[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 148 (Tuesday, October 2, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11099-H11103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ETHIOPIA DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2007

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2003) to encourage and facilitate the consolidation of peace and 
security, respect for human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in 
Ethiopia, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2003

       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 ``Ethiopia Democracy and 
     Accountability Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to--
       (1) support the advancement of human rights, democracy, 
     independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press, 
     peacekeeping capacity building, and economic development in 
     the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
       (2) seek the unconditional release of all political 
     prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia;
       (3) foster stability, democracy, and economic development 
     in the region;
       (4) support humanitarian assistance efforts, especially in 
     the Ogaden region;
       (5) collaborate with Ethiopia in the Global War on Terror; 
     and
       (6) strengthen United States-Ethiopian relations based on 
     the policy objectives specified in paragraphs (1) through 
     (5).

     SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA.

       The Secretary of State shall--
       (1) provide financial support to local and national human 
     rights groups and other relevant civil society organizations 
     to help strengthen human rights monitoring and regular 
     reporting on human rights conditions in Ethiopia;
       (2) provide legal support, as needed, for political 
     prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia and assist 
     local, national, and international groups that are active in 
     monitoring the status of political prisoners and prisoners of 
     conscience in Ethiopia;
       (3) seek to promote and bolster the independence of the 
     Ethiopian judiciary through--
       (A) facilitation of joint discussions between court 
     personnel, officials from the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice, 
     relevant members of the legislature, and civil society 
     representatives on international human rights standards; and
       (B) encouraging exchanges between Ethiopian and United 
     States jurists, law schools, law professors, and law 
     students, especially in legal fields such as constitutional 
     law, role of the judiciary, due process, political and voting 
     rights, criminal law and procedure, and discrimination;
       (4) establish a program, in consultation with Ethiopian 
     civil society, to provide for a judicial monitoring process, 
     consisting of indigenous organizations, international 
     organizations, or both, to monitor judicial proceedings 
     throughout Ethiopia, with special focus on unwarranted 
     government intervention on matters that are strictly judicial 
     in nature, and to report on actions needed to strengthen an 
     independent judiciary;
       (5) establish a program, in consultation with Ethiopian 
     civil society, and provide support to other programs, to 
     strengthen independent media in Ethiopia, including training, 
     and technical support;
       (6) expand the Voice of America's Ethiopia program;
       (7) support efforts of the international community to gain 
     full and unfettered access to the Ogaden region for--
       (A) humanitarian assistance organizations; and
       (B) independent human rights experts; and
       (8) work with appropriate departments and agencies of the 
     Government of the United States and appropriate officials of 
     foreign governments--
       (A) to identify members of the Mengistu Haile Mariam regime 
     and officials of the current Government of Ethiopia who were 
     engaged in gross human rights violations, including those 
     individuals who may be residing in the United States; and

[[Page H11100]]

       (B) to support and encourage the prosecution of individuals 
     identified under subparagraph (A) in the United States or 
     Ethiopia.

     SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIZATION IN ETHIOPIA.

       (a) Strengthening Local, Regional, and National Democratic 
     Processes.--The Secretary of State shall--
       (1) provide assistance to strengthen local, regional, and 
     national parliaments and governments in Ethiopia, as needed;
       (2) establish a program focused on reconciliation efforts 
     between the Government of Ethiopia and political parties, 
     including in minority communities, in preparation for 
     negotiation and for participation in the political process; 
     and
       (3) provide training for civil society groups in election 
     monitoring in Ethiopia.
       (b) Democracy Enhancement.--
       (1) Assistance.--United States technical assistance for 
     democracy promotion in Ethiopia should be made available to 
     all political parties and civil society groups in Ethiopia.
       (2) Restriction.--
       (A) In general.--Nonessential United States assistance 
     shall not be made available to the Government of Ethiopia if 
     the Government of Ethiopia acts to obstruct United States 
     technical assistance to advance human rights, democracy, 
     independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press, economic 
     development, and economic freedom in Ethiopia.
       (B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term ``nonessential 
     United States assistance'' means assistance authorized under 
     any provision of law, other than humanitarian assistance, 
     food aid programs, assistance to combat HIV/AIDS and other 
     health care assistance, peacekeeping assistance, and counter-
     terrorism assistance.

     SEC. 5. ENSURING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, 
                   DEMOCRACY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN 
                   ETHIOPIA.

