Freedom Support Act
{{Short description|1992 Act of the United States Congress}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
The Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act, also referred to as the FREEDOM Support Act (FSA) of 1992, was passed by bipartisan majorities of the United States Congress, and signed by President George H.W. Bush on October 24, 1992, following the collapse of the USSR. Fully immersing themselves into the U.S. Foreign Policy strategies of the post-Cold War, the Freedom Support Act (FSA) also encompassed advancing democracies and strategies to avoid republics entering into authoritarian regimes once again. The FREEDOM Support Act provided nuclear guidelines to the newly independent nations of East Europe, promoted an open economy, and the American experience of capitalism and democracy. The act also highlighted conditionsDavis, P; Dombrowski, P. "International assistance to the former Soviet Union: Conditions and transitions". Policy Studies Journal. 28 (1): 68–95 . in which States would not be eligible to receive American aid. President Bush would go on to establish diplomatic relationships with 12 of the 15 recognized nations to participate in global markets and international affairs.
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Sponsored by Sen Claiborne Pell the bill was introduced as S.2532 into the Senate on April 7, 1992, and would later pass in the Senate on July 2, 1992 by the House on August 6, 1992.Fessler, Pamela (October 3, 1992). Freedom Support Act Gets Final Senate Approval. Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report 3072.
Sponsoring this bill addressed numerous interests of Senator Pell's as it supported democracy and free markets critical in the time of the Soviet Collapse.“Statement on Signing the Freedom Support Act.” Statement on Signing the FREEDOM Support Act | The American Presidency Project, 24 Oct. 1992, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-signing-the-freedom-support-act.
The FSA was signed into law on October 24, 1992, by President George H. W. Bush and assigned Public Law No. 102 – 511.Bush Signs Freedom Support Act". Vol. XLVIII. Congressional Quarterly Almanac. 1992. pp. 523–532.
Formation of the Act
{{Infobox U.S. legislation
| shorttitle = Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992
| othershorttitles = FREEDOM Support Act
| longtitle = An Act to support democracy and open markets in the independent states of the former Soviet Union, and for other purposes.
| colloquialacronym = FSA
| nickname =
| enacted by = 102nd
| effective date = October 24, 1992
| public law url = http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-106/pdf/STATUTE-106-Pg3320.pdf
| cite public law = 102-511
| cite statutes at large = {{usstat|106|3320}}
| acts amended =
| acts repealed =
| title amended = 22 U.S.C.: Foreign Relations and Intercourse
| sections created = {{Usc-title-chap|22|67}} § 5801 et seq.
| sections amended =
| conferencedate =
| passeddate3 = October 1, 1992
| signedpresident = George H. W. Bush
| signeddate = October 24, 1992
| vetoedpresident =
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| overriddenbody1 =
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The legislative process of the FREEDOM Support Act of 1992 began with the introduction of bills in the House when it was introduced on June 3, 1991, as H.R. 2508. A series of hearings would occur in House committees and Senate committees starting on July 30 and continuing into the new year term until July 27 of the following year."Actions – S.2532 – 102nd Congress (1991–1992): FREEDOM Support Act." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 24 October 1992,
Having just negatively dealt with the Soviet Union for decades, it was heavily implied that moving forward, the US would be skeptical and precise in its dealings with Russia; hence, when the Freedom Support Act was introduced, legislators and the public were left with more questions than answers. According to Robert Kasten, a republican representative from Wisconsin, the act had in just a few short months been claimed by six different committees and was “full of vague definitions that defied Congressional attempts to assess the costs.”Crossette, Babara Special to The New,York Times. (1992, May 07). "A warning on russian aid: Some in congress balk at soviet aid." New York Times Retrieved from
File:Soviet_Union_disputes_1990-03-11_to_1991-04-09.png
The Senate debated this bill first on July 24–26, 1991. The bill would then go on to be debated in the House on August 26, 1992, which was the only listed deliberation and consideration of the House. "Actions – S.2532 – 102nd Congress (1991–1992): FREEDOM Support Act." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 24 October 1992,
Closing out by the end of summer in 1992, amendments passed in the Senate, and on October 1, 1992, the FREEDOM Support Act of 1992 entered the Senate floor and passed. A few days later, on October 3. 1992, the bill entered the House of Representatives floor and was passed. President George H.W. Bush would go on to sign Public Law No. 102 – 511 on October 24."Text – S.2532 – 102nd Congress (1991–1992): FREEDOM Support Act." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 24 October 1992, [https://www.congress.gov/bill/102nd-congress/senate-bill/2532/text Congress website].
The main points addressed in the FREEDOM Support Act include; bilateral economic assistance, business development, democracy corps, nonproliferation programs, space trade, and agriculture trade.
Title I: Requires the State Department coordinator to assist former Soviet states, excluding the Baltics states.
Title II: Amends U.S. assistance on human rights conditions, democracy violations, and peaceful conflict resolutions.
Title III: Creates more support to fuel U.S. economic interests in the new states by export promotion through the American Business Centers, designed to operate in the developing markets of Russia and the newly independent states to stimulate economic growth and create jobs in the United States.
Title IV: Authorizes the creation of the Democracy Corps to assist developing democratic governments through technical assistance and prohibits campaign funding.
Title V: Amends nonproliferation and discernment programs to ensure peaceful scientific collaboration between the U.S. and the new states.
Title VI: Speed the process of newly independent states working with one another on space collaboration.
Title VII: Expand aid for food to independent states and promote U.S. agricultural exports to emerging democracies committed to pursuing economic freedom.
Title VIII: Amended a fellowship program to support agricultural business exchanges with other independent states without additional funds.
Title IX: Expanded justice to more East European nations that once were not considered and restricted aid to Azerbaijan until it halts aggression against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Title X: Authorized the U.S. Governor of the IMF to consent to increased funds for poverty reduction and economic stability while promoting local participation in the IMF. Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992 or FREEDOM Support Act, Pub. L. No. 102-511, 106 Stat. 3320 (1992)
Major provisions
A significant piece of legislation, the FSA set up the former Soviet Union to advance their independent states exponentially. The legislation’s provisions firstly regulated a shift in economies from centrally planned to open and free markets, giving much of their resources to mostly small corporations. Additionally, a small but notable provision focused on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, as well as securing Soviet Union nuclear weapons, minimizing former Cold War fears.Zeuli, K. A; Ruttan, V. W (1996). "U.S. Assistance to the Former Soviet Empire: Toward a Rationale for Foreign Aid". The Journal of Developing Areas. 30 (4): 493–524. The Act also allocated humanitarian resources for education, food distribution, and healthcare, and, most importantly, it promoted democracies by funding civil society organizations and fair and free elections. All of these provisions and more would allow once-authoritarian regimes to enter a world dominated by democracy and free trade properly.
In a twenty-year update following the passing of the Freedom Support Act, the United States had successfully provided $15 billionClymer, A (August 7, 1992). "House votes billions in aid to ex-Soviet republics: Marshall Plan recalled – Some say cities in U.S. are needier". The New York Times. in assistance to 12 countries of the former Soviet Union. The United States supported NGOs, economic reforms, promoting human rights, establishing enterprise funds, and building independent media while addressing a shutdown and spread of nuclear weapons."S.2532 – 102nd Congress (1991–1992): FREEDOM Support Act." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 24 October 1992,