HR 2092 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide assistance for developing countries to promote quality basic education and to establish the achievement of universal basic education in all developing countries as an objective of United States foreign assistance policy, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 1, 2007

Mrs. LOWEY (for herself and Mr. BACHUS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide assistance for developing countries to promote quality basic education and to establish the achievement of universal basic education in all developing countries as an objective of United States foreign assistance policy, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Education for All Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Throughout the world, an alarming number of children are not receiving primary education. At least 77 million children of primary school age are not in school and 3/5 of such children are girls. Worldwide, half of school-age children who start primary school drop out. Hundreds of millions more children are denied a secondary school education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Of the approximately 77 million children of primary school age who are not in school, more than half live in countries that are considered fragile or have been affected by conflict and 50 percent live in Africa. A significant number of such children have been orphaned or otherwise negatively affected by HIV/AIDS. Other such children have been victims of child labor or human trafficking. Without access to education, such children will not have the skills to contribute to reconstruction and stabilization of their countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (hereafter in this section referred to as the `Report') concluded that education that teaches tolerance, the dignity and value of each individual, and respect for different beliefs must be a key element in any global strategy to eliminate terrorism.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Extending the vision of educational opportunity described in the Report to all developing countries, including countries affected by armed conflict, is critical to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and prevent the rise of violent extremism worldwide.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The Report concluded that the United States Government must offer an example of moral leadership in the world and offer parents and their children a vision of the future that emphasizes individual educational and economic opportunity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) At the World Education Forum held in Dakar, Senegal in 2000, the United States joined more than 180 other countries in committing to the goal of universal basic education by 2015. Universal completion of primary school and eliminating gender disparity in all levels of education not later than 2015 are part of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Currently, at least 70 countries are unlikely to achieve the goal of 100 percent of children completing primary school by not later than 2015.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) The Report noted that the United Nations has rightly equated `literacy as freedom' and that the international community is moving toward setting a goal of reducing by half the illiteracy rate in the Middle East by 2010, through the implementation of education programs targeting women and girls and supporting programs for adult literacy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The Report concluded that ensuring educational opportunity is essential to the efforts of the United States to defeat global terrorism and recommended that the United States Government `should offer to join with other nations in generously supporting [spending funds] . . . directly on building and operating primary and secondary schools in those Muslim states that commit to sensibly investing financial resources in public education'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) Basic education has been demonstrated to be fundamental to development. No country has reached sustained economic growth without achieving near universal primary education. Education reduces poverty and inequality, and lays the foundation for sound governance, civic participation, and strong institutions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) Investing in girls' education delivers substantial returns not only in educational attainment but also in increasing women's incomes, delaying the start of sexual activity, reducing infant mortality, increasing women's political participation, and spurring economic growth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) Education helps to protect children in conflict situations from physical harm, exploitation, and sexual abuse, as well as to avoid the recruitment of children into armed groups, and to promote good governance and poverty reduction.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) According to progress reports from the Education for All Fast-Track Initiative, since the World Education Forum was held in 2000, the number of children out of school has decreased at an average rate of 4 million children per year. Despite this progress, the goal of achieving universal basic education by 2015 will not be met unless the number of children out of school decreases at an average rate of approximately 7 million children per year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) Credible estimates indicate that at least an additional $7 billion to $10 billion per year of external development assistance is necessary for developing countries to achieve universal basic education by 2015.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION.

(a) In General- Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 105 the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 105A. ASSISTANCE TO ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION.

