TRIAL TRANSIT PROGRAM.

SEC. 304. TRIAL TRANSIT PROGRAM. (a) Allocation of Funds.—Of the amount made available for fiscal year 2001 under chapter 9 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 301, $5,000,000 is authorized to be available to establish a static cargo x-ray facility in Malta, if the Secretary of State first certifies to the appropriate committees of Congress that the Government of Malta has provided adequate assurances that such a facility will be utilized in connection with random cargo inspections by Maltese customs officials of container traffic transiting through the Malta Freeport. (b) Requirement of Written Assessment.—In the event that a facility is established in Malta pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall submit a written assessment to the appropriate committees of Congress not later than 270 days after such a facility commences operation detailing— (1) statistics on utilization of the facility by Malta; (2) the contribution made by the facility to United States nonproliferation and export control objectives; and (3) the feasibility of establishing comparable facilities in other countries identified by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 583 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 301. (c) Treatment of Assistance.—Assistance under this section shall be considered as assistance under section 583(a) of the Foreign 114 STAT. 854Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to transit interdiction), as added by section 301.