Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979
Latest action. public lawWhat a bill becomes when enacted, numbered by Congress and order of enactment: Public Law 119-4 is the 4th law of the 119th Congress.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) 96-257.
(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #88 (202-197)) Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for economic assistance to Nicaragua and other countries in Central America. Requires the President to consider the Government of Nicaragua's observance of specified human rights when furnishing such assistance. Requires the termination of such assistance if Nicaragua engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of human rights. Directs the Secretary of State to report semi-annually to Congress on the degree of observance of human rights in such country. Directs the President to certify to Congress that Nicaragua is not cooperating with any international terrorist organization or supporting acts of violence in other countries, prior to releasing any assistance to Nicaragua. Requires the President to terminate such assistance if Nicaragua is later found to be aiding or abetting terrorism. Declares it the sense of Congress that Guatamala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras should be supported against terrorism and external subversion. Sets forth conditions for funds for: (1) the National School of Agriculture in Nicaragua; and (2) loans for private sector assistance. Requires local currency assistance to be used to strengthen private financial institutions which will help keep the private sector in Nicaragua financially independent. Requires monitoring and auditing of such local currency loan program and the results to be reported to Congress. Directs the President to terminate assistance if Nicaragua: (1) harbors any foreign combat military forces which pose a threat to the security of the United States or any of its Latin American allies; (2) consistently violates the right to organize and operate labor unions free from political oppression; or (3) systematically violates free speech and press. Directs the President to encourage the holding of free elections in Nicaragua within a reasonable period of time and to take into consideration the progress being made for such elections, in providing additional assistance. Prohibits the use of authorized funds for assistance to educational facilities which would house, employ or be made available to Cubans. Requires any agreement with Nicaragua regarding the use of authorized funds to specify that loan funds be used to purchase U.S. goods or services. States that up to one percent of the funds made available to Nicaragua shall be used to publicize in Nicaragua the extent of U.S. aid programs. Directs the President to report to Congress on the effectiveness of such publicity.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed House amended" stage on February 27, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Public Law 96-257.
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Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
The latest action on file does not map to a stage Civibrief recognizes, so the page will not name one. The record's own words are the reliable fact here.
The record's latest action, on May 31, 1980: Public Law 96-257.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one has no outstanding steps listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
CLEMENT ZABLOCKI (D-WI) introduced it on December 11, 1979, and 8 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 7 Democrats, 1 Republican.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on December 11, 1979, 17075 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16903 days ago, on May 31, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HousePublic Law 96-257.
- SenateNot stated in the latest action
- PresidentNot stated in the latest action