`(a) Purpose- It is the purpose of this section to ensure that the United States provides the resources and leadership to ensure a successful international effort to provide all children with a quality basic education in order to achieve the goal of universal basic education by 2015 agreed to at the World Education Forum held in Dakar, Senegal in 2000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Policy- It is the policy of the United States to work with foreign countries and international and civil society organizations to increase the global commitment to achieving universal basic education--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) to assist developing countries to provide all children with a quality basic education; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) to assist nongovernmental and multilateral organizations working in developing countries to provide all children with a quality basic education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Principles- In developing the global commitment referred to in subsection (b), the policy of the United States shall be guided by the following principles:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) UNITED STATES RESOURCES- To lead a global commitment to achieving universal basic education in developing countries, including in developing countries affected by armed conflict, emerging from armed conflict, or affected by humanitarian crises, the United States shall commit substantial new resources for education in developing countries to expand access to educational opportunity and inspire confidence in such countries that efforts to reform education in such countries will receive adequate resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) OTHER MAJOR DONORS- The United States Government shall encourage other donors to contribute commensurate amounts to support such a global commitment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) PRIVATE SECTOR AND NONGOVERNMENTAL PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS- United States efforts in leading such a global commitment shall include explicit strategies to encourage and integrate contributions of strategic direction and financial resources from indigenous and international private sector and civil society organizations interested in supporting quality universal basic education efforts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) SCHOOL ACCESS, QUALITY, AND COMPLETION- United States assistance for basic education in developing countries shall seek to expand access to school for all children, including children in developing countries that are affected by armed conflict, emerging from armed conflict, or affected by humanitarian crises, and to improve the quality of education in order to increase the number of children completing a basic education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) COORDINATION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT- The United States Government shall establish a comprehensive strategy to improve coordination and collaboration among all departments and agencies of the United States Government involved in providing assistance for basic education to developing countries to ensure efficient and effective use of the resources of the United States. The comprehensive strategy shall recognize the importance of providing assistance for basic education, including the importance of providing such assistance in humanitarian and other emergency situations and the importance in providing such assistance as a component of development assistance. The comprehensive strategy shall ensure the provision of assistance for basic education throughout the transition from emergency situations to reconstruction and development.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) COORDINATION BETWEEN EDUCATION AND HIV/AIDS PREVENTION EFFORTS- United States assistance shall support efforts to improve coordination between global health and education initiatives in United States Government programs and internationally to reduce the adverse impact of HIV/AIDS on education systems, teacher workforce, and orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) COORDINATION WITH NATIONAL EDUCATION PLANS- United States assistance for basic education in developing countries shall be provided in collaboration and coordination with the national education plans of such countries to the maximum extent practicable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) INTEGRATION OF EDUCATION PLANS WITHIN OVERALL NATIONAL ECONOMIC STRATEGIES- United States policies and programs shall encourage developing countries to ensure that efforts are developed within an overall strategy of economic and market reforms to reduce poverty and spur sustained economic growth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) AIDS- The term `AIDS' has the meaning given that term in section 104A(g).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term `appropriate congressional committees' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) BASIC EDUCATION- The term `basic education'--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) means an education, generally consisting of completion of 9-10 years of schooling, including efforts to improve early childhood development, primary education, secondary education, literacy and numeracy training, and life skills training; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) includes efforts to facilitate and support the activities described in subparagraph (A), including efforts to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) build the institutional capacity of a country to manage basic education systems and measure results;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) construct and rehabilitate schools;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) train teachers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) increase parent and community involvement in schools;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(v) provide learning materials; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(vi) develop curricula.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) EDUCATION FOR ALL FAST-TRACK INITIATIVE- The term `Education for All Fast-Track Initiative' means the Fast-Track Initiative launched in 2002 to mobilize donor resources and accelerate progress toward the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of Education for All by 2015, an international commitment to bring the benefits of basic education to every individual.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) HIV- The term `HIV' has the meaning given that term in section 104A(g).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) HIV/AIDS- The term `HIV/AIDS' has the meaning given that term in section 104A(g).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) MEMBER STATES OF THE GROUP OF EIGHT- The term `member states of the Group of Eight' means the countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) NATIONAL EDUCATION PLAN- The term `national education plan' means a comprehensive national education plan that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) is developed in accordance with the provisions of the Education For All Fast-Track Initiative; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) includes explicit, credible strategies to achieve universal basic education, including strategies to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) address key constraints to achieving universal basic education in the areas of policy, data, capacity, and financing; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) coordinate priorities of basic education with priorities for early childhood development, secondary education, higher education, and non-formal education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(9) PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT- The term `psychosocial support' has the meaning given that term in section 135.