110 HR 6851 IH: Republic U.S. House of Representatives 2008-09-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6851 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 9, 2008 Mr. Hastings of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To authorize assistance to facilitate trade with, reconstruction efforts, and economic recovery in the Republic of Georgia, which are necessitated by the destruction of critical infrastructure and disruption of domestic and regional commerce during the August 2008 war between Georgia and the Russian Federation.

1.

Short title and table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Republic of Georgia Enhanced Trade Assistance, Economic Recovery, and Reconstruction Act of 2008. (b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings. Sec. 3. Assistance to facilitate trade with the Republic of Georgia and certain other countries. Sec. 4. Assistance for reconstruction efforts and economic recovery in the Republic of Georgia. Sec. 5. Authorization of appropriations.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Since establishing its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, the Republic of Georgia has been a staunch ally of the United States which aspires to membership in western multilateral institutions and has provided crucial support to the United States through the provision of military personnel to bolster the United States-led alliance in the Iraqi conflict. (2)The Republic of Georgia has achieved significant progress in democratization and market reform efforts, but advances in these areas have now been severely set back due to the conflict with the Russian Federation. (3)As a result of the Russian Federation’s intervention in the open warfare that broke out in South Ossetia on August 7, 2008, and Russia’s bombing of sections of Georgia’s economic infrastructure, including bridges, railroads, radar sites, and ports, Georgia’s economy and the flow of goods, services, and communications have been severely disrupted. (4)The destruction of villages and civilian houses during and following the conflict has led to the displacement of the tens of thousands of internally displaced persons. (5)The Georgian people have suffered deprivation of their basic needs as a result of the conflict and their suffering will increase absent urgent assistance to improve living conditions in the country and help in restoring the economy. (6)Regional trade, such as the transport of oil by rail from the Caspian Sea to the port of Poti, a crucial energy transport link to the West operating alongside the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which bypasses Russia, has also been impeded as a result of damage to Georgia’s transportation and energy infrastructure.

3.

Assistance to facilitate trade with the Republic of Georgia and certain other countries

The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall cooperate in working with the Governments of the Republic of Georgia, Ukraine, Turkey, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, to enhance and expand trade, business, and economic opportunities with such countries, including through the existing free trade zone at the Georgian port of Poti and the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE).

4.

Assistance for reconstruction efforts and economic recovery in the Republic of Georgia

(a)

In general

As soon as possible, but not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide assistance to the Government of the Republic of Georgia for— (1)the reconstruction of critical and other essential infrastructure in Georgia that was damaged or destroyed during the August 2008 conflict with the Russian Federation; and (2)the recovery of the Georgian economy. (b)

Types of assistance

Assistance provided under subsection (a) may include financial and technical assistance and donations. Such assistance may be applied to the energy, transportation, communications, maritime, aviation, health, education, and housing infrastructure, and any other areas determined to be important to the reconstruction of the Georgian infrastructure and the recovery of the Georgian economy. (c)

International financial institutions

The Secretary of the Treasury is directed to instruct the United States Executive Director at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to use the voice and vote of the United States to urge the respective institution and other member countries to expand assistance for the reconstruction and development of Georgia.

5.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $500,000,000. (b)

Availability

Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended.