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H.R. 4319 · 109th Congress

Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 109th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

4 cosponsors · 3 D, 1 R

1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to provide technical assistance to small and medium enterprises in sub-Saharan African countries.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Nov 15, 2005

Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to provide technical assistance to small and medium enterprises in sub-Saharan African countries.

Authorizes the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide assistance to small and medium enterprises in such countries for: (1) financial sector improvement; (2) financial institution lending programs; (3) technology and information resources; (4) rural and peri-urban business development; (5) small business development in post-conflict states; (6) youth entrepreneurship programs; (7) intellectual property rights protection; and (8) anti-corruption initiatives.

Directs: (1) the U.S. Trade Representative to develop a comprehensive plan to expand agricultural trade between sub-Saharan African countries and the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act; (2) the Secretary of State to undertake actions to strengthen internationally recognized labor rights and standards in sub-Saharan African countries; (3) the Secretary of Labor to undertake activities to promote social dialog among business, government, labor, and nongovernmental organizations; (4) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to provide training and technical assistance to producers to ensure that their exports meet U.S. requirements; (5) the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Foreign Agriculture Service, to undertake activities to improve market access for U.S. agricultural products in sub-Saharan African countries; (6) the President, through USAID, to provide technical assistance to eligible sub-Saharan countries to meet African Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility requirements, and to provide such countries with transportation and communications infrastructure; and (7) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to conduct trade training programs for U.S. small businesses which convey basic information on selling goods to foreign markets, including markets in sub-Saharan African countries.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005

Latest action (Jun 22, 2006): Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

Policy area: International Affairs · Origin: House · Introduced: Nov 15, 2005

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.