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(10) RELEVANT EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS- The term `relevant executive branch agencies and officials' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Defense;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally, the National Security Advisor, and the National Economic Advisor; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) any other department, agency, or official of the United States Government that participates in activities to promote universal basic education pursuant to the authorities of such department, agency, or official or pursuant to this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Development and Implementation of a Comprehensive United States Strategy on Education for All-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) STRATEGY REQUIRED- The President shall develop a comprehensive integrated strategy of the United States to promote universal basic education by 2015.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) ELEMENTS- The strategy required by subsection (a) shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) include specific objectives, indicators, including indicators to measure learning outcomes, and approaches to increase access and quality of basic education in developing countries;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) outline how the United States Government will ensure a transition and continuity of educational activities in countries affected by armed conflict, emerging from armed conflict, and affected by humanitarian crises;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) assign priorities to relevant executive branch agencies and officials;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) improve coordination and reduce duplication among relevant executive branch agencies and officials, foreign donor governments, and international organizations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) project general levels of resources needed to achieve the stated objectives;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) expand public-private partnerships and the leveraging of resources;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(G) target the activities of the United States to leverage contributions from member states of the Group of Eight and other donors to provide universal basic education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(H) target the assistance provided by the United States to leverage contributions from the private sector and civil society organizations to achieve universal basic education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) increase efforts of the United States to coordinate with other donors to reduce inefficiency and waste at the global and country levels and ensure efficient coordination among relevant executive branch agencies and officials;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(J) support efforts of the United States in helping children to overcome challenges to achieving universal basic education, including strategies to target hard-to-reach populations, including those impacted by AIDS, orphans, and other vulnerable populations, and to support efforts to reduce the adverse impact of HIV/AIDS on education systems; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(K) maximize United States capabilities in the areas of technical assistance and training.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) REQUIREMENT TO CONSULT- In developing the strategy required by subsection (a), the President shall consult with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) relevant executive branch agencies and officials; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) nongovernmental organizations and individuals who are involved in the promotion and implementation of education assistance programs in developing countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) PUBLIC COMMENT- The President shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy required by subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) ANNUAL REPORT- Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of the Education for All Act of 2007, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report setting forth the strategy required by subsection (a) and make the report available to the public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Assistance To Develop and Implement National Education Plans-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED- The President is authorized to provide funds and other assistance to assist foreign countries described in paragraph (2) to create the policies, processes, and infrastructure to develop and implement national education plans to allow all children of such countries to access and complete basic education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) FOREIGN COUNTRIES DESCRIBED- The foreign countries described in this paragraph are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) foreign countries that have demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering universal basic education, as evidenced by the establishment of a national education plan or the willingness to develop a national education plan; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) foreign countries that have not demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering universal basic education, as evidenced by the failure to establish a national education plan and the lack of opportunity or capacity to work with a committed national government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) PRIORITY AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) PRIORITY- In providing assistance under this subsection, the President shall give priority to foreign countries in which there is the greatest need, as evidenced in part by the percentage of children out of school, in which there is the greatest opportunity to expand universal access and to improve the quality of basic education, and in which the assistance can produce a substantial, measurable impact on children and educational systems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) REQUIREMENT RELATING TO COUNTRIES WITHOUT A STRONG COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION- Assistance provided under this subsection to foreign countries described in paragraph (2)(B) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be provided in coordination with committed local governments and civil society organizations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) REQUIREMENT RELATING TO COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY CONFLICT OR CRISES- Assistance provided under this subsection to foreign countries or those parts of the territories of foreign countries that are affected by armed conflict, emerging from armed conflict, or affected by a humanitarian crisis shall be provided in such a manner so as to ensure a continuity of educational activities throughout the conflict or crisis and during the transition from conflict or crisis to reconstruction and development.