§2346d. People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund
(a) Establishment
Beginning on the date that is one year after Dec. 27, 2020, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development is authorized to establish a program to provide funding for projects to help build the foundation for peaceful co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians and for a sustainable two-state solution. The program established under this subsection shall be known as the "People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund" (referred to in this section as the "Fund").
(b) Eligibility for support
In providing funding for projects through the Fund, the Administrator may provide support for qualified organizations, prioritizing those organizations that seek to build better cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, including Palestinian organizations, Israeli organizations, and international organizations that bring Israelis and Palestinians together.
(c) Additional eligibility for support
In providing funding for projects through the Fund, the Administrator may additionally provide support to qualified organizations that further shared community building, peaceful co-existence, dialogue, and reconciliation between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel.
(d) Contributions
The Administrator-
(1) is encouraged to work with foreign governments and international organizations to leverage the impact of United States resources and achieve the objectives of this section; and
(2) is authorized to accept contributions for the purposes of the Fund, consistent with subsection (d) of section 2395 of this title.
(e) Advisory board
(1) Establishment
The Administrator shall establish an advisory board to make recommendations to the Administrator regarding the types of projects that should be considered for funding through the Fund.
(2) Membership
(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the advisory board shall be composed of 13 members, none of whom may be Members of Congress, who shall be appointed for renewable periods of 3 years, as follows:
(i) One member to serve as chair, appointed by the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of State.
(ii) One member appointed by the chair, and one member appointed by the ranking member, of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(iii) One member appointed by the chair, and one member appointed by the ranking member, of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(iv) One member appointed by the chair, and one member appointed by the ranking member, of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(v) One member appointed by the chair, and one member appointed by the ranking member, of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(vi) One member appointed by the majority leader, and one member appointed by the minority leader, of the Senate.
(vii) One member appointed by the Speaker, and one member appointed by the minority leader, of the House of Representatives.
(B) International participation
The Administrator may appoint up to two additional members to the advisory board who are representatives of foreign governments or international organizations for renewable periods of 3 years.
(C) Qualifications
Members of the advisory board shall have demonstrated regional expertise and experience and expertise in conflict mitigation and people-to-people programs, and shall not receive compensation on account of their service on the advisory board.
(f) USAID mission recommendations
The Administrator shall consider the input and recommendations from missions of the United States Agency for International Development in the region and mission directors regarding projects that should be considered for funding through the Fund.
(g) Coordination
The Administrator shall coordinate with the Secretary of State in carrying out the provisions of this section.
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 2346d,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace
"SHORT TITLE
"FINDINGS
"(1) Economic development in conflict settings has been shown to support stabilization by empowering entrepreneurs, growing the middle class, and mitigating unemployment.
"(2) In 2018, unemployment in the Palestinian territories was 32.4 percent. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the Palestinian territories declined from 2017 to 2019, and it is projected to further decline in 2020.
"(3) According to the World Bank Ad Hoc Liaison Committee's April 2019 Economic Monitoring Report, 'to achieve sustainable economic growth, in the Palestinian territories, growth and job creation going forward will need to be private sector driven'.
"(4) According to the 2018 Joint Strategic Plan of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development, 'assistance can help prevent new recruitment to terrorist organizations, reduce levels of violence, promote legitimate governance structures that strengthen inclusion, and reduce policies that marginalize communities'.
"(5) Although economic development is an important tool for stabilizing conflict-prone settings and establishing connections between communities, economic development by itself will not lead to lasting peace. People-to-people peace-building programs further advance reconciliation efforts by promoting greater understanding, mutual trust, and cooperation between communities.
"(6) While the United States and its international partners continue to support diplomatic and political negotiations between the representatives of the parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, such efforts require broad popular support among the people on the ground to succeed.
"(7) Achieving sustainable, high-level agreements for lasting peace in the Middle East must come through, and with the support of, the people who live there, and the United States and its international partners can help the people of the region build popular support for sustainable agreements for lasting peace.
"SENSE OF CONGRESS
"(1) building a viable Palestinian economy is central to the effort to preserve the possibility of a negotiated settlement leading to a sustainable two-state solution with the democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a demilitarized, democratic Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace, security, and mutual recognition;
"(2) United States and international support for grassroots, people-to-people efforts aimed at fostering tolerance, and building support for such solution, can help counter extremist propaganda and the growing issue of incitement;
"(3) strengthening engagement between Palestinians and Israelis, including through people-to-people peace-building programs can increase the bonds of friendship and understanding;
"(4) investing in the development of the Palestinian economy and in joint economic ventures can advance multiple sectors to the benefit of local, regional, and global parties; and
"(5) Congress encourages cooperation between Palestinian, American, and Israeli business sectors in order to benefit the Palestinian, American, and Israeli peoples and economies.
"PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE FUND
"JOINT INVESTMENT FOR PEACE INITIATIVE
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(1) select a manager of the Initiative;
"(2) oversee and direct the operation of the Initiative consistent with such Act and other provisions of law;
"(3) provide the Initiative with loans, guaranties, equity, and insurance, as appropriate, to enable the Initiative to attract private investment;
"(4) support the private sector in entering into joint ventures between Palestinian and Israeli entities; and
"(5) carry out the purposes of the Initiative consistent with the provisions of this section and other applicable provisions of law.
"(e)
"(1)
"(A) The extent to which the Initiative has contributed to promoting and supporting Palestinian economic development.
"(B) The extent to which the Initiative has contributed to greater integration of the Palestinian economy into the international rules-based business system.
"(C) The extent to which projects that increase economic cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis and between Palestinians and Americans have been prioritized, including through support to the private sector to enter into joint ventures.
"(D) Information on the following:
"(i) Investments received and provided through the Initiative.
"(ii) The mechanisms established for transparency and accountability of investments provided through the Initiative.
"(E) The extent to which entities supported by the Initiative have impacted the efficacy of people-to-people programs.
"(F) To the extent practicable, an assessment of the sustainability of commercial endeavors that receive support from the Initiative.
"(G) A description of the process for vetting and oversight of entities eligible for support from the Initiative to ensure compliance with the requirements of section 8006(b) of this Act [probably means "this title"].
"(2)
"(f)
"(1)
"(2)
"(g)
"LIMITATIONS, VETTING, COORDINATION, AND OVERSIGHT
"(1) financial assistance to the national government of any foreign country;
"(2) assistance for-
"(A) any individual or group the Secretary of State determines to be involved in, or advocating, terrorist activity; or
"(B) any individual who is a member of a foreign terrorist organization (as designated pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189)); or
"(3) assistance for the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization.
"(b)
"(c)
"(1) The Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, acting through the Chief Development Officer of such Corporation, shall coordinate with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the Secretary of State to ensure that all expenditures from the Joint Investment for Peace Initiative comply with this section.
"(2) To the extent practicable, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation should coordinate and share information in advance of providing resources through the People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund and the Joint Investment for Peace Initiative.
"(d)
"(1)
"(A)(i) lessons learned and best practices developed from funding for projects under the People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund during the prior fiscal year; and
"(ii) the extent to which such projects have contributed to the purposes of the People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund;
"(B)(i) lessons learned and best practices developed from investments provided under the Joint Investment for Peace Initiative during the prior fiscal year; and
"(ii) the extent to which such investments have contributed to the purposes of the Joint Investment for Peace Initiative; and
"(C) how the United States International Development Finance Corporation and the United States Agency for International Development coordinate and share information with respect to the People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund and the Joint Investment for Peace Initiative.
"(2)
"APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED
"AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)