Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979 explained

Shorttitle:Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979
Longtitle:An Act to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize assistance in support of peaceful and democratic processes of development in Central America.
Nickname:Special Central American and Caribbean Assistance Act of 1979
Enacted By:96th
Effective Date:May 31, 1980
Public Law Url:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-94/pdf/STATUTE-94-Pg422.pdf
Cite Public Law:96-257
Acts Amended:Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
Title Amended:22 U.S.C.: Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Introducedin:House
Introducedby:Clement J. Zablocki (D-WI)
Introduceddate:December 11, 1979
Committees:House Foreign Affairs, Senate Foreign Relations
Passedbody1:Senate
Passeddate1:January 29, 1980
Passedvote1:55-34 (Roll Call #17), in lieu of
Passedbody2:House
Passeddate2:February 27, 1980
Passedvote2:202-197 (Roll Call #88)
Passedbody3:Senate
Passeddate3:May 19, 1980
Passedvote3:44-35 (Roll Call #151)
Signedpresident:Jimmy Carter
Signeddate:May 31, 1980

Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979 was a United States federal statute established by the 96th United States Congress amending the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.[1] The Caribbean Basin statute appropriated conditions for cultivating civility, democratization, human rights, and non-interventionism in Central America.[2] The Act of Congress endorsed the Organization of American States embodied by Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The international organization would serve to exemplify multilateralism in pursuance of denouncing left-wing terrorism, political violence, and third world socialism.

During the final months of 1979, the Carter Administration issued affirmative statements to the 96th United States Congress endorsing the proposed Central American assistance legislation providing additional foreign and monetary aid for the affliction of civil disorder in the Americas region.[3] [4] [5] The H.R. 6081 bill was enacted into law by the 39th President of the United States Jimmy Carter on May 31, 1980.[6] [7]

Declaration of the Act

The United States statute's articulation was a consistent Act bolstering the Carter Administration's foreign policy with a prominent emphasis regarding international human rights law during the New Cold War.[8]

The 96th congressional session penned the United States public law 96-257 as three sections citing the amendment and purpose of the Act with section five hundred and thirty-six conveyed as eleven subsections entitled Central American Economic Support.

Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979 - 94 Stat. 422 § I

Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 Amendment - 94 Stat. 422 § II

Central American Economic Support - 94 Stat. 422-424 § DXXXVI

(b) Appropriation authorization

(c) Human rights violations

Human rights in Costa Rica

Human rights in El Salvador

Human rights in Guatemala

Human rights in Honduras

Human rights in Nicaragua

Panama Truth Commission

(d) Presidential encouragement of human rights

(e) Nicaragua acknowledgment or adherence of internationally recognized Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(f) Report to congressional committees

(g) Certification of nonterrorism; Transmittal to the Speaker of the House and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

(h) U.S. support of Organization of American States members against terrorism

(i) Funds available for National Agrarian University of Nicaragua and National Autonomous University of Nicaragua

(j) Loan funds for private sector use and local currency loan programs

(k) Assistance conditions and termination

Free and open elections

Loan funds and United States goods or services purchase

United States President reports to Congress

Human Rights Practices and United States International Relations

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1974 described the terms of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights as defined;

The International Security Assistance and Arms Exports Control Act of 1976 acknowledge the international obligations of human rights as endorsed by Title III - General Limitations of the Act passed by the 94th United States Congress. The section amended the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 declaring United States human rights objectives as defined;

Foreign policy of the United States is to foster increased observance of internationally recognized human rights by all countries
  • Security assistance nullified for any country where the government engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights
    Coordinator for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs establish within United States Department of State
  • Continuous observation and review of human rights and humanitarian affairs with an inclusion concerning coordination of United States foreign policy
    Prohibition against discrimination
  • Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction of language, race, religion, or sex Prohibition of assistance to countries granting sanctuary to international terrorists
  • Assistance terminated to any government granting sanctuary from prosecution whereas an act has been committed regarding a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights or international terrorism

    The International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1977 mandated annual reports better known as Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.[9] [10] The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor published the human rights reports providing insight concerning global humanitarian affairs for countries receiving United States economic security and national security support as authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.[11]

    Associated United States Federal Statutes

    United States public laws relative to the Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979 subsequently under the auspices of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act. The United States statutes were endorsed to encourage harmonious international relations with Latin America.

    Date of EnactmentPublic Law NumberStatute CitationLegislative BillU.S. Presidential Administration
    August 14, 1979P.L. 96-53Jimmy Carter
    December 16, 1980P.L. 96-533Jimmy Carter
    December 29, 1981P.L. 97-113Ronald Reagan
    August 10, 1982P.L. 97-233Ronald Reagan
    July 15, 1983P.L. 98-53Ronald Reagan
    August 8, 1985P.L. 99-83Ronald Reagan

    Further reading

    External links

    Historical video archive

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: John F. Kennedy ~ Executive Order 10973 - Administration of Foreign Assistance and Related Functions . November 3, 1961 . The American Presidency Project ~ John Woolley and Gerhard Peters . University of California - Santa Barbara.
    2. Web site: Central America, 1977-1980 . Milestones: 1977-1980 . Office of the Historian - Foreign Service Institute . United States Department of State.
    3. Web site: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of State Vance, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (McIntyre), and the Director of the International Development Cooperation Agency (Ehrlich) . Brzezinski . Zbigniew . October 10, 1979 . Foreign Relations of the United States 1977–1980; Volume XV; Central America, 1977-1980 . Office of the Historian - Foreign Service Institute . Washington, D.C. . United States Department of State.
    4. Web site: United States Assistance to Central America and the Caribbean Message to the Congress Transmitting Proposed Legislation . Carter . Jimmy . November 9, 1979 . The American Presidency Project ~ John Woolley and Gerhard Peters . University of California, Santa Barbara.
    5. Web site: Jimmy Carter - United States Assistance to Central America and the Caribbean ~ Message to the Congress Transmitting Proposed Legislation, November 9, 1979 . Carter . Jimmy E. . November 9, 1979 . Internet Archive . U.S. National Archives & Records Administration . 2103-2104.
    6. Web site: Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979 Statement on Signing H.R. 6081 into Law . Carter . Jimmy . May 31, 1980 . The American Presidency Project ~ John Woolley and Gerhard Peters . University of California, Santa Barbara.
    7. Web site: Jimmy Carter - Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979, May 31, 1980 . Carter . Jimmy E. . May 31, 1980 . Internet Archive . U.S. National Archives & Records Administration . 1017.
    8. Web site: Carter and Human Rights, 1977–1981 . Milestones: 1977–1980 . Office of the Historian - Foreign Service Institute . United States Department of State.
    9. Web site: H.R. 6714 ~ International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1977 . April 28, 1977 . P.L. 95-88 ~ 91 Stat. 533 . Congress.gov.
    10. Web site: International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1977 ~ P.L. 95-88 . August 3, 1977 . 91 Stat. 533 ~ House Bill 6714 . United States Government Publishing Office.
    11. Web site: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Publication History . The Online Books Page . University of Pennsylvania.

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