Horn of Africa Recovery and Food Security Act
Public Law 102-274 · S. 985 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Apr 21, 1992 · International Affairs
Sponsor: Sen. Paul Simon (D-IL)
Cosponsors (33): Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, Sen. Brock Adams,
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.
Horn of Africa Recovery and Food Security Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan.
Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to equitable distribution of relief and rehabilitation assistance and international relief efforts in the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Djibouti).
Authorizes the President to: (1) provide international disaster assistance for civil strife and famine relief and rehabilitation in the Horn of Africa; and (2) transfer funds from unobligated security assistance (without regard to a specified 20 percent increase limitation) to carry out this chapter. Makes available a percentage of assistance for management support activities.
Urges the President to provide supplemental emergency food assistance for civilian victims of civil strife in the Horn of Africa.
Encourages the President to consult with other nations, armed and unarmed parties in the Horn of Africa, and the United Nations Secretary General to bring about negotiated settlements of the armed conflicts in the Horn of Africa. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) direct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to take specified steps with respect to peace and the establishment of an arms embargo in the region; (2) play an active role in other fora in pressing for settlements to conflicts; and (3) participate in regional and international peace consultations.
Declares that development assistance in the Horn of Africa should be targeted to aid the poor. States that U.S. Government aid institutions should seek to: (1) build upon the capabilities and experiences of organizations active in local grassroots relief, rehabilitation, and development efforts; (2) consult with such organizations and incorporate their views into the policymaking process; and (3) support the expansion of their activities without compromising their private nature. Declares that development assistance should be: (1) targeted to the voluntary relocation and repatriation of displaced persons and refugees; and (2) carried out in coordination with strategies for debt relief of countries in the region and with efforts to establish an international fund for reconstruction of developing nations which settle civil wars.
Requires development assistance and assistance from the Development Fund for Africa to be channeled through private and voluntary or specified international organizations unless the President makes the required certification under this chapter.
Prohibits economic support assistance and foreign military financing and international military education and training assistance to Ethiopia, Somalia, or Sudan unless the President certifies that the government of the country has: (1) begun to implement peace or national reconciliation agreements; (2) demonstrated a commitment to human rights; (3) manifested a commitment to democracy and has held or established a timetable for free and fair elections; and (4) agreed to distribute development assistance without discrimination.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Foreign Relations Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee
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. 15 actions.
- Apr 21, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-274.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Apr 10, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Apr 8, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
- Apr 7, 1992FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Dymally moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jul 17, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Jul 16, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jun 27, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Jun 26, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Apr 26, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Apr 25, 1991IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.