       (a) Limitation on Security Assistance; Travel 
     Restrictions.--
       (1) Limitation on security assistance.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     security assistance shall not be provided to Ethiopia until 
     such time as the certification described in paragraph (3) is 
     made in accordance with such paragraph.
       (B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with 
     respect to peacekeeping assistance, counter-terrorism 
     assistance, or international military education and training 
     for civilian personnel under section 541 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (commonly referred to as ``Expanded 
     IMET''). Peacekeeping or counter-terrorism assistance 
     provided to Ethiopia shall not be used for any other 
     security-related purpose or to provide training to security 
     personnel or units against whom there is credible evidence of 
     gross human rights abuses or violations.
       (2) Travel restrictions.--Beginning on the date that is 60 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act and until 
     such time as the certification described in paragraph (3) is 
     made in accordance with such paragraph, the President shall 
     deny a visa and entry into the United States to--
       (A) any official of the Government of Ethiopia--
       (i) who has been involved in giving orders to use lethal 
     force against peaceful demonstrators or police officers in 
     Ethiopia; or
       (ii) against whom there is credible evidence of gross human 
     rights abuses or violations;
       (B) security personnel of the Government of Ethiopia who 
     were involved in the June or November 2005 shootings of 
     demonstrators;
       (C) security personnel responsible for murdering Etenesh 
     Yemam; and
       (D) security personnel responsible for murdering prisoners 
     at Kaliti prison in the aftermath of the election violence in 
     2005.
       (3) Certification.--The certification described in this 
     paragraph is a certification by the President to Congress 
     that the Government of Ethiopia is making credible, 
     quantifiable efforts to ensure that--
       (A) all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in 
     Ethiopia have been released, their civil and political rights 
     restored, and their property returned;
       (B) prisoners held without charge or kept in detention 
     without fair trial in violation of the Constitution of 
     Ethiopia are released or receive a fair and speedy trial, and 
     prisoners whose charges have been dismissed or acquitted and 
     are still being held are released without delay;
       (C) the Ethiopian judiciary is able to function 
     independently and allowed to uphold the Ethiopian 
     Constitution and international human rights standards;
       (D) security personnel involved in the unlawful killings of 
     demonstrators and others, including Etenesh Yemam, and Kaliti 
     prisoners are held accountable;
       (E) family members, friends, legal counsel, medical 
     personnel, human rights advocates, and others have access, 
     consistent with international law, to visit detainees in 
     Ethiopian prisons;
       (F) print and broadcast media in Ethiopia are able to 
     operate free from undue interference and laws restricting 
     media freedom, including sections of the Ethiopian Federal 
     Criminal Code, are revised;
       (G) licensing of independent radio and television in 
     Ethiopia is open and transparent;
       (H) Internet access is not restricted by the government and 
     the ability of citizens to freely send and receive electronic 
     mail and otherwise obtain information is guaranteed;
       (I) the National Election Board (NEB) includes 
     representatives of political parties with seats in the 
     Ethiopian Parliament and the NEB functions independently in 
     its decision-making;
       (J) representatives of international human rights 
     organizations engaged in human rights monitoring work, 
     humanitarian aid work, or investigations into human rights 
     abuses in Ethiopia are admitted to Ethiopia and allowed to 
     undertake their work in all regions of the country without 
     undue restriction; and
       (K) Ethiopian human rights organizations are able to 
     operate in an environment free of harassment, intimidation, 
     and persecution.
       (4) Waiver.--
       (A) In general.--The President may waive the application of 
     paragraph (1) or (2) on a case-by-case basis if the President 
     determines that such a waiver is in the national security 
     interests of the United States.
       (B) Notification.--Prior to granting a waiver under the 
     authority of subparagraph (A), the President shall transmit 
     to Congress a notification that includes the reasons for the 
     waiver.
       (b) Treatment of Political Prisoners and Prisoners of 
     Conscience.--
       (1) In general.--The President, the Secretary of State, and 
     other relevant officials of the Government of the United 
     States shall call upon the Government of Ethiopia to 
     immediately--
       (A) release any and all remaining political prisoners and 
     prisoners of conscience, especially prisoners held without 
     charge; and
       (B) allow full and unfettered access to the Ogaden region 
     by humanitarian aid organizations and international human 
     rights investigators.
       (2) Torture victim relief.--While it is the responsibility 
     of the Government of Ethiopia to compensate the victims of 
     unlawful imprisonment and torture and their families for 
     their suffering and losses, the President shall provide 
     assistance for the rehabilitation of victims of torture in 
     Ethiopia at centers established for such purposes pursuant to 
     section 130 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
     2152).
       (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Government of the United States should--
       (1) encourage the Government of Ethiopia to enter into 
     discussions with opposition political groups interested in 
     reconciliation in order to bring such groups into full 
     participation in the political and economic affairs of 
     Ethiopia, including their legalization as political parties, 
     and provide such assistance as is warranted and necessary to 
     help achieve the goal described in this paragraph; and
       (2) provide assistance to promote the privatization of 
     government owned or controlled industries and properties in 
     Ethiopia.

