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Overseas Private Investment Corporation Amendments Act of 1974

Public Law 93-390 · S. 2957 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Aug 27, 1974 · Foreign Trade and International Finance

Sponsor: Sen. Frank Church (D-ID)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseMethod not stated
  • SenateMethod not stated
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.

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Summary

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

Overseas Private Investment Corporation Amendments Act - States that some of the major purposes of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation are: (1) to give preferential considerations in its investment insurance, financing, and reinsurance activities (to the maximum extent practicable consistent with the Corporation's purposes) to investment projects involving businesses of not more than $2,500,000 net worth or with not more than $7,500,000 in total assets; (2) to the maximum extent practicable, to give preferential consideration in the Corporation's investment insurance, financing, and reinsurance activities to investment projects in the less developed friendly countries which have per capita incomes of $450 or less in 1973 United States dollars; and (3) to identify foreign investment opportunities in less developed friendly countries and areas, and to bring information concerning such opportunities to the attention of potential eligible investors in such countries or areas.

Provides that it is the intention of Congress that the Corporation should achieve participation by private insurance companies, multilateral organizations, or others in at least 50 percent of liabilities incurred in respect to risks under contracts issued on and after January 1, 1978.

Stipulates that it is the intention of Congress that the Corporation should not participate as insurer under insurance policies issued after December 31, 1979, in respect of the risks referred to in this Act.

Sets forth investment insurance functions of the Corporation, including: (1) to enter into pooling or other risk-sharing arrangements with other national or multinational insurance or financing agencies or groups of such agencies; and (2) to hold an ownership interest in any association or other entity established for the purposes of sharing risks under investment insurance.

Provides that the amount of reinsurance of liabilities under this title which the Corporation may issue shall not exceed $600,000,000 in any one year, and the amount of such reinsurance shall not in the aggregate exceed at any one time an amount equal to the amount authorized for the maximum contingent liability outstanding at any one time.

Authorizes appropriations to the Corporation of such sums as may be necessary from time to time to replenish or increase the insurance and guaranty fund, to discharge the liabilities under insurance, reinsurance, or guarantees issued by the Corporation, or to discharge obligations of the Corporation purchased by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Directs the Corporation to submit to the Congress not later than January 1, 1976, an analysis of the possibilities of transferring all of its activities to private insurance companies, multilaterial organizations and institutions, or other entities.

Extends the life of the OPIC Advisory Council through December 31, 1977.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.

  1. Aug 27, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public law 93-390.
  3. Aug 15, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. Aug 13, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
  6. Aug 8, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
  8. Jul 30, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1233.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1233.
  10. May 30, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
  11. May 22, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
  12. May 16, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 13973.
  13. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Foreign Affairs Committee
  14. Feb 28, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
  15. Feb 26, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #44 (56-35).Senate roll call 44
  16. Feb 5, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  17. IntroducedIntroduced · 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.

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Official record

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