	Background

The FY2001 National Defense Authorization Act ( H.R. 5408 ) enacted into law by P.L. The name of the new facility is The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). This Institute is the successor to the U.S. Army School of the Americas, whose authorities were repealed in the legislation establishing the Institute. In this context, Congress authorized the creation of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, while at the same time disestablishing the U.S. Army School of the Americas in the FY2001 Defense Department authorization , enacted into law on October 30, 2000.
The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation was created pursuant to language contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2001 ( H.R. 5408 ), which was incorporated into the H.R. 4205 conference report ( H.Rept. 106-945 ), enacted into law on October 30, 2000 ( P.L. 106-398 ). The Institute was created by Congress in response to a legislative initiative sponsored by the Clinton Administration. When the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation was formally established in Section 2166 of Title 10 U.S.C., the authorities of its controversial predecessor, the U.S. Army School of the Americas, were repealed. This report provides background on the purpose, structure, and other aspects of the new Institute. It will be revised as events warrant.