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED- Assistance provided under this subsection may be used to support efforts to expand access and to improve the quality of basic education, including efforts--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) to ensure an adequate supply of trained teachers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) to promote programs that expand training and implementation of effective curricula;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) to provide adequate infrastructure;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) to build systems to provide continuing support, training, and professional development for all educators;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) to eliminate fees for educational services, including fees for tuition, uniforms, and materials, and provide access to education without additional costs to families through simplified multilateral mechanisms;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) to identify and replicate successful interventions that improve access to education and the quality of education, such as scholarships, school lunch, and school health programs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(G) to build systems to ensure continuing information collection, monitoring, and evaluation of education services and financing;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(H) to ensure that schools are not incubators for violent extremism;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) to provide human rights and conflict-resolution education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(J) to promote programs that teach civic education and life skills;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(K) to support other initiatives that have demonstrated success in increasing access, improving learning outcomes and increasing educational opportunities for the most disadvantaged populations, such as children in remote or rural areas, religious or ethnic minorities, orphans and children impacted by HIV/AIDS, child laborers or victims of trafficking, children affected by conflict, and children living with disabilities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(L) to increase the number of comprehensive schools; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(M) to carry out other activities to further the goals of the Education for All Fast-Track Initiative.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED FOR COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY CONFLICT OR CRISES- In addition to the activities supported under paragraph (4), assistance provided under this subsection to foreign countries or those parts of the territories of foreign countries that are affected by armed conflict, emerging from armed conflict, or affected by a humanitarian crisis may be used to support efforts--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) to ensure a continuity of educational activities for all children;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) wherever possible, to reestablish formal education services, or to complement services that are available with the establishment of well-managed school spaces, to protect children from physical harm, psychological and social distress, recruitment into armed groups, family separation, and abuses related to their displacement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) to promote the creation of out-of-school programs and flexible-hour schooling in areas in which security prevents students from attending regular schools;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) to provide safe spaces, with such facilities providing access to water, sanitation, health-related education, psychosocial support and landmine awareness;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) to provide temporary facility construction and minor rehabilitation of educational structures;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) to provide essential educational materials that assist in building systems to support, train, and provide professional development for educators; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(G) to promote efforts to ensure the reintegration of teachers and students in conflict and refugee situations into educational systems, including regional approaches to coordinate and recognize the educational efforts of these teachers and students and other school systems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) SUSPENSION OF ASSISTANCE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- The President may suspend the provision of all or part of the assistance provided under this subsection for a foreign country if there is substantial evidence that the country--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) is significantly failing to meet the criteria specified in its national education plan; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii)(I)(aa) is not tracking and monitoring the use of foreign and domestic assistance to develop or implement its national education plan and making such tracking and monitoring information available to the public; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(bb) is using such assistance for unauthorized purposes; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) fails to come forward with an immediate plan to address a deficiency described in item (aa) or (bb) of subclause (I).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) NOTIFICATION- Not later than 30 days after exercising the authority of subparagraph (A) to suspend the provision of all or part of the assistance provided under this subsection for a foreign country, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a notification of such suspension, including the reasons for the suspension.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(g) Universal Basic Education Fellowship Program-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) AUTHORITY- The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development is authorized to establish an education fellowship program at the United States Agency for International Development to increase the expertise of the personnel of the Agency in promoting universal basic education and to carry out the provisions of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) TERM OF FELLOWSHIP- An individual may participate in a fellowship under this subsection for a term of not more than 3 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) QUALIFICATIONS- An individual is qualified to participate in a fellowship under this subsection if such individual has the specific expertise required--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) to develop and implement the policies and programs of this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience among the Agency, the education service delivery community, private business, and the academic and research communities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(h) Annual Report-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than January 31 of each year, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of this section for the prior fiscal year and make the report available to the public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) REPORT ELEMENTS- The report required by paragraph (1) shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) a description of efforts made by relevant executive branch agencies and officials to implement the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (e), with a particular focus on the activities carried out under this section;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) a description of the programs established by each foreign country receiving assistance pursuant to subsection (f) that provides a detailed explanation of the extent to which the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (e) and the assistance provided pursuant to subsection (f) are contributing to the goal of universal basic education in the foreign country; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) a description of the extent to which each foreign country selected to receive assistance pursuant to subsection (f) meets the priority criteria specified in subsection (f)(3)(A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) Relationship to Other Laws- The President shall exercise the authority provided in this section in accordance with other applicable law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(j) Authorization of Appropriations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the President--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) $2,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) $3,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS- Amounts made available under paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended and are in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Technical Amendment- Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by redesignating the second section 135 (as added by section 5(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2536)) as section 136.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. COORDINATOR OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES TO PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR ALL IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

