Foreign Assistance Act
Encyclopedia
The Foreign Assistance Act is a United States
Act of Congress
. The Act reorganized the structure of existing U.S. foreign assistance programs, separated military from non-military aid, and created a new agency, the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) to administer those non-military, economic assistance programs. On November 3, 1961, President John F. Kennedy
signed the Act and issued Executive Order 10973, detailing the reorganization.
The agency unified already existing U.S. aid efforts, combining the economic and technical assistance operations of the International Cooperation Administration
, the loan activities of the Development Loan Fund
, the local currency functions of the Export-Import Bank, and the agricultural surplus distribution activities of the Food for Peace
program of the Department of Agriculture.
This act states that no assistance will be provided to a government which "engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including torture or
cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, prolonged
detention without charges, causing the disappearance of persons
by the abduction and clandestine detention of those
persons, or other flagrant denial of the right to life,
liberty, and the security of person, unless such assistance
will directly benefit the needy people in such country."
This Act was amended in 2004 specific to the treatment of orphans and other vulnerable children. This amendment allows the president to provide aid to the peoples of other countries to look after children in cases of AIDS/HIV and to set up schools and other programs for the advancement of child treatment.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Act of Congress
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
. The Act reorganized the structure of existing U.S. foreign assistance programs, separated military from non-military aid, and created a new agency, the United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
(USAID) to administer those non-military, economic assistance programs. On November 3, 1961, President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
signed the Act and issued Executive Order 10973, detailing the reorganization.
The agency unified already existing U.S. aid efforts, combining the economic and technical assistance operations of the International Cooperation Administration
International Cooperation Administration
The International Cooperation Administration was established by the U.S. State Department Delegation of Authority 85, June 30, 1955, pursuant to EO 10610, May 9, 1955. The predecessor to this administration was the Foreign Operations Administration . Both oganizations coordinated foreign...
, the loan activities of the Development Loan Fund
Development Loan Fund
The Development Loan Fund was the lending arm of the United States International Cooperation Administration. It was established in 1957 as part of a revision of the Mutual Security Act. Its main purpose was to extend loans to foreign nations, repayable in the local currency of the borrower, mostly...
, the local currency functions of the Export-Import Bank, and the agricultural surplus distribution activities of the Food for Peace
Food for Peace
Public Law 480 also known as Food for Peace is a funding avenue by which U.S. food can be used for overseas aid....
program of the Department of Agriculture.
This act states that no assistance will be provided to a government which "engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including torture or
cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, prolonged
detention without charges, causing the disappearance of persons
by the abduction and clandestine detention of those
persons, or other flagrant denial of the right to life,
liberty, and the security of person, unless such assistance
will directly benefit the needy people in such country."
This Act was amended in 2004 specific to the treatment of orphans and other vulnerable children. This amendment allows the president to provide aid to the peoples of other countries to look after children in cases of AIDS/HIV and to set up schools and other programs for the advancement of child treatment.
See also
- Alliance for ProgressAlliance for ProgressThe Alliance for Progress initiated by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1961 aimed to establish economic cooperation between the U.S. and South America.-Origin and goals:...
- Arms Export Control ActArms Export Control ActThe Arms Export Control Act of 1976 gives the President of the United States the authority to control the import and export of defense articles and defense services. It requires governments that receive weapons from the United States to use them for legitimate self-defense...
- CIA drug traffickingCIA Drug TraffickingA few sources indicate the United States Central Intelligence Agency might have been involved in several drug trafficking operations...
- Iran-Contra
- Office of Public SafetyOffice of Public SafetyThe Office of Public Safety was a US government agency, established in 1957 by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower to train police forces of US allies. It was officially part of USAID , and was close to the Central Intelligence Agency . Police-training teams were sent to South Vietnam, Iran, Taiwan,...
(OPS) - U.S. Foreign Policy
- War on DrugsWar on DrugsThe War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...
- War on TerrorWar on TerrorThe War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
External links
- The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended
- Information from USAID
- Foreign Operations Appropriations: General Provisions
- FAA-document and publication publications available through USAID's Development Experience Clearinghouse