     SEC. 6. SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA.

       (a) Resource Policy Assistance.--The President, acting 
     through the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development and in cooperation with the World 
     Bank and other donors, shall provide assistance, as needed, 
     for sustainable development of Ethiopia's Nile and Awash 
     River resources, including assistance to help Ethiopia with 
     the technology necessary for the construction of irrigation 
     systems and hydroelectric power that might prevent future 
     famine.
       (b) Health Care Assistance.--The President, acting through 
     the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, shall provide material support to 
     hospitals, clinics, and health care centers in Ethiopia, 
     especially hospitals, clinics, and health care centers in 
     rural areas.

     SEC. 7. REPORT.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the President shall transmit to Congress a report 
     on the implementation of this Act, including a description of 
     a comprehensive plan to address issues of security, human 
     rights, including in the Ogaden region, democratization, and 
     economic freedom that potentially threaten the stability of 
     Ethiopia.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2008 and 2009.
       (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are 
     authorized to remain available until expended.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill and 
yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H11101]]

  Mr. Speaker, first let me thank Chairman Lantos for his leadership in 
bringing this bill up and the ranking member, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, and the 
ranking member of the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee, Mr. Smith, 
for H.R. 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007.
  Ethiopia is one of our most reliable allies as one of Africa's most 
capable peacekeeping forces and is making positive steps towards a 
prosperous economy and functioning democracy. However, Ethiopia 
continues to be a country riven with conflict that threatens to tear 
the country apart. Ethiopia took a major step backwards in the 
immediate aftermath of the 2005 general elections when the Prime 
Minister declared a state of emergency, outlawed any public gatherings, 
and placed all security forces under his direct command. While the 
government performed commendably in negotiations with opposition 
parties before the election, the response after the election set off a 
violent confrontation between the opposition and the government. The 
opposition accused the government of vote rigging and fraud and called 
for a public demonstration and civil disorder.
  The government responded by ordering the security forces to fire live 
ammunition at demonstrators, killing some and detaining opposition 
leaders and their followers. In spite of continued negotiations between 
the government and the opposition, the political environment continued 
to deteriorate, resulting in regrettable death of civilians and police.
  An estimated 112 political leaders, human rights activists, community 
leaders and journalists, including the founder of the Ethiopian Human 
Rights Council, were imprisoned and charged with treason and genocide. 
In spite of international pleas for more measured responses by the 
government towards its civilians, the Government of Ethiopia has 
continued to stifle and criminalize opposition activities and to 
intimidate and silence civil society and independent journalists.
  The legislation before the House will withhold nonhumanitarian funds 
from the Ethiopian Government until democracy and respect for human 
rights are fully restored. It will send a strong signal of 
dissatisfaction toward the Ethiopian Government and increase pressure 
on the Ethiopian leaders to change. As I indicated, in leading up to 
the election, the government made debates available, opened up 
journalism and had the opposition candidates on equal footing. However, 
after the results, 193 people were killed, shot and murdered by 
sharpshooters.
  So we are very disturbed. We urge our colleagues to support this 
important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very, very strong 
support of the Ethiopian Democracy and Accountability Act. I am very 
happy that it has finally been brought to the floor. It is legislation 
that will limit and condition U.S. Government assistance on the 
Ethiopian Government provided that the government meets a very modest 
list of human rights benchmarks and provides financial support to human 
rights promoters in Ethiopia.
  Mr. Speaker, the Ethiopian Democracy and Accountability Act is as 
timely now as it was last year, maybe even more so after the failure of 
so many attempts to promote human rights reform through dialogue and 
persuasion. It is clear that stronger measures are necessary, and they 
must come now. Human rights abuses have to be penalized.
  Recently, Human Rights Watch reported that the Ethiopian Government, 
fighting an insurgency in Ogaden region, had forcibly displaced 
thousands of civilians in that region, burned villages and food stocks 
and imposed a trade blockade on the region. Just a few minutes ago in 
the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, we heard from a number of 
witnesses who told us very chilling tales. People who were there on the 
ground, human rights reporters on the ground were documenting the abuse 
that is being committed against people: rape, and a whole host of other 
gross indignities being committed, crimes against humanity by 
government forces.
  Mr. Speaker, even the U.S. Department of State in its ``Country 
Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2006'' points out that there were 
numerous credible reports that security officials often beat or 
mistreated detainees. Massive arrests and detentions are common, the 
reports went on to say. Although the Ethiopian Constitution and law 
prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, the government frequently did 
not observe these provisions in practice. Authorities regularly 
detained persons without warrants and denied access to counsel and 
family members, particularly in the outlying regions. The Independent 
Commission of Inquiry found that security officials held over 30,000 
civilians incommunicado for up to 3 months in detention centers located 
in remote areas. Other estimates place the number of such detainees as 
high as 50,000.
  This is only part of a long series of human rights outrages, Mr. 
Speaker, committed by Prime Minister Meles. On June 20, 2005, after an 
election that displeased the Prime Minister, almost 200 pro-democracy 
demonstrators in Addis were slaughtered when they demanded that there 
be a true accurate accounting of how people voted. It was a magnificent 
outpouring of Ethiopians. They voted. Eighty-five percent of the 
eligible voters poured out to vote despite much intimidation and 
despite the fact that many of the election observers all of a sudden 
were thrown out of the country by the Meles government, including NDI 
and the International Republican Institute. So they weren't there.
  But despite all that, people voted, only to have, in many cases, 
their votes discounted by the government. Then, as people took to the 
streets to protest, like I said, almost 200 pro-democracy demonstrators 
were gunned down.
  When I visited Ethiopia in August of that year and met with Prime 
Minister Meles, I urged him to investigate that atrocity, to punish 
those who were responsible and to release the political prisoners. 
Meles told me, I have a file on all of them, that is to say, all of the 
opposition leaders. He said, They are all guilty of treason. It is hard 
to put faith in the reformist intentions of a government official who 
says those kind of things.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that neither we nor the international 
community has pushed Meles hard enough on human rights and democracy 
issues because we have been satisfied perhaps that they cooperate with 
us to some extent in the war on terror. I would point out to my 
colleagues that the war on terror is very important, but no regime that 
terrorizes its own citizens can be a reliable ally in the war on 
terror. Terrorism isn't just a military issue. It is also a human 
rights issue. Terrorists come from countries where their governments 
fail to respect their human rights. In promoting human rights in 
Ethiopia, we are attacking terrorism at its root.
  Mr. Speaker, I have come to know and admire many people from 
Ethiopia's great and ancient civilization. I ensure my colleagues that 
democracy, human rights, and rule of law are things that they 
desperately want for their country. It should be our country's policy 
to promote these important things which correspond with our own long-
term interests.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill; and, again, I 
congratulate my good friend and colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) 
for his leadership on this very important issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me once again thank the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Smith) who has worked so hard on this issue of 
Ethiopia. We are very pleased that today the proof it is coming to 
fruition is the fact that this bill is here on the floor. I, too, met 
with Prime Minister Meles in the summer of 2006 and asked if he would 
consider releasing the prisoners. He once again said that it is up to 
the judiciary. It is not in his hands. I then went to the Kality prison 
and met with two of the witnesses who just testified this morning Dr. 
Nega and Ms. Mideska, who appreciated the pressure and the insistence 
that we had through the years and because perhaps they would still be 
in prison. But they are here as free citizens testifying before

[[Page H11102]]

