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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§2077 International University for the Americas

Title 22 › CHAPTER 29 — CULTURAL, TECHNICAL, AND EDUCATIONAL CENTERS › SUBCHAPTER IV — INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY › § 2077

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates the International University for the Americas to help build stronger democracies and promote economic ties across the Western Hemisphere, and to mark the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. The Secretary of State, after talking with other governments in the region, must pick a site in the Americas that is easy for people across the region to reach. The chosen country must show it supports economic integration and democratic values and must agree to give some money or help in kind. The school’s rules must bring faculty and students from all nations in the Hemisphere and teach subjects that support regional economic integration and democracy. Annual reports under section 1738m of title 7 must include progress on picking a site and the design. Up to $500,000 from U.S. development and economic support funds for Latin America and the Caribbean may be used for the site selection and design phase.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §2077

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Purpose
The purpose of this section is to promote economic integration and the consolidation and strengthening of democratic institutions in the Western Hemisphere, and to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus through the establishment of an institution of higher education, which shall be known as the “International University for the Americas”.
(b)Establishment
The Secretary of State, in consultation with other governments in the Western Hemisphere, shall determine the most appropriate location for the International University for the Americas. In making that determination, the Secretary shall ensure that—
(1)the location chosen is in the Americas and is easily accessible to all peoples in the region; and
(2)the relevant government—
(A)has demonstrated a commitment to economic integration and democratic values though its policies and programs; and
(B)has expressed an interest in that location being chosen as a site and has agreed to contribute some amount of assistance, either in cash or kind, toward the costs of developing the institution.
(c)Faculty, students, and curriculum
In developing the bylaws of the International University for the Americas, the Secretary of State shall ensure that they contain provisions to ensure that faculty and students are drawn from all the nations in the Western Hemisphere, and that the curriculum is designed to develop expertise in fields that will promote the economic integration of the Americas and the consolidation of democracy throughout the Hemisphere.
(d)Annual report
The annual reports submitted pursuant to section 1738m of title 7 shall include a progress report on the selection of a site and design for the establishment of the International University for the Americas.
(e)Funding
Of the funds that are allocated for assistance for Latin America and the Caribbean under chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.] (relating to development assistance) and chapter 4 of part II of that Act [22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.] (relating to the economic support fund), $500,000 may be made available to carry out the site location and design phase of the International University for the Americas.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, referred to in subsec. (e), is Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424. Chapter 1 of part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Act are classified generally to part I (§ 2151 et seq.) of subchapter I and part IV (§ 2346 et seq.) of subchapter II, respectively, of chapter 32 of this title. For provisions deeming references to part I of subchapter I to include a reference to section 2293 of this title, see section 2293(d)(1) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2151 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–246 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 1738m of title 7.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2008 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, see section 4(b) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 2077

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110