Last updated March 1, 2010 

Foreign Assistance Reform At-A-Glance

Congressional Action

House of Representatives

H.R.2139, Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009

• On April 28, 2009, introduced by Rep. Howard Berman (D- CA), Chairman of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL)
• The bill directs the President to develop and implement a comprehensive national strategy to
further the U.S. foreign policy objective of promoting global development
• Status: The bill has 125 cosponsors, including 23 Republicans

Foreign Assistance Act Rewrite

• Initiated by House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Chairman Howard Berman

• HFAC staff have shared concept and discussion papers with the NGO community and
requested feedback
• Status: The rewritten Act is expected to be introduced in late spring / early summer 2010.

Senate

S.1524, Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009

• On July 28, 2009, introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Chairman
John Kerry (D-MA), Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN), Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), and Sen.
Bob Corker (R-TN)
• The bill aims to strengthen the capacity, transparency, and accountability of U.S. foreign
assistance programs to effectively adapt and respond to new challenges of the 21st century.
It would build USAID’s capacity, address staffing shortfalls, and has monitoring and
evaluation components.
• Status: On November 17, 2009, the bill was marked up and passed out of the SFRC by a 14-
3 vote. The manager’s amendment included several amendments offered by Senator DeMint
(R-SC). The bill has 23 cosponsors, including seven Republicans. View the final SFRC
committee report on S.1524.
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    Last updated March 1, 2010 
 

S.Res.312, A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on empowering and strengthening the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

• On October 13, 2009, introduced by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and
Ben Cardin (D-MD).
• It calls for the strengthening and empowering of USAID and the expeditious appointment of
an Administrator.
• Status: Nov 9, 2009, this resolution passed in the Senate by unanimous consent. It had 19
cosponsors, including 3 Republicans and 1 Independent.

Administration Initiatives

Department of State

Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR)

• July 10, 2009, the QDDR was announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
• It aims to provide the short-, medium-, and long-term blueprint for U.S. diplomatic and
development efforts. Specifically, the QDDR is meant to offer guidance on how the USG will
develop policies; allocate resources; deploy staff; and exercise authorities. It will attempt to
redress a serious imbalance in funding that favors military agencies and leaves civilian
agencies under-resourced.
• The QDDR will be managed by a senior leadership team under the direction of Jack Lew,
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources; Anne-Marie Slaughter, Director
of Policy and Planning, Department of State and Raj Shah, USAID Administrator.
• Status: The first quarter paper was submitted to the Secretary in mid-December 2009; interim
findings are expected in early March; and the final is expected in the fall of 2010.

White House

Presidential Study Directive (PSD)

• August 31, 2009, signed by President Obama

• Authorizes a U.S. government-wide review of global development policy led by the chairmen
of the National Security Council and the National Economic Council.
• Will reach across government agencies to identify gaps, linkages, and overlap in USG
development assistance delivery
• Status: The review will tentatively be completed by March 2010.

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