; or (2) the requirement to enter into a Compact under section 609 of that Act ( 22 U.S.C. 7708 ). (h) Trade and Development Agency The Trade and Development Agency may provide assistance under the section 661 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2421 ) to all Americas partner countries, without regard to the limitation under subsection (a) of that section, for purposes of supporting the near-shoring of strategic supply chains. (i) Technical assistance The United States Agency for International Development, the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the Trade and Development Agency, and other relevant agencies shall provide technical assistance with respect to the near-shoring of strategic supply chains. (j) Definitions In this section: (1) Early-stage project support The term early-stage project support includes the following: (A) Feasibility studies. (B) Long-term strategic supply chain planning. (C) Resource evaluations. (D) Project appraisal and costing. (E) Pilot projects. (F) Commercial support, such as trade missions, reverse trade missions, technical workshops, international buyer programs, and international partner searchers to link suppliers to projects. (G) Technical assistance and other guidance to improve the local regulatory environment and market frameworks to encourage transparent competition. (2) Late-stage project support The term late-stage project support includes support of the type provided by the BUILD Americas Unit. D People-to-People activities 261. Humanitarian and business development assistance (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the promotion of human rights and democracy around the world is essential