InsideGov
Congress · Laws

International Narcotics Control Act of 1990

Public Law 101-623 · H.R. 5567 · 101st Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 21, 1990 · International Affairs

Sponsor: Rep. Dante Fascell (D-FL-19)

Cosponsors (20): Rep. Lawrence Smith,

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.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

International Narcotics Control Act of 1990 - Authorizes appropriations for economic and development assistance for FY 1991 for Andean countries under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA). Specifies that up to a specified amount of such economic assistance should be used to provide assistance for Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru for: (1) administration of justice programs; (2) protection of judges, other government officials, and members of the press against narco-terrorist attacks; and (3) training, technical assistance, and equipment for the Office of Special Investigations and the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights in Colombia.

Extends authority for administration of justice programs under such Act.

Authorizes appropriations for military and law enforcement assistance for Andean countries under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). Conditions such aid on: (1) the country having a democratic government; and (2) the armed forces and law enforcement agencies of the country not engaging in a consistent pattern of gross human rights violations.

Specifies: (1) authorized uses of funds for law enforcement (anti-narcotics) training and equipment, subject to certain monetary limitations (but sets forth conditions under which such assistance may be increased); and (2) forms of assistance subject to limitation.

Specifies a maximum limitation on the aggregate acquisition cost to the United States of excess defense articles ordered by the President in FY 1991 for delivery to Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru under the FAA. Waives existing grant limitations on the transfer of excess defense articles with respect to such countries in FY 1991 under the FAA and AECA.

Authorizes the use of funds from appropriations for military and law enforcement assistance for Andean countries under the AECA to finance the leasing of aircraft under such Act, subject to specified requirements concerning payment of the cost of such leases and reimbursement of the Special Defense Acquisition Fund.

Conditions provision of economic and administration of justice assistance and military and law enforcement assistance under this Act upon a Presidential determination that: (1) the recipient country is implementing programs to reduce the flow of cocaine to the United States in accordance with a bilateral or multilateral agreement to which the United States is a party; (2) the armed forces and law enforcement agencies of such country are not engaged in a consistent pattern of gross human rights violations and the government of such country has made significant progress in protecting such rights; and (3) such government has effective control over police and military operations related to counternarcotics and counterinsurgency activities.

Requires the President, not less than 15 days before such funds are obligated, to transmit to specified congressional committees a written notification specifying the country receiving assistance, the type and value of such assistance, the law enforcement agencies or other units that will receive the assistance, and an explanation of how such assistance will further specified narcotics-control objectives.

Waives: (1) certain requirements with respect to narcotics-related assistance for Andean countries, such as the Brooke-Alexander Amendment, provided the President has made such determination; and (2) the FAA requirement to withhold 50 percent of assistance pending certification if the President determines that application of the certification requirement would be contrary to the national interest and transmits written notification of such determination to the appropriate congressional committees.

Authorizes appropriations under the FAA for international narcotics control assistance.

Authorizes the President to provide development and economic assistance to a foreign country under the FAA to promote the production, processing, and marketing of products or commodities to reduce dependence upon the production of crops from which narcotic and psychotropic drugs are derived.

Makes exceptions to the FAA requirement that aircraft provided to foreign countries for narcotics control purposes be leased rather than sold.

Requires the President to submit to the Congress a monthly report listing the number of members of the U.S. armed forces assigned to each Andean country.

Amends the International Narcotics Control Act of 1989 to make certification procedures inapplicable to certain major drug-transit countries for FY 1991.

Authorizes the transfer of foreign military financing program funds to economic programs.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to order the surrender of a U.S. citizen to a foreign country upon request of such country even if the United States is not obligated to do so by treaty, if the other requirements of such treaty are met.

Requires the President to notify specified congressional committees not less than 15 days before obligating funds made available for any fiscal year to carry out the FAA or AECA for narcotics-related assistance for Afghanistan.

Requires the President: (1) to implement a program of instruction to train host country pilots and other flight crew members to fly host country aircraft involved in counternarcotics efforts in Andean countries; and (2) to ensure that, within 18 months, flight crews composed of host country personnel replace all U.S. Government pilots and other flight crew members in such operations.

Bars the use of FAA or AECA funds for the procurement of surface water craft for counternarcotics programs in the Andean countries until the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense have jointly assessed, audited, and submitted a report to the Congress on the specific goals and objectives of such programs.

Amends: (1) the FAA to authorize the use of excess defense articles transferred to a major illicit drug producing country if such country ensures that such articles will be used primarily (currently, only) in support of antinarcotics activities; and (2) the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to make certain restrictions under such Act and under the AECA inapplicable to the sale of defense articles or services made on or before September 30, 1992 (under current law, 1990).

Urges the President to use the authority provided in the International Narcotics Control Act of 1989 to forgive debt owed to the U.S. Government by the Governments of Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru.

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.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 23 actions.

  1. Nov 21, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-623.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 9, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 27, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Broomfield demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules. Without objection a second was ordered.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Fascell moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.
  8. Oct 26, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
  9. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 3181 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  10. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 3180 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  11. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  12. Oct 22, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  13. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  14. FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
  15. FloorFloor · Mr. Broomfield demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
  16. FloorFloor · Mr. Fascell moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  17. Oct 1, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Domestic and International Monetary Policy Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  18. Sep 18, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Crime Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  19. Sep 11, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Financial Services Committee
  20. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Foreign Affairs Committee
  21. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
  22. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  23. 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.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.