A joint resolution to provide assistance and support for peace, democracy and reconciliation in Central America.
Public Law 100-276 · H.J.Res. 523 · 100th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Apr 1, 1988 · International Affairs
Sponsor: Rep. Thomas Foley (D-WA-5)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 345 yea, 70 nay345–70
- SenateRecorded vote: 87 yea, 7 nay87–7
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Declares it to be U.S. policy to advance peace and democracy and to protect U.S. security interests in Central America.
Declares that it is the intent of the Congress, in providing additional assistance to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance, to reinforce the Central American peace process.
Requires assistance provided pursuant to this Act to be administered consistent with the agreement between the Government of Nicaragua and the resistance signed March 23, 1988, at Sapoa, Nicaragua (Sapoa agreement.)
Authorizes the President to transfer a specified sum from certain Department of Defense appropriations accounts to the Agency for International Development (AID) to provide assistance (defined to include food, clothing, shelter, medical supplies, and communications equipment) to the resistance. Sets limitations on monthly expenditures of such assistance. Provides for the transfer of unobligated funds to AID to provide for delivery of such assistance.
Prohibits the use of funds under this Act to purchase aircraft, weapons or weapons systems, ammunition, or any other item or service not specifically permitted under this Act.
Earmarks specified amounts of assistance for Yatama (the Indian resistance force).
Makes AID responsible for the direction, management, and delivery of assistance under this Act through neutral organizations.
Requires the Comptroller General to audit expenditures under this Act.
Transfers specified defense appropriations account funds to AID to provide medical care and other relief for children who are victims of the Nicaraguan civil strife.
Directs that assistance pursuant to this Act be provided only through nonpolitical private and voluntary organizations and international relief organizations, with at least half provided through such organizations operating inside Nicaragua.
Provides for the transfer of a specified amount of unobligated funds from specified defense appropriations accounts to support the activities of the Verification Commission established by the Sapoa agreement.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 100th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 347 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
347 yea71 nay13 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(180)
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-7- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
- Rep. Kenneth GrayD-IL-22
- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-18
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-17
- Rep. Chester AtkinsD-MA-5
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-9
- Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. Bruce MorrisonD-CT-3
- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
- Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
- Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Albert EspyD-MS-2
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
Rep. Kweisi MfumeD-MD-7- Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Albert BustamanteD-TX-23
- Rep. Robert MrazekD-NY-3
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-18
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-17- Rep. Lawrence SmithD-FL-16
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-18
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-33
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27- Rep. Bernard DwyerD-NJ-6
- Rep. Dennis HertelD-MI-14
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1- Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-19
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-3
- Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. George HochbruecknerD-NY-1
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
- Rep. Edward FeighanD-OH-19
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. Francis McCloskeyD-IN-8
- Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. Joseph BrennanD-ME-1
- Rep. Terry BruceD-IL-19
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Charles DowdyD-MS-4
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9- Rep. Charles McMillenD-MD-4
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-8
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6- Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-14
- Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-32
- Rep. Douglas OwensD-UT-2
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. David SkaggsD-CO-2
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
Rep. Byron DorganD-ND- Rep. Dennis EckartD-OH-11
- Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
- Rep. James GrantD-FL-2
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. James ClarkeD-NC-11
- Rep. Charles HatcherD-GA-2
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. James BilbrayD-NV-1
- Rep. Buddy MacKayD-FL-6
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Ben CampbellD-CO-3
- Rep. Robert ThomasD-GA-1
- Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-1
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Jim ChapmanD-TX-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-2
- Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
- Rep. James HayesD-LA-7
- Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
Rep. Thomas CarperD-DE- Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
- Rep. Buddy DardenD-GA-7
- Rep. Martin LancasterD-NC-3
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Michael AndrewsD-TX-25
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-5
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-11- Rep. Royden DysonD-MD-1
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
- Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
