Number: RL30125 Title: THE EXCHANGE STABILIZATION FUND OF THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT: PURPOSE, HISTORY, AND LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY Authors: Arlene Wilson, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Abstract: In 1997 and 1998, as part of international support packages, the United States agreed to provide contingent financing from the U.S. Treasury Department's Exchange Stabilization Fund of $5 billion for Brazil, $3 billion for Indonesia and $5 billion for South Korea. This report provides a history of the ESF (which was established in 1934) as well as the statutory authority (31 U.S.C. 5302) cited by the Treasury Department for making loans to foreign governments from the ESF. To provide perspective, the amounts, loan and repayment dates of all ESF loans to foreign governments since 1980 are given. Recent legislative actions to limit the amount of ESF loans are summarized. Pages: 9 Date: Updated September 20, 1999