Determination Consistent with Section 620(q) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and Section 512 of the FY 2002 and 2003 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Acts

President Bush determined that providing foreign assistance to Liberia is in the U.S. national interest and waived statutory restrictions under Section 620(q) of the Foreign Assistance Act and Section 512 of FY 2002-2003 appropriations acts that would otherwise prohibit such aid. The Secretary of State must report this determination to Congress and arrange for Federal Register publication.

Federal Register Open PDF 68 FR 74457

Impact dates

Date TBD
Secretary of State report to Congress and Federal Register publication

Key directives

Waive application of section 620(q) of Foreign Assistance Act with respect to Liberia
Waive application of section 512 of FY 2002 and 2003 Foreign Operations appropriations with respect to Liberia
Secretary of State to report determination to Congress
Secretary of State to arrange for Federal Register publication

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Waiver of statutory restrictions takes effect upon signing
Assistance to Liberia may proceed

Near term (90d)

Secretary of State to report determination to Congress
Federal Register publication to be arranged

Long term

Continued U.S. foreign assistance to Liberia permitted without 620(q)/Section 512 restrictions

Risks & tensions

Waiver bypasses congressional restrictions on aid to countries with certain governance/human rights conditions; Liberia had recent civil conflict raising questions about aid effectiveness
No explicit deadline for congressional report creates implementation uncertainty