Sec. 261. Humanitarian and business development assistance
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It is the sense of Congress that— the promotion of human rights and democracy around the world is essential; such promotion should continue to be incorporated into ongoing programs, such as those of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the Department of State, the Office of Democracy and Governance of the United States Agency for International Development, the National Endowment for Democracy, the Commercial Law Development Program at the Department of Commerce, and other governmental and nongovernmental entities; the activities authorized under this subtitle should remain focused on the objectives of this subtitle; and any funds appropriated pursuant to this subtitle should be expended on such activities.
The purposes of this section are— to deepen the cultural and people-to-people ties between the people of Americas partner countries; to facilitate the establishment of sustainable market solutions to increase the economic advancement interdependence of the countries in the Western Hemisphere; and to advance the objectives of this subtitle through support to businesses, which should remain focused on those endeavors. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency, and the Secretary of Commerce, shall establish a people-to-people assistance program through which individuals in Americas partner countries may participate in programs funded by the United States Government.
The programs established pursuant to paragraph
(1)shall remain focused on achieving the objectives of the Americas Partnership Threshold Program established under section 223(a), and may include grants and contracts for— training programs related to public administration, such as the Global Procurement Initiative of the United States Trade and Development Agency, and good regulatory practices and practices of internal governance; technical assistance related to— improved service delivery for public services; studies, reports, and other deliverables needed related to engineering, construction, maintenance of public or private infrastructure; feasibility studies related to private sector investments; and startup grants, venture capital, and equity for establishing and growing businesses; and other activities to support the Americas Partnership Threshold Program; and other people-to-people assistance authorized by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is authorized to enter into contracts with for-profit private sector entities to implement the people-to-people assistance program authorized under this subsection. There is established within the United States Agency for International Development a program to be known as the Americas Partnership Accelerator Program, which shall catalyze small and medium industries within Americas partner countries by providing short-term, tangible successes, which will help people recognize entrepreneurs in their communities who are benefiting from the Americas program. There is authorized to be appropriated, from the Re-shoring and Near-shoring Account established under section 301, $15,000,000 to carry out the program established under paragraph (1). There is established in the Treasury of the United States the Americas Partnership Fund for Nature, which shall be used by the United States Agency for International Development to assist Americas partner countries by catalyzing activities advancing conservation efforts through grants, technical assistance, and other tools. There is authorized to be appropriated, from the Re-shoring and Near-shoring Account established under section 301, $10,000,000 to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). The Secretary of State may expend such sums as may be necessary from the Re-shoring and Near-shoring Account established under section 301 to carry out this section.