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H.R. 1096 99th Congress House

African Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985

Official title: A bill to authorize appropriations for famine relief and recovery in Africa.

Introduced: February 19, 1985 See on congress.gov
International Affairs AfricaAgricultural creditAgricultural policiesAmerican economic assistance
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AuthorizationBank examinationCongressional oversightCottonDebtDisaster reliefDisasters and Disaster ReliefEconomics and Public FinanceFarm production quotasFarmsFederally-guaranteed loansFeed grain programFood and Food IndustryFood reliefGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment trust fundsImmigrationInterest ratesLoansNutsRefugeesRiceSoybeansSugar and sugar tradeTobaccoWheat
This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 23 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 7, 1985
Veto Message and Bill Referred to House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mar 7, 1985
Veto Message and Bill Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
Mar 6, 1985
Vetoed by President.
Mar 6, 1985
Presented to President.
Mar 6, 1985
Measure Signed in Senate.
Mar 5, 1985
House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 5, 1985
Resolving differences -- House actions: House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 28, 1985
Rules Committee Resolution H.Res.92 Reported to House.
Feb 28, 1985
Committee on Rules Granted a Rule Providing for Agreeing to the Senate Amendment to the House Bill.
Feb 27, 1985
Senate insists on its amendments, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Lugar; Helms; Mathias; Pell; Zorinsky.
Feb 27, 1985
Passed Senate in lieu of S. 457 with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 62-35. Record Vote No: 17.
Feb 27, 1985
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 457 with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 62-35. Record Vote No: 17.
Feb 27, 1985
Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 457 amended.
Feb 27, 1985
Received in the Senate, read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 9.
Feb 26, 1985
Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 391 - 25 (Record Vote No: 14).
Feb 26, 1985
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 391 - 25 (Record Vote No: 14).
Feb 26, 1985
Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.
Feb 25, 1985
Placed on Union Calendar No: 4.
Feb 25, 1985
Reported to House by House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Report No: 99-3.
Feb 19, 1985
Ordered to be Reported.
Feb 19, 1985
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 19, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Feb 19, 1985
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 7, 1985

Veto Message and Bill Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

African Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance for famine relief, rehabilitation, and recovery in Africa. Requires that not less than 80 percent of the funds appropriated for such relief shall be used for grants to private and voluntary organizations and international organizations. Requires that at least 18 percent of funds appropriated for such relief shall be used for emergency health projects. Requires that a specified amount of funds appropriated for such relief shall be transferred to the operating expenses of the Agency for International Development for management support activities relating to emergency food assistance for Africa.

Authorizes supplemental appropriations for FY 1985 for such relief.

Authorizes supplemental appropriations for FY 1985 to the Department of State for migration and refugee assistance in Africa. Requires that not less than 54 percent of the funds appropriated for such assistance shall be made available to the United Nations Development Program Trust Fund for refugee assistance in Africa. Requires the remaining amount to be used by the Bureau for Refugee Programs of the Department of State for emergency relief and recovery efforts in Africa.

Requires that amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act shall be available only for aid in those African countries that have suffered during 1984 and 1985 from exceptional food supply problems due to drought and other calamities. Requires such assistance to be provided without regard to the prohibition against aid to countries which have nationalized or expropriated property of U.S. citizens. Requires that the President shall ensure that such assistance is provided to the famine victims for whom it is intended.

Requires the President to report to the Congress by June 30, 1985, on: (1) the emergency needs for African famine assistance; and (2) the projected FY 1985 contribution by the United States to meet an appropriate share of such needs.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should submit a request for supplemental funding for emergency African famine assistance if available funding is insufficient to meet the projected contribution.

 Related & companion bills 4
 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1096: African Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1096/
MLA
"H.R. 1096: African Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1096/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1096, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1096/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1096: African Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1096/)
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