international, disaster assistance

international, disaster assistance Sec. 101. The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended— (1) by amending the chapter heading for chapter 9 of part I to read “Chapter 9—International Disaster Assistance”; (2) by repealing section 491; (3) by inserting immediately after the chapter heading for such chapter 9 the following new sections: “Sec. 491. Policy and General Authority.—(a) The Congress, recognizing that prompt United States assistance to alleviate human suffering caused by natural and manmade disasters is an important expression of the humanitarian concern and tradition of the people of the United States, affirms the willingness of the United States to provide assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of people and countries affected by such disasters. “(b) Subject to the limitation on appropriations in section 492, and notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Act, the President is authorized to furnish assistance to any foreign country or international organization on such terms and conditions as he may determine, for international disaster relief and rehabilitation, including assistance relating to disaster preparedness, and to the prediction of, and contingency planning for, natural disasters abroad. “(c) In carrying out the provisions of this section the President shall insure that the assistance provided by the United States shall, to the greatest extent possible, reach those most in need of relief and rehabilitation as a result of natural and manmade disasters. “Sec. 492. Authorization.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry out section 491, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1976 and 1977. Amounts appropriated under this section are authorized to remain available until expended. The President shall submit quarterly reports to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the programing and obligation of funds under this section. “Sec. 493. Disaster Assistance—Coordination.—The President is authorized to appoint a Special Coordinator for International Disaster Assistance whose responsibility shall be to promote maximum effectiveness and coordination in responses to foreign disasters by United States agencies and between the United States and other donors. Included among the Special Coordinator’s responsibilities 89 STAT. 850shall be the formulation and updating of contingency plans for providing disaster relief.”; (4) by redesignating section 452 as section 494 and inserting it immediately after section 493; (5) by redesignating sections 639A and 639B as sections 494A and 494B, respectively, and inserting them immediately after section 494; (6) by repealing section 639; (7) in section 494B, as redesignated by paragraph (5) of this section— (A) by striking out “Sahel” in the section caption, (B) by inserting “(a)” immediately after the section caption, (C) by striking out “supports” and inserting in lieu thereof “reaffirms its support of”, and (D) by adding the following new subsections at the end thereof: “(b) The President is authorized to develop a long-term comprehensive development program for the Sahel and other drought-stricken nations in Africa. “(c) In developing this long-term program, the President shall— “(1) consider international coordination for the planning and implementation of such program; “(2) seek greater participation and support by African countries and organizations in determining development priorities; and “(3) begin such planning immediately. “(d) There is authorized to be appropriated to the President, to carry out the purposes of this section, in addition to funds otherwise available for such purposes, $5,000,000 for the fiscal year 1976, which amount is authorized to remain available until expended. The President shall submit to the Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees of the Senate and the International Relations and Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives not later than April 30, 1976, a comprehensive proposal for carrying out the provisions of this section which shall include budget materials relating to programs for the fiscal year 1977.”; and (8) by adding the following new section immediately after new section 494B: “Sec. 495. Cyprus Relief and Rehabilitation.—The President is authorized to furnish assistance, on such terms and conditions as he may determine, for the relief and rehabilitation of refugees and other needy people in Cyprus. There is authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of this section, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes, $30,000,000. Such amount is authorized to remain available until expended. Assistance under this section shall be provided in accordance with the policy and general authority contained in section 491.”.