S. 832 · 115th Congress
African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act
- Stage
- Reported from committee
- Sponsor
- Benjamin Cardin
- Introduced
- 2017-04-05
- Latest action
- 2017-10-17 · Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Summary
African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act or the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act
This bill directs the President to establish a website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The Department of State is urged to encourage eligible sub-Saharan African countries to use AGOA benefits.
The President is urged to:
facilitate trans-boundary trade among eligible sub-Saharan African countries; provide AGOA benefits training for business and government trade officials; provide capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, and market development; and provide capacity building training. The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 is amended to permit an eligible country that has entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact to enter into one additional compact.
The bill establishes new assistance criteria for a low-income or a lower-middle-income candidate country to enter into a compact with the United States.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation shall: (1) before selecting a compact country, provide the Board of Directors with information regarding the country's treatment of civil society; and (2) assess the feasibility of developing subnational partnerships.