To provide survival assistance to victims of civil strife in Central America.
Public Law 101-215 · H.R. 3696 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Dec 11, 1989 · International Affairs
Sponsor: Rep. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Cosponsors (9): Rep. Bill Emerson, Rep. David Bonior,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
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.
Directs the Agency for International Development to use certain unobligated funds to provide medical care and other relief for noncombatant victims of civil strife in Central America. Requires such assistance to be provided only through nonpolitical private and voluntary organizations and international relief organizations. Permits up to half of such assistance to be provided through nonpolitical private and voluntary organizations and international relief organizations operating in Nicaragua. Prohibits such assistance from being provided to or through the Government of Nicaragua.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
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. 11 actions.
- Dec 11, 1989Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-215.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 1, 1989PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 22, 1989FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Nov 20, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Lagomarsino demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Studds moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Nov 17, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
- 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.