US Congress House Bill 2845 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Engrossed on September 8 2016 - 50% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2016-12-07 - Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 706.
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

AGOA Enhancement Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill states that it is U.S. policy to support efforts in sub-Saharan Africa to: (1) improve the rule of law, promote free elections, strengthen the private sector, and fight corruption; and (2) promote the role of women in social, political, and economic development. (Sec. 3) The President shall establish the AGOA website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The website shall include: information and technical assistance provided at U.S. Agency for International Development regional trade hubs, and a link to U.S. embassy websites located in eligible sub-Saharan African countries. The Department of State should direct U.S. embassies in eligible sub-Saharan African countries to promote such countries' use of AGOA benefits, including through the use of a publicly available Internet link to the AGORA website. The President should, after each meeting of the United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, publish on the AGOA website: (1) all outcomes of the meeting, including any member country and private sector commitments; and (2) an assessment of progress made regarding any commitments made by member countries and the private sector from the previous meeting. (Sec. 4) The President should: implement policies to facilitate trans-boundary trade among eligible sub-Saharan African countries; provide training for business and government trade officials on accessing AGOA benefits and other trade preference programs; and provide capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, formation of cooperatives, and market research and market development; provide capacity building training to promote product diversification and value-added processing; and provide capacity building and technical assistance funding to help African businesses and institutions comply with U.S. counter-terrorism initiatives and policies. "Eligible sub-Saharan African country" means a country that the President has determined meets AGORA eligibility requirements. (Sec. 5) The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 is amended to provide that an eligible country that has entered into and has in effect a Millennium Challenge Compact may also enter into and have in effect at the same time not more than one additional compact, if: one or both of the compacts are or will be for purposes of regional economic integration, increased regional trade, or cross-border collaborations; and the country is making considerable and demonstrable progress in implementing the terms of the existing compact.

AGOA Enhancement Act of 2015

Rep. Edward Royce [R-CA]

Rep. Eliot Engel [D-NY]

Rep. Christopher Smith [R-NJ]

Rep. Karen Bass [D-CA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2016-12-07	Senate	Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 706.
2016-12-07	Senate	Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment. Without written report.
2016-12-06	Senate	Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
2016-09-08	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
2016-09-07	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2016-09-07	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5149)
2016-09-07	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2845.
2016-09-07	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5149-5153)
2016-09-07	House	Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2015-11-05	House	Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
2015-11-05	House	Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2015-06-19	House	Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
2015-06-19	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2845/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr2845/BILLS-114hr2845ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr2845/BILLS-114hr2845eh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr2845/BILLS-114hr2845rs.pdf