22 USC § 2371 - Prohibition on assistance to governments supporting international terrorism

(a) Prohibition

The United States shall not provide any assistance under this chapter, the Food for Peace Act [7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.], the Peace Corps Act [22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.], or the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 [12 U.S.C. 635 et seq.] to any country if the Secretary of State determines that the government of that country has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.

(b) Publication of determinations

Each determination of the Secretary of State under subsection (a) of this section, including each determination in effect on December 12, 1989, shall be published in the Federal Register.

(c) Rescission

A determination made by the Secretary of State under subsection (a) of this section may not be rescinded unless the President submits to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate—

(1) before the proposed rescission would take effect, a report certifying that—

(A) there has been a fundamental change in the leadership and policies of the government of the country concerned;

(B) that government is not supporting acts of international terrorism; and

(C) that government has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future; or

(2) at least 45 days before the proposed rescission would take effect, a report justifying the rescission and certifying that—

(A) the government concerned has not provided any support for international terrorism during the preceding 6-month period; and

(B) the government concerned has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.

(d) Waiver

Assistance prohibited by subsection (a) of this section may be provided to a country described in that subsection if—

(1) the President determines that national security interests or humanitarian reasons justify a waiver of subsection (a) of this section, except that humanitarian reasons may not be used to justify assistance under subchapter II of this chapter (including part IV, part VI, and part VIII), or the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 [12 U.S.C. 635 et seq.]; and

(2) at least 15 days before the waiver takes effect, the President consults with the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate regarding the proposed waiver and submits a report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate containing—

(A) the name of the recipient country;

(B) a description of the national security interests or humanitarian reasons which require the waiver;

(C) the type and amount of and the justification for the assistance to be provided pursuant to the waiver; and

(D) the period of time during which such waiver will be effective.

The waiver authority granted in this subsection may not be used to provide any assistance under this chapter which is also prohibited by section 2780 of this title.

Source

(Pub. L. 87–195, pt. III, § 620A, as added Pub. L. 94–329, title III, § 303,June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 753; amended Pub. L. 99–83, title V, § 503(a),Aug. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 220; Pub. L. 99–190, § 101(i) [title V, § 521], Dec. 19, 1985, 99 Stat. 1291, 1305; Pub. L. 101–222, § 5,Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1897; Pub. L. 110–246, title III, § 3001(b)(1)(A), (2)(Q),June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1820.)

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d), was in the original “this Act” and “the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961”, respectively, meaning Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424, as amended. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2151 of this title and Tables.

The Food for Peace Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is act July 10, 1954, ch. 469, 68 Stat. 454, which is classified principally to chapter 41 (§ 1691 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1691 of Title 7 and Tables.

The Peace Corps Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 87–293, Sept. 22, 1961, 75 Stat. 612, as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 34 (§ 2501 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2501 of this title and Tables.

The Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d)(1), is act July 31, 1945, ch. 341, 59 Stat. 526, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 6A (§ 635 et seq.) of Title 12, Banks and Banking. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 635 of Title 12 and Tables.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–246substituted “Food for Peace Act” for “Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954”.

1989—Pub. L. 101–222amended section generally, in subsec. (a) substituting provisions prohibiting assistance if Secretary of State determines country has repeatedly supported terrorism, for provisions prohibiting assistance if President determines country grants sanctuary to terrorists or otherwise supports terrorism; redesignating subsec. (b) as (d) and inserting provisions prohibiting justification of waiver of assistance under specified Acts and provisions describing contents of report on proposed waiver; adding subsecs. (b) and (c); and striking out subsec. (c) which related to imposition of sanction by other countries.

1985—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–190inserted reference to the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945.

Pub. L. 99–83amended subsec. (a) generally, substituting provisions relating to covered programs and Presidential determinations respecting termination of assistance, for provisions relating to termination of assistance to countries granting sanctuary to international terrorists and period of ineligibility.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–83amended subsec. (b) generally, substituting provisions relating to waiver of application of subsec. (a), for provisions relating to reports respecting continuation of assistance to any country falling within provisions of former subsec. (a) of this section.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–83, in amending section generally, added subsec. (c).

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–246effective May 22, 2008, see section 4(b) ofPub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–83effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 1301 ofPub. L. 99–83, set out as a note under section 2151–1 of this title.

Delegation of Functions

For delegation of functions of President under this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 12163, Sept. 29, 1979, 44 F.R. 56673, as amended, set out as a note under section 2381 of this title.

Self-Defense in Accordance With International Law

Section 10 ofPub. L. 101–222provided that: “The use by any government of armed force in the exercise of individual or collective self-defense in accordance with applicable international agreements and customary international law shall not be considered an act of international terrorism for purposes of the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1989 Amendment note, set out under section 2151 of this title].”