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HR 4319 109th Congress House

Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005

Official title: To provide assistance for small and medium enterprises in sub-Saharan African countries, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 15, 2005 See on congress.gov
International Affairs AccountingAfrica (Sub-Saharan)Age discriminationAgribusiness
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Agricultural assistanceAgricultural conservationAgricultural cooperativesAgricultural surplusesAgriculture and FoodAgriculture in foreign tradeAmerican investmentsBank capitalBank loansBank managementBiotechnologyBusiness educationCentral banks and bankingCivics educationCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommemorationsCommerceComputer literacyComputer networksComputer softwareCongressCongress and foreign policyCongressional reporting requirementsCongressional tributesCrime preventionCurriculaDeveloping countriesDisabledDiscriminationDiscrimination against the disabledDisplaced personsEconomic assistanceEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmployee rightsEntrepreneursExportsFarmersForeign Trade and International FinanceForeign banks and bankingFree enterpriseGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment corporationsGovernment ethicsGovernment publicityGovernment regulationGovernment securitiesHigher educationHousing and Community DevelopmentHuman rightsImportsInformation technologyInfrastructureInfrastructure (Economics)Intellectual propertyInternational bankingInternetInvestment guaranty insuranceJob creationLabor and EmploymentLawMarketingMarketing of farm produceMinoritiesOverseas Private Investment CorporationPrivatizationProduct counterfeitingProsecutionPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesPublic corruptionPublic-private partnershipsQuality controlRacial discriminationReligionReligious libertyRestrictive trade practicesRiskRule of lawRural economic developmentScience, Technology, CommunicationsSex discriminationSmall businessStudent employmentTax administrationTaxationTechnical assistanceTransportation and Public WorksTreatiesUnited NationsUsuryWar reliefWhite collar crimeWomenYouth employment
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 22, 2006
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Jun 22, 2006
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 21, 2006
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations.
Nov 15, 2005
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 15, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 22, 2006

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to provide technical assistance to small and medium enterprises in sub-Saharan African countries.

Authorizes the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide assistance to small and medium enterprises in such countries for: (1) financial sector improvement; (2) financial institution lending programs; (3) technology and information resources; (4) rural and peri-urban business development; (5) small business development in post-conflict states; (6) youth entrepreneurship programs; (7) intellectual property rights protection; and (8) anti-corruption initiatives.

Directs: (1) the U.S. Trade Representative to develop a comprehensive plan to expand agricultural trade between sub-Saharan African countries and the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act; (2) the Secretary of State to undertake actions to strengthen internationally recognized labor rights and standards in sub-Saharan African countries; (3) the Secretary of Labor to undertake activities to promote social dialog among business, government, labor, and nongovernmental organizations; (4) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to provide training and technical assistance to producers to ensure that their exports meet U.S. requirements; (5) the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Foreign Agriculture Service, to undertake activities to improve market access for U.S. agricultural products in sub-Saharan African countries; (6) the President, through USAID, to provide technical assistance to eligible sub-Saharan countries to meet African Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility requirements, and to provide such countries with transportation and communications infrastructure; and (7) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to conduct trade training programs for U.S. small businesses which convey basic information on selling goods to foreign markets, including markets in sub-Saharan African countries.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4319: Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-4319/
MLA
"H.R. 4319: Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-4319/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4319, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-4319/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4319: Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-4319/)
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