§ 2151. Congressional findings and declaration of policy

§ 2151. Congressional findings and declaration of policy

(a) United States development cooperation policy

The Congress finds that fundamental political, economic, and technological changes have resulted in the interdependence of nations. The Congress declares that the individual liberties, economic prosperity, and security of the people of the United States are best sustained and enhanced in a community of nations which respect individual civil and economic rights and freedoms and which work together to use wisely the world’s limited resources in an open and equitable international economic system. Furthermore, the Congress reaffirms the traditional humanitarian ideals of the American people and renews its commitment to assist people in developing countries to eliminate hunger, poverty, illness, and ignorance.

Therefore, the Congress declares that a principal objective of the foreign policy of the United States is the encouragement and sustained support of the people of developing countries in their efforts to acquire the knowledge and resources essential to development and to build the economic, political, and social institutions which will improve the quality of their lives.

United States development cooperation policy should emphasize five principal goals:

(1) the alleviation of the worst physical manifestations of poverty among the world’s poor majority;

(2) the promotion of conditions enabling developing countries to achieve self-sustaining economic growth with equitable distribution of benefits;

(3) the encouragement of development processes in which individual civil and economic rights are respected and enhanced;

(4) the integration of the developing countries into an open and equitable international economic system; and

(5) the promotion of good governance through combating corruption and improving transparency and accountability.

The Congress declares that pursuit of these goals requires that development concerns be fully reflected in United States foreign policy and that United States development resources be effectively and efficiently utilized.

(b) Coordination of development-related activities

Under the policy guidance of the Secretary of State, the agency primarily responsible for administering subchapter I of this chapter should have the responsibility for coordinating all United States development-related activities.

(Pub. L. 87–195, pt. I, § 101, formerly § 102, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424; Pub. L. 87–565, pt. I, § 101, Aug. 1, 1962, 76 Stat. 255; Pub. L. 88–205, pt. I, § 101(c), Dec. 16, 1963, 77 Stat. 379; Pub. L. 89–171, pt. I, § 101, Sept. 6, 1965, 79 Stat. 653; Pub. L. 89–583, pt. I, § 101, Sept. 19, 1966, 80 Stat. 796; Pub. L. 90–137, pt. I, § 101, Nov. 14, 1967, 81 Stat. 445; Pub. L. 93–189, § 2(2), Dec. 17, 1973, 87 Stat. 714; Pub. L. 94–161, title III, § 301, Dec. 20, 1975, 89 Stat. 855; Pub. L. 95–88, title I, §§ 101, 113(b), Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 533, 538; renumbered and amended Pub. L. 95–424, title I, § 101, Oct. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 937; Pub. L. 106–309, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1091.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–309 substituted “five principal goals” for “four principal goals” in introductory provisions of third paragraph and added par. (5).

1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–424, in setting forth a new declaration of policy generally substituted four principal goals of development cooperation policy, they being (1) the alleviation of the worst manifestations of poverty, (2) self-sustained economic growth, (3) respect for civil and economic rights, and (4) the integration of the developing countries into an open and equitable economic system, for former seven pars. relating to: (1) primary responsibility for development being in the less developed countries themselves; (2) the active involvement of many countries; (3) the encouragement of regional cooperation; (5) assistance being of such nature as to help United States balance of payments; (6) furnishing of assistance in such manner as to promote efficiency, and (7) the furnishing of agricultural commodities, etc., to complement assistance under this subchapter.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–424 substituted provisions relating to the responsibility of the agency primarily responsible for administering the program for coordination of all development related activities, for former seven criteria for restructuring relationships with less developed countries, those criteria being: (1) sharing of technical expertise; (2) focusing on critical problems affecting the majority of the people; (3) use of the private sector; (4) development goals as the responsibility of each sovereign nation; (5) priority to undertakings directly improving the lives of the poorest people; (6) private investment in development programs; and (7) responsibility for coordination of activities with the agency having primary responsibility for administering this part.

Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 95–424 struck out subsecs. (c) to (e).

1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–88, § 113(b)(1), inserted “environment and natural resources” to enumeration of fundamental needs of the people of less developed countries which development assistance must be used in meeting.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 95–88, § 113(b)(2), inserted “environment and natural resources;” after “population planning and health;”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–88, § 101(a), substituted provisions under which the President developed the criteria and factors to be used in assessing the commitment and progress of countries in meeting the objectives set forth in subsec. (c) and transmitted a report by Jan. 31, 1978, to the Speaker of the House and to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate for provisions under which the President had established the criteria without Congressional involvement.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–88, § 101(b), added subsec. (e).

1975—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 94–161 added subsecs. (c) and (d).

1973—Pub. L. 93–189 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

1967—Pub. L. 90–137, in providing a new statement of policy, reaffirming basic foreign assistance principles, and recognizing new problems and need for new priorities, substituted five pars. concerned with (1) freedom, security, prosperity, aggression, subversion, ignorance, want, despair, and national security; (2) economic cooperation and trade among countries, etc. (a reenactment of former sixth par. less provision for resort to international law procedures in adjudication of issues among friendly countries in support of such economic cooperation, etc.); (3) seven principles pertaining to: self-help efforts and responsibility of the country, multilateral basis of involvement and cooperation, regional cooperation, food production and voluntary family planning, balance of payments, maximum dollar effectiveness, and coordination of overall assistance; (4) Permanent Peace in the Middle East; and (5) suspension of assistance after severance of diplomatic relations for former sixteen pars. relating to: (1) dignity and interdependence of man, and freedom; (2) resources development, living standards improvement, and aspirations for justice, education, etc., now covered in par. (1); (4) free economic institutions and flow of private investment capital; (5) investment guaranties; (6) economic cooperation and trade among countries, etc., as described for par. (2); (7) long-range continuity and disposal of surplus property and agricultural crops; (8) world peace, national security, and dangers of international communism; (9) countries sharing United States views on world crisis; (10) loan guarantees and related technical assistance and development program; (11) regional organizations for mutual assistance; (12) prohibition of assistance for short-term emergency purposes; (13) common undertaking of countries to meet goals; (14) discretionary assistance by the President to South Vietnam to gain victory in the war against communism and return to homeland of Americans from that struggle; (15) damage or destruction by mob action of United States property and termination of assistance, now covered in section 2370(j) of this title; and (16) use of United States Armed Forces, now covered in section 2409 of this title.

