18 H.L.C. (C) the extent to which statutes, regulations, rules, administrative and judicial deci sions, and other legal acts of the Government of Vietnam are published and are made accessible to the public; (D) the extent to which administrative and judicial decisions are supported by statements of reasons that are based upon written statutes, regulations, rules, and other legal acts of the Government of Vietnam; (E) the extent to which individuals are treated equally under the laws of Vietnam without regard to citizenship, race, religion, political opinion, or current or former associations; (F) the extent to which administrative and judicial decisions are independent of political pressure or governmental interference and are reviewed by entities of appellate jurisdiction; and (G) the extent to which laws in Vietnam are written and administered in ways that are consistent with international human rights standards, including the requirements of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 19 H.L.C. 1 (b) CONTACTS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.-In 2 preparing the report under subsection (a), the Secretary 3 shall, as appropriate, consult with and seek input from 4 nongovernmental organizations, human rights advocates 5 (including Vietnamese-Americans and human rights advo6 cates in Vietnam), and the United States Commission on 7 Religious Freedom. Amend the title so as to read: "A bill to promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam.". 10m Lauts (Original Signature of Member) 108TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H.R. 4660 To amend the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 to extend the authority to provide assistance to countries seeking to become eligible countries for purposes of that Act. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. LANTOS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the A BILL To amend the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 to extend the authority to provide assistance to countries seeking to become eligible countries for purposes of that Act. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 4 5 ings: 6 7 (a) FINDINGS.-Congress makes the following find (1) On March 14, 2002, the President stated: "America supports the international development for himself developed and developing countries.". (2) Section 201(b)(4) of H.R. 1950, as passed by the House of Representatives on July 16, 2003, states that it is the policy of the United States to support compacts of the Millennium Challenge Account which, among other things, aim "to reduce poverty by significantly increasing the economic growth trajectory of beneficiary countries through investing in the productive potential of the people of such countries". (3) On May 10, 2004, the President recognized the link between global poverty and the national security of the United States by stating: "In many na tions, poverty remains chronic and desperate. Half the world's people still live on less than $2 a day. This divide between wealth and poverty, between opportunity and misery, is far more than a challenge to our compassion. Persistent poverty and oppression can spread despair across an entire nation, and they can turn nations of great potential into the re cruiting grounds of terrorists.". 3 H.L.C. 1 (4) Section 602 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7701) states that a purpose of that Act is "the elimination of extreme poverty". (5) The Report of the Committee on International Relations to accompany H.R. 2441 of the 108th Congress (H. Rept. 108-205) states that "[f]or the Millennium Challenge Account to be successful as an incentive for future reform as well as a reward for past reform, it must offer opportunities for those low-income countries whose institutions do not yet meet all the eligibility criteria but who are demonstrating partial success in meeting the eligibility criteria". (6) The purpose of section 616 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7715), and the "threshold program" established pursuant to such section by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, in consultation with the United States Agency for International Development, is to provide assist ance to the low-income countries described in paragraph (5) in order to assist such countries to become eligible countries under the Act. (7) Although the overall Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) is authorized to be funded for both fiscal years 2004 and 2005, |