§4051 Requirement of prior authorization

Summary

Limits how the Department of Commerce can spend money on programs that help U.S. businesses sell goods and services abroad. Money for those export promotion programs can only be spent if a law passed on or after July 12, 1985, specifically approved the spending, or if the total spending stays within an amount set by a law passed on or after that date. If a later law passed after the money was set allows the spending, the limit does not apply. Only a later law passed after July 12, 1985 that clearly changes or cancels this rule can override it. "Export promotion programs" covers things like trade development and market info, work on regional and multilateral trade policy, showing U.S. goods abroad, running the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, and the Market Development Cooperator Program and trade show help. The Commerce Secretary may allow printing, distributing, and selling program documents outside the 48 connected states and may accept private notices or ads in them. Fees from those sales go into a separate account and can be used to pay the program costs or to repay or advance funds used for those activities.