the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee this morning.
  So, once again, we have also in this bill made provisions to assist 
the Government of Ethiopia. We are saying that you need help in your 
judicial system, and there are funds in it for that, that we hope to 
get appropriated. We say the health system is in disrepair, and there 
are funds in it to help the health system. We say that there is a need 
for water projects, and in this bill there is financial assistance to 
help in the economic development.
  So this is a bill that we are saying that Ethiopia is an ally of the 
United States. We need a strong Ethiopia. But we need a democratic 
Ethiopia, not an Ethiopia that is run by a dictatorial regime. So we 
are hoping that this bill will move forward and effect change in that 
great country with such a long and rich history.
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Ethiopia 
Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007. As an original cosponsor of 
this legislation, I commend the majority and minority managers and urge 
strong support for this measure to support human rights, democracy, 
independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press, peacekeeping 
capacity building, and economic development in the Federal Democratic 
Republic of Ethiopia; to collaborate with Ethiopia in the Global War on 
Terror; to seek the release of all political prisoners and prisoners of 
conscience in Ethiopia; to foster stability, democracy, and economic 
development in the region; and, finally, to strengthen U.S.-Ethiopian 
relations. This is a message not just to the leadership in Ethiopia, 
but also to the Secretary of State to take specified actions to support 
human rights and democratization in Ethiopia.
  This important legislation expresses the sense of Congress that we 
should encourage the government of Ethiopia to enter into discussions 
with peaceful political groups to bring them into full participation in 
Ethiopia's political and economic affairs. We need to provide the 
necessary assistance to help achieve such a goal, so this legislation 
directs the President to provide Ethiopia with resource policy 
assistance and health care assistance. This legislation is crafted to 
seek a balance and return democracy to one of the African continent's 
oldest democracies.
  Northern Virginia is home to one of the largest African immigrant 
populations in America, with significant numbers of Nigerians, 
Ethiopians, Eritreans, Somalians, and Ghanaians. They both enrich our 
culture, and enrich our appreciation of what a return to democracy in 
Ethiopia could mean. Ethiopia's peoples--in my District, in our 
country, and in Africa are the proud representatives of a great and 
ancient civilization. I believe we have an opportunity and 
responsibility to them to help restore democracy, human rights, and the 
rule of law--goals they want desperately for their own country. It 
should be our country's policy as well to promote these objectives 
which correspond to our long-term interests.
  What it ought not to mean was last summer's sentencing of 35 
opposition politicians and activists to life in prison--in a case where 
the prosecution had asked for the death penalty against the defendants, 
who included Ethiopia's top opposition leaders. Those sentenced to life 
imprisonment include the leader of the Coalition for Unity and 
Democracy, Hailu Shawel; Berhanu Nega, who was elected mayor of Addis 
Ababa; former Harvard scholar Mesfin Woldemariam; and former U.N. 
special envoy and former Norfolk State University professor, Yacob 
Hailemariam.
  Thus, this is an important step for the Congress to take to foster 
accountability for the actions the Ethiopian government has taken that 
undermine rule of law and fundamental political freedoms. It is an 
important act to restrict security assistance for Ethiopia until such 
time as the President certifies that, among other things, the 
government of Ethiopia has taken steps to release political prisoners, 
hold security forces accountable for human rights abuses related to the 
demonstrations of 2005, and the Meles regime is respecting freedom of 
speech and information and allowing human rights groups to operate 
without being harassed.
  For, as our colleague Chris Smith said, ``Terrorism is not just a 
military issue; it is also a human rights issue. Terrorists come from 
countries whose governments failed to respect their human rights. In 
promoting human rights in Ethiopia, we are attacking terrorism at its 
roots.'' It is for this reason that the bill also contains provisions 
for economic assistance and health care assistance for victims of 
torture, and it authorizes $20 million in 2008 and $20 million in 2009 
to carry out these provisions.
  Equally important, this legislation is intended to promote 
accountability for the killing of innocent civilians by government 
security forces, to build the institutions of democracy, and to provide 
meaningful support for human rights and those who defend them in 
