Bill Summary
This legislation, known as the "Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act," is a bill that aims to establish a rural mobility program within the Office of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment at the United States Agency for International Development. The program is focused on promoting access to affordable bicycles in rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa, with the goal of increasing access to critical services and opportunities such as education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. The program will provide grants to eligible non-governmental organizations and prioritize those with a proven track record of success in implementing rural mobility programs. The bill also authorizes appropriations for the program, starting with $3 million in fiscal year 2024 and increasing each year thereafter. Additionally, the legislation requires reports to be submitted to congressional committees, detailing past and current projects and their outcomes.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could positively affect people in rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing them with access to affordable bicycles, which can help them reach critical services such as education and healthcare.
2. The legislation could also benefit rural-based mechanics and spare parts businesses by creating a demand for their services and products.
3. The legislation may also help reduce social and gender-based stigma in rural areas, as access to bicycles can provide more opportunities for women and girls who may face restrictions on mobility.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 437 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 437
To establish within the Office of Gender Equality and Women's
Empowerment of the United States Agency for International Development a
rural mobility program to promote mobility in rural communities through
access to affordable, fit-for-purpose bicycles, provide support to
sustainably increase access to rural areas, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 15, 2023
Mr. Durbin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish within the Office of Gender Equality and Women's
Empowerment of the United States Agency for International Development a
rural mobility program to promote mobility in rural communities through
access to affordable, fit-for-purpose bicycles, provide support to
sustainably increase access to rural areas, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Bicycles for Rural African Transport
Act''.
SEC. 2. RURAL MOBILITY PROGRAM IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development (referred to in this Act
as ``USAID'') shall establish, within the Office of Gender
Equality and Women's Empowerment, a rural mobility program
(referred to in this section as the ``Program'') to carry out
the purposes described in paragraph (2), including through
grants made to eligible nongovernmental partner organizations,
prioritizing those organizations with demonstrated success
conducting rural mobility programs in the region to so carry
out such purposes.
(2) Purpose.--The Program shall focus on country-driven
projects within sub-Saharan Africa--
(A) to promote rural communities' access to
critical services and opportunities, including
education, health care, and livelihood opportunities,
through access to affordable, fit-for-purpose bicycles;
and
(B) to provide support to sustainably increase
access to critical services, such as education, health
care, and livelihood opportunities in rural areas,
including through support for rural-based mechanics,
access to spare parts, reduction of social and gender-
based stigma, and community project management
capacity.
(3) Partnerships.--To the greatest extent practicable, the
Program shall partner with existing entities overseas that have
successful models for providing access to affordable bicycles
to achieve development objectives.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated--
(A) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(B) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(C) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(D) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
(E) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028 and for each
fiscal year thereafter.
(b) Report.--
(1) Prior projects.--Not later than 30 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of USAID shall
submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives regarding projects carried out by USAID during
each of the fiscal years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 relating to
the purposes described in subsection (a)(2). The report shall--
(A) identify in which countries USAID embedded
rural bicycle mobility into strategies, programs, and
projects of USAID;
(B) describe the mechanisms by which rural bicycle
mobility was so embedded;
(C) specify the number of bicycles distributed each
fiscal year;
(D) assess the outcomes for and impacts on
participants in such projects; and
(E) assess USAID's efforts to disseminate lessons
learned from such projects.
(2) Current projects.--Not later than December 30, 2025,
and not later than each December 30 thereafter, the
Administrator of USAID shall submit a report to the
congressional committees listed in paragraph (1) regarding
projects carried out by USAID during the immediately preceding
fiscal year. Each such report shall include information
relating to the matters described in subparagraphs (A) through
(E) of paragraph (1).
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