[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 935 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 935

To urge the Government of Ethiopia to hold orderly, peaceful, and free 
and fair national elections in May 2005 and to authorize United States 
 assistance for elections-related activities to monitor the Ethiopian 
                          national elections.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 17, 2005

 Mr. Honda (for himself and Mr. Royce) introduced the following bill; 
     which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To urge the Government of Ethiopia to hold orderly, peaceful, and free 
and fair national elections in May 2005 and to authorize United States 
 assistance for elections-related activities to monitor the Ethiopian 
                          national elections.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Free and Fair Elections in Ethiopia 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Relations between the United States and the Federal 
        Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have improved significantly 
        over the past decade, although human rights concerns remain. 
        The Government of Ethiopia has cooperated with the United 
        States on a range of efforts, including combating global 
        terrorism.
            (2) In 1995 and 2000, the Government of Ethiopia organized 
        and conducted local, regional, and national elections. In 1995, 
        some opposition parties boycotted the elections, despite offers 
        and support by donor governments, including the United States, 
        to help ensure free and fair elections. Opposition parties, 
        including those operating outside Ethiopia, have a 
        responsibility and duty to play a constructive role in building 
        democracy in Ethiopia and to engage the Government of Ethiopia 
        in peaceful dialogue.
            (3) The Department of State, in its most recent country 
        reports on human rights practices, determined that ``the 2000 
        national elections and the 2001 regional elections [in 
        Ethiopia] were generally free and fair in most areas but were 
        marred by serious irregularities, including killings, 
        disappearances, voter intimidation and harassment, and unlawful 
        detentions of opposition party supporters, particularly in the 
        southern region.
            (4) The Government of Ethiopia demonstrated its commitment 
        to holding democratic elections in the 2000 parliamentary 
        elections because of its willingness to re-run parliamentary 
        elections in 14 constituencies in which elections 
        irregularities were reported.
            (5) It is critical that the Government of Ethiopia, donor 
        countries, and civil society offer an extensive and 
        comprehensive civic education in order to prepare and educate 
        the people of Ethiopia about their democratic rights and 
        duties.
            (6) The Government of Ethiopia should ensure the safety and 
        security of opposition party officials and prosecute and punish 
        those local and regional officials engaged in harassment and 
        intimidation of opposition party officials.
            (7) Mass media, including radio and television, remain 
        under the control of the Government of Ethiopia. The decision 
        of the Government of Ethiopia to issue radio broadcast licenses 
        to private entrepreneurs is encouraging. Independent and 
        private press, especially radio and television, are key to 
        democracy and transparency. The decision by the Government of 
        Ethiopia to engage the opposition in a constructive dialogue to 
        resolve issues related to the upcoming elections, including 
        access to the media by the opposition and reform of the 
        electoral board, should be commended.
            (8) The decision by the Government of Ethiopia to allow 
        international elections observers contributes to a more free 
        and fair elections process and should be commended.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of 
        Ethiopia should hold orderly, peaceful, and free and fair 
        national elections in May 2005 in order to ensure the long-term 
        growth and stability of the country;
            (2) it is critical that the elections are deemed by the 
        people of Ethiopia as free and fair and provide the winner of 
        the election a clear mandate to govern the country; and
            (3) the Government of Ethiopia and opposition parties 
        should continue their constructive dialog toward resolving 
        elections-related issues.

SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO MONITOR THE 2005 NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN ETHIOPIA.

    The President, acting through the Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, is authorized to provide 
assistance on a grant basis to nongovernmental organizations for 
elections-related activities in order to monitor the May 2005 national 
elections in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and assess 
whether or not these elections are held on a free and fair basis.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
President to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to 
remain available until expended.
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