Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Stability and Democracy for Georgia Act of 2008

or the

STAND for Georgia Act of 2008

Declarations of policy

Congress makes the following declarations: (1)The United States condemns the attack on the sovereign territory of Georgia by the military of the Russian Federation in August 2008 in contravention of international law, including the United Nations Charter and the Sochi Agreement of 1992 that governed the conduct of Russian peacekeepers in the region of South Ossetia. (2)The United States strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and is committed to working with the European Union and other partners to achieve this objective. (3)The United States appreciates the efforts of the European Union, led by French President Sarkozy, to negotiate a ceasefire agreement to resolve the conflict. (4)The Russian Federation should fully withdraw all troops to their pre-conflict positions. (5)The United States condemns the Russian Federation’s recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, an act that violates legal principles of territorial integrity and undermines the ceasefire agreement. (6)In addition to independent monitors to observe the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, an international peacekeeping force should be established to prevent further violence in the conflict zones of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Purposes of assistance

The purposes of assistance authorized under this Act are— (1)to provide humanitarian relief to individuals displaced internally in Georgia as a result of the August 2008 conflict with the Russian Federation, as well as those individuals who fled conflicts in or were expelled from South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the early 1990s; (2)to respond to the direct request from the Government of Georgia for assistance in the rebuilding of its infrastructure following the August 2008 invasion of Georgia by the Russian Federation; (3)to assist Georgia in strengthening its economic and energy infrastructure; (4)to strengthen Georgia’s democratic institutions; and (5)to enhance the relationship between the United States and Georgia.

Authorization of assistance

(a)

In general

The President is authorized to provide assistance for Georgia to support the activities described in subsection (b). (b)

Activities supported

Activities that may be supported by assistance under subsection (a) include the following: (1)

Urgent humanitarian needs

To assist efforts in meeting the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Georgia, including— (A)provision of urgent medical care to individuals wounded during the August 2008 conflict with the Russian Federation; (B)provision of short- and medium-term housing facilities for individuals displaced by the conflict; (C)provision of assistance to facilitate the voluntary return and resettlement of all internally displaced persons in conditions of security and dignity; and (D)reconstruction of civilian and administrative infrastructure, including police stations, roads, schools, and hospitals damaged in the conflict. (2)

Reconstruction

To assist efforts in reconstruction of critical infrastructure destroyed during the August 2008 conflict with the Russian Federation, including— (A)provision of direct United States budgetary support to the Government of Georgia to replace funds the Government of Georgia is expending to pay for emergency reconstruction needs, including reconstruction needs relating to transportation and energy infrastructure (including international pipelines and power grids); and (B)provision of assistance to help address environmental damage caused by bombing by the military forces of the Russian Federation, including the destruction of forest areas near the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. (3)

Economic development

To assist the Government of Georgia in leading the economic recovery of Georgia, including— (A)development of critical infrastructure that enhances Georgia’s energy security and encourages diversification of Georgia’s foreign energy sources, including development of regional natural gas storage facilities and the construction of hydroelectric plants; (B)enhancement of bilateral trade between the United States and Georgia; (C)retention of Georgia’s status as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment, through— (i)establishment of national entrepreneurial programs to create jobs and stimulate small business growth; and (ii)expansion of programs to enhance cooperation between United States and Georgian scientists and engineers. (4)

Governance

To assist efforts in strengthening civil society, democratic institutions, and independent media in Georgia. (c)

Broadcasting

Funds made available to carry out this Act may be used to extend broadcasting efforts by the Broadcasting Board of Governors to Georgia and to enhance Russian- and Georgian-language Internet and broadcast capacity for the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc.

Report

(a)

In general

The President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report concerning the programs, projects, and activities carried out under this Act during the preceding fiscal year. The first report shall be transmitted not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and a subsequent report shall be transmitted not later than October 31 of the following year. (b)

Matters To be included

The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1)

Urgent humanitarian needs

A description of the activities carried out under section 4(b)(1). (2)

Reconstruction

A description of the activities carried out under section 4(b)(2), including a description of— (A)the progress in reconstructing critical infrastructure in Georgia; (B)the use of funds by the Government of Georgia provided through direct United States budgetary support pursuant to this Act to pay for emergency reconstruction needs, including— (i)a project-by-project description of how the funds were used; (ii)the progress of reconstruction relating to each project; and (iii)the overall amount expended for each project; and (C)the progress in addressing environmental damage caused by bombing by the military forces of the Russian Federation. (3)

Economic development

A description of the activities carried out under section 4(b)(3), including an assessment of the progress in stabilizing and improving the economic situation in Georgia. (4)

Governance

A description of activities carried out under section 4(b)(4), including an assessment of the strength and development of democratic institutions in Georgia and recommendations for other activities relating to governance in Georgia that could be supported by United States assistance. (5)

Broadcasting

A description of activities carried out under section 4(c). (c)

Definition

In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1)the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (2)the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

Availability of funds

(a)

In general

Of the amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2008 for the activities of the Department of State, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the United States Agency for International Development, or otherwise transferred to those agencies, $470,000,000 is authorized to be made available to carry out this Act. (b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1)Congress strongly supports providing a total of $1,000,000,000 in assistance for Georgia to support the activities described in section 4, consistent with President George W. Bush’s pledge of September 3, 2008; (2)in order to provide this amount to fulfill the President’s pledge, Congress is authorizing $470,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 to carry out this Act and Congress is committed to authorizing the remaining funds for fiscal year 2009 in a subsequent Act of Congress; and (3)any funds reprogrammed from amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2008 to carry out the FREEDOM Support Act (22 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.; Public Law 102–511) or the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 (22 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.; Public Law 101–179) should be replenished through a subsequent Act of Congress.