Ethiopia. It requires our Secretary of State to support human rights by 
establishing a mechanism to provide funds to local human rights 
organizations and victims' support networks to provide legal support 
for political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. In this 
legislation, we require the Secretary of State to put in place a means 
to identify and extradite members of the Mengistu regime currently 
residing in the United States. We are trying, through this effort 
today, to balance this demand for accountability by supporting 
democratization through directing the State Department to provide 
assistance to strengthen local, regional, and national democratic 
processes through training authorities, political parties, and civil 
society groups in negotiation skills, campaign management, and election 
monitoring. The legislation bars non-humanitarian assistance to 
Ethiopia if the ruling party obstructs U.S. efforts to provide human 
rights and democracy assistance and training within Ethiopia. It makes 
it illegal for members of the security forces who have committed human 
rights violations against civilians to receive U.S. security assistance 
training.
  This bill does provide flexibility for the administration by 
providing a waiver the President can exercise to continue security 
assistance to programs with Ethiopia that support U.S. efforts on the 
Global War on Terror and the Ethiopians' efforts in United Nations 
peacekeeping and whatever is deemed necessary for the U.S. national 
interests.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot and must not remain silent, but rather we have 
an obligation to do much more in order to promote the rule of law and 
respect for fundamental freedoms in Ethiopia--a very proud country with 
a tremendous heritage and history. We want to see Ethiopia move back, 
as it has in the past, to being our good ally. We can no longer allow 
this situation to fester.
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2003, the 
Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007. This important 
legislation authorizes $20 million for both FY 2008 and FY 2009 to 
provide economic support for Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in 
Africa.
  H.R. 2003 provides a framework for support programs designed to 
impact all aspects of Ethiopian society. The bill would provide 
financial support to human rights groups to continue their efforts in 
Ethiopia, as well as expand the Voice of America's Ethiopia program. 
The legislation would also provide economic development assistance, 
with a focus on meeting the healthcare needs of the Ethiopian people. 
The legislation also requires the President to submit a report to the 
Congress outlining a comprehensive plan to address Ethiopia's many 
economic, security, and human rights issues.
  Perhaps most importantly, H.R. 2003 places a number of limitations on 
our country's dealings with the Ethiopian government, requiring that a 
number of benchmarks be met before the full support of the United 
States is realized. The Ethiopian Government must allow the media to 
operate freely; the judiciary must operate independent of government 
influence; all political prisoners must be released; internet access 
cannot be restricted; and human rights and democratization groups must 
be allowed to operate free of government interference.
  I believe our country can be a positive and powerful influence to the 
Ethiopians, and I am thankful that this Congress has turned its 
attention to a people that struggle to achieve the basic human freedoms 
that we enjoy. I urge adoption of the resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007, 
which I, together with over 80 of my colleagues, have co-sponsored. 
This important legislation reaffirms the United States commitment to 
supporting human rights, democracy, independence of the judiciary, 
freedom of the press, and economic development in the Federal 
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
  I would like thank Chairman Payne for introducing this important 
legislation, and Chairman Lantos for his leadership on this important 
issue. I was pleased to work with both Chairmen within the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs to incorporate important language into the bill at the 
committee markup. As amended, to reflect my language, I believe that 
this bill is an important and firm diplomatic step toward addressing 
our serious concerns with Ethiopia.
  My language will work to bolster an independent judiciary in Ethiopia 
by encouraging exchanges between Ethiopian and United States jurists, 
law schools, law professors, and law students, especially in legal 
fields such as constitutional law, role of the judiciary, due process, 
habeas corpus, political and voting rights, criminal law and procedure, 
and discrimination. Mr. Speaker, Ethiopia's judicial system is making 
important strides forward, but it still requires our support and 
ongoing engagement. Such exchanges would be mutually beneficially to 
both American and Ethiopian legal students and professionals.

