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H.R. 1950: Millennium Challenge Account, Peace Corps Expansion, and Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2003

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H.R. 1950: Millennium Challenge Account, Peace Corps Expansion, and Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2003

108th Congress · introduced 2003-05-05 · International Affairs · Latest: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 211.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2003-05-05 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Hyde, Henry J. [R-IL-6] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 8 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 368 (2003): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR1950 (2003-07-16), Agreed to. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 211. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Millennium Challenge Account, Peace Corps Expansion, and Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2003

Plain summary

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 - Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 and 2005 for: (1) the Department of State; and (2) U.S. international broadcasting activities. Sets forth certain Department of State authorities and activities, including: (1) diplomatic and consular activities; and (2) educational and cultural activities. Sets forth certain requirements with respect to: (1) the organization and personnel of the Department of State; (2) international organizations; and (3) U.S. international broadcasting activities. United States International Leadership Act of 2003 - Establishes a caucus of democratic countries that will help advance U.S. interests at international organizations and multilateral institutions. Global Internet Freedom Act of 2003 - Establishes within the Broadcasting Board of Governors an Office of Global Internet Freedom to develop and implement a comprehensive global strategy to combat state-sponsored and state-directed Internet jamming and persecution of those who use the Internet. Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to establish the United States International Broadcasting Agency as an independent agency of the executive branch (effectively abolishing the the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the International Broadcasting Bureau). International Free Media Act of 2003 - Establishes within the Department of State a Coordinator for International Free Media to coordinate U.S. government policies, programs, and projects that promote international press freedoms and free media. Sets forth provisions with respect to: (1) certain reporting requirements; and (2) human rights violations in certain countries. Defense Trade and Security Assistance Reform Act of 2003 - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to set forth requirements: (1) prohibiting a foreign country from transferring U.S. defense articles and services to a terrorist-supporting country; (2) authorizing the President to control the transfer of defense articles (other than firearms) and defense services to foreign persons within the United States; (3) urging establishment of new license exemptions with respect to the export of defense articles and services only after careful coordination with appropriate U.S. law enforcement agencies; (4) developing mechanisms to identify in connection with the export licensing process persons who have been convicted of violating laws relating to the financing of terrorism; and (5) prohibiting the sale or transfer to the military, police, or intelligence services of a foreign country in which the United States has imposed an arms embargo. Sets forth requirements imposing stringent controls on all items on the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex. Authorizes appropriations under the Arms Export Control Act, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and the Security Assistance Act of 2000 with respect to foreign military sales and financing, international military education and training (IMET), security assistance for Israel and Egypt, demining and related activities, the Cooperative Development Program, maritime interdiction patrol boats for Mozambique, East Timor, democracy-building efforts in Cuba, the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) program, combating piracy of U.S. copyrighted materials, and nonproliferation and disarmament activities. Missile Threat Reduction Act of 2003 - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to increase the duration of existing sanctions against foreign persons who violate U.S. export controls with respect to the transfer of missile equipment and technology on the MTCR Annex. Requires sanctions imposed under the Arms Export Control Act and the Export Adminsitration Act of 1979 to extend to governmental entities and other entities, including transactions involving third parties. Authorizes foreign assistance and technical assistance to countries that agree to destroy their ballistic missiles.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Millennium Challenge Account, Peace Corps Expansion, and Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2003

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Hyde, Henry J. [R-IL-6] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1950, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 (2003-06-11); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1950, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 (2003-06-11); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1950, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2004 and 2005 (2003-06-30); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1950, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2004 and 2005 (2003-06-30); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1950, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 (2003-07-14); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1950, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 (2003-07-14)

Cosponsors on this site

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (5)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Fiscal year
The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hr1950 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108