(a) Establishment of Position- Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(g) Education for All Coordinator-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) ESTABLISHMENT-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- There shall be established within the Department of State in the immediate office of the Secretary of State a Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Provide Education for All in Developing Countries (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the `Coordinator'), who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Coordinator shall report directly to the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) CONCURRENT GOVERNMENT POSITION PROHIBITED- The individual serving as the Coordinator may not hold any other position in the Federal Government during the individual's time of service as Coordinator.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) GENERAL AUTHORITIES- The Coordinator, acting through such nongovernmental organizations (including faith-based and community based organizations) and relevant executive branch agencies and officials as may be necessary and appropriate to effect the purposes of this section, is authorized--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) to operate internationally to carry out activities to promote universal basic education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) to transfer and allocate funds to relevant executive branch agencies and officials; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) to provide grants to, and enter into contracts with nongovernmental organizations (including faith-based and community-based organizations) to carry out the purposes of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) DUTIES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- The Coordinator shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all resources and international activities of the United States Government to promote universal basic education under section 105A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any other provision of law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) SPECIFIC DUTIES- The duties of the Coordinator shall specifically include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) Ensuring program and policy coordination among relevant executive branch agencies and officials and nongovernmental organizations, including auditing, monitoring, and evaluation of all such programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) Ensuring that relevant executive branch agencies and officials undertake programs primarily in those areas in which the agencies and officials have the greatest expertise, technical capabilities, and potential for success.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) Avoiding duplication of effort.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) Ensuring coordination of activities of relevant executive branch agencies and officials in the field.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(v) Pursuing coordination with other countries and international organizations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(vi) Resolving policy, program, and funding disputes among relevant executive branch agencies and officials.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(vii) Directly approving all activities to promote universal basic education under section 105A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any other provision of law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(viii) Establishing due diligence criteria for all recipients of funds to promote universal basic education under section 105A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any other provision of law, and all activities carried out with such funds, subject to the coordination and appropriate monitoring, evaluation, and audits carried out by the Coordinator necessary to assess the measurable outcomes of such activities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ix) Annually convening a meeting of relevant executive branch agencies and officials to evaluate progress in carrying out the United States strategy developed pursuant to section 105A(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and recommend future changes to the strategy based upon such evaluation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(x) Annually submit to the President a report outlining the progress made in carrying out the United States strategy developed pursuant to section 105A(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and containing the evaluation of the strategy and recommendations for future changes to the strategy developed at the meeting of relevant executive branch agencies and officials pursuant to clause (ix).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than 30 days after receiving the report required by paragraph (3)(B)(x), the President shall transmit the report and a response to the contents of the report to the appropriate congressional committees and make the report and the response to the report available to the public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) DEFINITIONS- In this subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) AIDS- The term `AIDS' has the meaning given that term in subsection (f)(2)(C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term `appropriate congressional committees' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) BASIC EDUCATION- The term `basic education' has the meaning given that term in section 105A(d)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) HIV- The term `HIV' has the meaning given that term in subsection (f)(2)(C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) HIV/AIDS- The term `HIV/AIDS' has the meaning given that term in subsection (f)(2)(C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) RELEVANT EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS- The term `relevant executive branch agencies and officials' has the meaning given that term in section 105A(d)(10) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Specification of Resources of Coordinator- Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall specify the necessary financial and personnel resources, including detailees, from funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (j) of section 105A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as added by section 3 of this Act), that shall be assigned to and under the direct control of the Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Provide Education for All in Developing Countries (as established by subsection (g) of section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as added by subsection (a) of this section)) to establish and maintain the duties and supporting activities assigned to the Coordinator by section 1(g) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink