H.R. 601 — what changed
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017
From Referred in Senate to Reported in Senate. 2 sections amended between Referred in Senate and Reported in Senate.
Sec. 4 Comprehensive integrated United States strategy to promote basic education
changed
Strategy required— Not later than October 1, 2017, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United States strategy to be carried out during fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to promote quality basic education in partner countries by— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive United States strategy to be carried out during the following five fiscal years to promote quality basic education in partner countries by—
seeking to equitably expand access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and
measurably improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes.
Requirement To consult— In developing the strategy required under subsection (a), the President shall consult with—
the appropriate congressional committees;
relevant Executive branch agencies and officials;
partner country governments; and
local and international nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based organizations and organizations representing students, teachers, and parents, and other development partners engaged in basic education assistance programs in developing countries.
Public comment— The President shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the strategy required under subsection (a).
Elements— The strategy required under subsection (a)—
shall be developed and implemented consistent with the principles set forth in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3; and
shall seek—
to prioritize assistance provided under this subsection to countries that are partners of the United States and whose populations are most in need of improved basic education, as determined by indicators such as literacy and numeracy rates;
to build the capacity of relevant actors in partner countries, including in government and in civil society, to develop and implement national education plans that measurably improve basic education;
to identify and replicate successful interventions that improve access to and quality of basic education in conflict settings and in partner countries;
to project general levels of resources needed to achieve stated program objectives;
to develop means to track implementation in partner countries and ensure that such countries are expending appropriate domestic resources and instituting any relevant legal, regulatory, or institutional reforms needed to achieve stated program objectives;
to leverage United States capabilities, including through technical assistance, training, and research; and
to improve coordination and reduce duplication among relevant Executive branch agencies and officials, other donors, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and governments in partner countries.
Sec. 7 Transparency and reporting to Congress
changed
Annual report on the implementation of strategy— Not later than each March 31 immediately following a fiscal year during which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) was carried out, the President shall— Not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year during which the strategy developed pursuant to section 4(a) is carried out, the President shall—
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the implementation of such strategy; and
make the report described in paragraph (1) available to the public.
Matters To be included— The report required under subsection (a) shall include—
a description of the efforts made by relevant Executive branch agencies and officials to implement the strategy developed pursuant to section 4, with a particular focus on the activities carried out under the strategy;
a description of the extent to which each partner country selected to receive assistance for basic education meets the priority criteria specified in section 105(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, as added by section 3; and
a description of the progress achieved over the reporting period toward meeting the goals, objectives, benchmarks, and timeframes specified in the strategy developed pursuant to section 4 at the program level, as developed pursuant to monitoring and evaluation specified in section 6, with particular emphasis on whether there are demonstrable student improvements in literacy, numeracy, or other basic skills development that prepare an individual to be an active, productive member of society and the workforce.