- Rep. Tim ValentineD-NC-2
- Rep. Richard StallingsD-ID-2
- Rep. Elizabeth PattersonD-SC-4
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-23
- Rep. Robin TallonD-SC-6
- Rep. Timothy PennyD-MN-1
- Rep. Ben ErdreichD-AL-6
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Claude HarrisD-AL-7
- Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Tommy RobinsonD-AR-2
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Republicans who voted yea(167)
- Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
- Rep. Claudine SchneiderR-RI-2
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-29
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-22
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-21
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-7
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-25
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
- Rep. John MillerR-WA-1
- Rep. Patricia SaikiR-HI-1
- Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
- Rep. Arthur RavenelR-SC-1
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Thomas RidgeR-PA-21
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. John RowlandR-CT-5
- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-34
- Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
- Rep. David MartinR-NY-26
- Rep. Raymond McGrathR-NY-5
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Jan MeyersR-KS-3
- Rep. George WortleyR-NY-27
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-2
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-13- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
- Rep. Bill SchuetteR-MI-10
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
- Rep. Dean GalloR-NJ-11
- Rep. Frederick GrandyR-IA-6
- Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
- Rep. James CourterR-NJ-12
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
- Rep. Joseph DioGuardiR-NY-20
- Rep. Rodney ChandlerR-WA-8
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-18
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6- Rep. Helen BentleyR-MD-2
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
- Rep. Guy MolinariR-NY-14
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. Paul HenryR-MI-5
- Rep. Stanford ParrisR-VA-8
- Rep. Alex McMillanR-NC-9
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
- Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
Rep. Daniel CoatsR-IN-4- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5- Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-15
- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-15
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-8- Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
- Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
- Rep. Mike DeWineR-OH-7
- Rep. Jack BuechnerR-MO-2
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. Daniel SlaughterR-VA-7
- Rep. John WeberR-MN-2
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
- Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-3
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-4
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-35- Rep. Bob McEwenR-OH-6
- Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
- Rep. Robert SmithR-OR-2
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
Rep. Pat RobertsR-KS-1- Rep. Ernest KonnyuR-CA-12
- Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
- Rep. Mac SweeneyR-TX-14
- Rep. Donald SundquistR-TN-7
- Rep. John HilerR-IN-3
- Rep. James LightfootR-IA-5
- Rep. Lynn MartinR-IL-16
- Rep. Jack DavisR-IL-4
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-20
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
- Rep. Dan SchaeferR-CO-6
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21- Rep. Thomas LewisR-FL-12
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-5
- Rep. Hal DaubR-NE-2
- Rep. Denny HastertR-IL-14
- Rep. Andy IrelandR-FL-10
- Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-31
- Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Clyde HollowayR-LA-8
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-21- Rep. Steve BartlettR-TX-3
- Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-43
- Rep. Barbara VucanovichR-NV-2
Rep. Judd GreggR-NH-2- Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
Rep. Jim BunningR-KY-4- Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
- Rep. Hank BrownR-CO-4
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Jim InhofeR-OK-1
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-38
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-24
Rep. Larry CraigR-ID-1- Rep. Patrick SwindallR-GA-4
- Rep. Connie MackR-FL-13
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9- Rep. Howard NielsonR-UT-3
- Rep. Jack FieldsR-TX-8
- Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
- Rep. Alfred McCandlessR-CA-37
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-42
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-45- Rep. Bob SmithR-NH-1
- Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
Rep. Jon KylR-AZ-4- Rep. Denny SmithR-OR-5
- Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
Rep. David DreierR-CA-33- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-6- Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
- Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
- Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
- Rep. William DannemeyerR-CA-39
- Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 535 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The record shows no committee referral for this bill.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 8 actions.
- Apr 1, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-276.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Mar 31, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 87-7. Record Vote No: 83.Senate roll call 83
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Mar 30, 1988FloorFloor · Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 345 - 70 (Record Vote No: 49).House roll call 49
- FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.