Solar Villages Initiative Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 212 To authorize microenterprise assistance for renewable energy projects in developing countries. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 3, 2019 Mr. SERRANO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To authorize microenterprise assistance for renewable energy projects in developing countries. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Solar Villages Initia- 4 tive Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. MICROENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE FOR RENEWABLE 6 ENERGY PROJECTS IN DEVELOPING COUN- 7 TRIES. 8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting through the 9 Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter- 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:25 Jan 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H212.IH H212 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 212 IH national Development and in consultation with the Sec- 1 retary of State and the Secretary of Energy, is authorized 2 to provide assistance for renewable energy projects de- 3 scribed in subsection (b) in developing countries to in- 4 crease the availability of credit, savings, and other services 5 to microfinance and microenterprise clients lacking full ac- 6 cess to capital, training, technical assistance, and business 7 development services. 8 (b) TYPES OF PROJECTS.—The renewable energy 9 projects described in this subsection include projects to as- 10 sist small and micro businesses that loan or sell solar lan- 11 terns or lamps and other solar energy technologies. 12 (c) PRIORITY.—In providing assistance under sub- 13 section (a), the President shall give priority to empowering 14 female-owned businesses in developing countries. 15 (d) RELATION TO EXISTING AUTHORITIES.—Assist- 16 ance provided under subsection (a) shall be made available 17 under the authorities of section 252 of the Foreign Assist- 18 ance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2211a). 19 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 20 authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry 21 out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, 22 $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, $7,500,000 for fiscal year 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:25 Jan 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H212.IH H212 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 212 IH 2022, $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2023, $10,000,000 for 1 fiscal year 2024, and $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:25 Jan 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H212.IH H212 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS