Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to authorize the Commissioner of Customs to make a grant to assist an institution of higher education in establishing in Texas a North-South Center for the Study of Western Hemisphere Trade, which shall promote cultural exchange and trade between Western Hemisphere countries. Authorizes appropriations.
HR 5473 IH 101st CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5473 To amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to establish a center to study and support improved trade and economic relations among Western Hemisphere countries. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 3, 1990 Mr. BUSTAMANTE (for himself, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. BRYANT, and Mr. ORTIZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Ways and Means and Foreign Affairs A BILL To amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to establish a center to study and support improved trade and economic relations among Western Hemisphere countries. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds that-- (1) countries in the Western Hemisphere are currently considering more integrated and liberalized trade relations, including free trade agreements, free trade zones, restructured tariffs, debt relief, removal of foreign investment barriers, and other economic measures; (2) Mexico and the United States are informally discussing the possibility of entering into a bilateral free trade agreement similar to the agreement between the United States and Canada; (3) a freer trade environment may improve the economies of Mexico and Latin American and Caribbean countries and in turn remove incentives for illegal immigration into the United States; (4) the congressionally appointed Commission for the Study of International Migration and Cooperative Economic Development has recommended that the United States promote economic growth in Mexico, South and Central America, Canada, and the Caribbean, because the Commission believes such growth will decrease illegal immigration into the United States from these regions; (5) the European economic integration process, which will be completed by 1992, demonstrates the benefits that can be derived if countries trade with and interact economically with other countries in the same hemisphere; (6) solid economic relationships between the United States and other Western Hemisphere countries involve complex issues which require continuing detailed study and discussion; (7) in 1960, Congress established the East-West Center, a public institution to promote better relations and understanding among the nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States, through cooperation, study, and research; (8) the economic interdependency of Western Hemisphere countries requires that a center, similar to the East-West Center, be established in the southern United States to promote better trade and economic relations among the nations of the Western Hemisphere; and (9) such a center should be established in the State of Texas because that State has the longest border with a Latin American country. (b) PURPOSES- The purposes of this Act are to-- (1) establish a center devoted to studying and supporting better economic relations among Western Hemisphere countries; (2) give the center responsibility for studying the short- and long-term implications of freer trade and more liberalized economic relations among countries from North and South America, and from the Caribbean Basin; (3) facilitate cultural exchanges and a continuing dialogue between Western Hemisphere countries; and (4) provide a forum where scholars and students from Western Hemisphere countries can meet, study, exchange views, and conduct activities to increase economic relations between their respective countries. SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH-SOUTH CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRADE. The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 218 the following new section: `SEC. 219. NORTH-SOUTH CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRADE. `(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The Commissioner of Customs, after consultation with the International Trade Commission (hereafter in this section referred to as the `Commission'), is authorized and directed to make a grant to an institution of higher education or a consortium of such institutions to assist such institution in planning, establishing, and operating a North-South Center for the Study of Western Hemisphere Trade (hereafter in this section referred to as the `North-South Center'). The North-South Center shall be established not later than December 31, 1991. `(b) SCOPE OF NORTH-SOUTH CENTER- The North-South Center shall be a year-round program operated by an institution of higher education located in the State of Texas (or a consortium of such institutions), the purpose of which is to promote cultural exchange and trade between and among Western Hemisphere countries. The North-South Center shall conduct activities designed to examine negotiation of free trade agreements, adjusting tariffs, reducing nontariff barriers, improving relations among customs officials, and promoting economic relations among countries in the Western Hemisphere. `(c) CONSULTATION; SELECTION CRITERIA- The Commissioner of Customs and the Commission shall consult with appropriate public and private sector authorities with respect to planning and establishing the North-South Center. In selecting the appropriate institution of higher education, the Commissioner of Customs and the Commission shall give consideration to-- `(1) the institution's ability to carry out the programs and activities described in this section; and `(2) any resources the institution can provide the North-South Center in addition to Federal funds provided under this program. `(d) PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES- The North-South Center shall conduct the following activities: `(1) Provide forums for international discussion and debate for representatives from countries in the Western Hemisphere regarding issues which affect trade and other economic relations within the hemisphere. `(2) Conduct studies and research projects on subjects which affect Western Hemisphere trade, including tariffs, customs, regional and national economics, business development and finance, production and personnel management, manufacturing, agriculture, engineering, transportation, immigration, telecommunications, medicine, science, urban studies, border demographics, social anthropology, and population. `(3) Publish materials, disseminate information, and conduct seminars and conferences to support and educate representatives from countries in the Western Hemisphere who seek to do business with or invest in other Western Hemisphere countries. `(4) Foster cultural exchange and understanding among Western Hemisphere countries through publications, studies, seminars, conferences, and fellowship programs. `(5) Provide grants, fellowships, endowed chairs, and financial assistance to outstanding scholars and authorities from Western Hemisphere countries. `(6) Provide grants, fellowships, and other financial assistance to qualified graduate students, from Western Hemisphere countries, to study at the North-South Center. `(e) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section-- `(1) WESTERN HEMISPHERE COUNTRIES- The terms `Western Hemisphere countries', `countries in the Western Hemisphere', and `Western Hemisphere' mean Canada, the United States, Mexico, countries located in South America, beneficiary countries (as defined by section 212), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. `(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION- The term `institution of higher education' has the meaning given such term by section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141(a)). `(f) FEES FOR SEMINARS AND PUBLICATIONS- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a grant made under this section may provide that the North-South Center may charge a reasonable fee for attendance at seminars and conferences and for copies of publications, studies, reports, and other documents the North-South Center publishes. The North-South Center may waive such fees in any case in which it determines imposing a fee would impose a financial hardship and the purposes of the North-South Center would be served by granting such a waiver.'. SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, and such sums as may be necessary in the 3 succeeding fiscal years to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Referred to the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs.
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