1996'' and inserting
``Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act (7 U.S.C. 1736f-1 et seq.)''.
(5) Section 901b(b)(3) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46
U.S.C. App. 1241f(b)(3)), is amended by striking ``Food Security
Wheat Reserve Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 1736f-1)'' and inserting ``Bill
Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act (7 U.S.C. 1736f-1 et seq.)''.

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Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, 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 how the
Agency plans to implement sections 101, 102, 103, 105, and 201 of this
Act, the steps that have been taken toward such implementation, and an
estimate of all amounts expended or to be expended on related
activities during the current and previous 4 fiscal years.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.

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Africa: Seeds of Hope Act of 1998 — HR. 4283

Other Sections

TITLE I

TITLE II

TITLE III

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