Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act”.
Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act
AN ACT
To modify the requirements under the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 for candidate countries, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Modifications of requirements to become a candidate country
Section 606 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7705) is amended to read as follows:
“606. Candidate countries
“(a) In general—A country shall be a candidate country for purposes of eligibility for receiving assistance under section 605 if—
“(1) the per capita income of the country is equal to or less than the gross national income per capita of the 125th poorest country as identified by the World Bank for the fiscal year; and
“(2) subject to subsection (b), the country is not ineligible to receive United States economic assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 by reason of the application of any provision of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any other provision of law.
“(b) Rule of construction—For the purposes of determining whether a country is eligible for receiving assistance under section 605 pursuant to subsection (a)(2), the exercise by the President, the Secretary of State, or any other officer or employee of the United States of any waiver or suspension of any provision of law referred to in such paragraph, and notification to the appropriate congressional committees in accordance with such provision of law, shall be construed as satisfying the requirements of such subsection.
“(c) Identification by the Board—The Board shall identify whether a country is a candidate country for purposes of this section.”
Sec. 3 Conforming amendments
Amendment to Millennium Challenge Compact authority— Section 609(b)(2) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7708(b)(2)) is amended—
by striking the heading and inserting “Country contributions”; and
by striking “with respect to a lower middle income country described in section 606(b),”.
Amendment To report identifying candidate countries— Section 608(a)(1) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7707(a)(1)) is amended by striking “section 606(a)(1)(B)” and inserting “section 606(a)(2)”.
Amendment to authorization To provide assistance for candidate countries— Section 616(b)(1) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7715(b)(1)) is amended by striking “subsection (a) or (b) of section 606” and inserting “section 606(a)”.
Sec. 4 Modification to factors in determining eligibility
Section 607(c)(2) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7706(c)(2)) is amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking “consider” and inserting “prioritize need and impact by considering”.