1966—Pub. L. 89–583 provided for termination of assistance to any foreign country which does not take appropriate measures to provide compensation for damage or destruction by mob action of United States property within such country and declared that furnishing assistance shall not be construed as creating a new commitment or as affecting any existing commitment to use armed forces of the United States for the defense of any foreign country.

1965—Pub. L. 89–171 added expressions of the sense of Congress that in furnishing assistance under this subchapter excess personal property shall be utilized wherever practicable in lieu of the procurement of new items for United States-assisted projects and programs and that assistance under this chapter and other statutes should be terminated to any country permitting damage to or destruction of U.S. property within such country by mob action or by failing to take adequate preventive measures.

1963—Pub. L. 88–205 declared that institution of full investment guaranty programs with all recipient countries would be regarded as a significant measure of self-help by such countries improving investment climate, that assistance to maintain freedom from communism “shall” rather than “should” emphasize long-range development, that in the administration of programs of assistance, every precaution be taken to assure that assistance is not diverted to any short-term emergency purpose or any purpose not essential to long-range economic development, that other industrialized free-world countries increase their contributions and assistance to more equitably share the burden, and the President should in his discretion, extend or withhold assistance from South Vietnam to further victory and the return home of Americans involved in the struggle there.

1962—Pub. L. 87–565 declared distinctions made by foreign nations between American citizens because of race, color, or religion, relating to rights available to such citizens, to be repugnant to our principals, required in the administration of these funds, that consideration be given those countries sharing our world views and which do not divert their resources to military or propaganda efforts, supported by the Soviet Union or Communist China, against the United States or countries receiving aid under this chapter, that the highest emphasis be given to programs for loans or loan guarantees for use by organizations in making low-interest loans to individuals in friendly countries for the purchase of small farms, purchase of homes, aiding or establishing small businesses, purchase of tools and equipment for an occupation or trade, or to obtain practical education in vocational skills, and to programs of technical assistance and development, each assisted country should be encouraged to recognize needs of the people in the preparation of national development programs, and declared that friendly nations are to be invited, where possible, to join in missions to consult with countries receiving assistance on the possibilities of joint action to assure effective development of economic development plans and effective use of assistance provided them, and that the President may request international financial institutions to assist in establishing such missions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

References to Subchapter I Deemed To Include Certain Parts of Subchapter II

References to subchapter I of this chapter are deemed to include parts IV (§ 2346 et seq.), VI (§ 2348 et seq.), and VIII (§ 2349aa et seq.) of subchapter II of this chapter, and references to subchapter II are deemed to exclude such parts. See section 202(b) of Pub. L. 92–226, set out as a note under section 2346 of this title, and sections 2348c and 2349aa–5 of this title.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–53, title V, § 512, Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 380, provided that: “(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section and in section 503(b) [set out as an Effective Date of 1979 Amendment note under section 2385a of this title] this Act [see Short Title of 1979 Amendments note below] shall take effect on October 1, 1979. “(b) Sections 114(b) [not classified to the Code], 123 [amending a provision set out as a note below], 501 [not classified to the Code], and 509 [set out as a note below] of this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 14, 1979].”

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–424, title VI, § 605, Oct. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 961, provided that: “The amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note below] shall take effect on October 1, 1978.”

Short Title of 2025 Amendment

Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, § 8311, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1854, provided that: “This subtitle [amending sections 2191h of this title and sections 2302, 2311, 2312 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2302 and 2313 of Title 21, and section 1701 of Title 50, War and National Defense, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 2291 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Break Up Suspicious Transactions of Fentanyl Act’ or the ‘BUST Fentanyl Act’.”

Short Title of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LV, § 5551, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3340, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 5551–5558) of title LV of div. E of Pub. L. 117–263, enacting sections 2291l to 2291n of this title, amending sections 2291 and 2291h of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2291l of this title] may be cited as the ‘Fighting Emerging Narcotics Through Additional Nations to Yield Lasting Results Act’ or the ‘FENTANYL Results Act’.”

Pub. L. 117–103, div. V, § 101, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 834, provided that: “This division [enacting provisions set out as a note under this section and repealing provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act’.”

Short Title of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–81, div. F, title LXVI, § 6610(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2447, provided that: “This section [amending sections 2291, 2291h, and 2291j–1 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2291 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Imports Act’.”

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XII, § 1271, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3978, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle H (§§ 1271–1280B) of title XII of div. A of Pub. L. 116–283, enacting section 8607 of this title, amending sections 2151d, 2321h, and 8606 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2151, 2321h, and 8606 of this title] may be cited as the ‘United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020’.”

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XII, § 1281, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3985, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle I (§§ 1281–1285) of title XII of div. A of Pub. L. 116–283, enacting section 2152k of this title, amending section 2152f of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2152f of this title] may be cited as the ‘Global Child Thrive Act of 2020’.”

Short Title of 2020 Amendment