[[Page H11103]]

  In addition, I am pleased to have successfully offered language that 
added exemptions for international military education and training for 
civilian personnel under section 541 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961, commonly referred to as ``Expanded IMET,'' from the restrictions 
on security assistance until the Government of Ethiopia can certify it 
has met certain standards of human rights, democracy, and economic 
development. While I certainly believe these standards are crucial 
goals, and that we should be using our aid programs as an incentive for 
the government to meet these objectives, I also strongly believe that 
we must continue to fund crucial programs. IMET ensures that the 
military and related civilian personnel receive a range of necessary 
training, in important areas including human rights and military 
justice. I do not believe these crucial programs should be suspended, 
pending certification. Making sure that the military receives proper 
training, including in international standards and norms, is a crucial 
component to helping Ethiopia meet human rights specifications.
  Finally, I offered language to provide assistance to promote the 
privatization of government industries and property. As Ethiopia 
transitions from a socialist structure to an open-market, I believe it 
is mutually beneficial for us to assist in this groundbreaking 
transformation. My language authorizes the President, acting through 
USAID, to provide assistance to promote the privatization of government 
owned or controlled industries and property in Ethiopia.
  Mr. Speaker, though Ethiopia is currently on the road to democracy, I 
do not believe we should be treating the country with kid gloves. This 
is a path that should be paved with civil and political discourse, 
peaceful transitions of power, and respect for human rights. By 
necessity, the achievement of a modem democracy requires the 
implementation of electoral reforms, the separation of powers in the 
government, and the establishment of a truly independent judiciary. 
These are the founding principles of our American Republic, and I have 
seen firsthand the progress on the path to democracy Ethiopia has made 
since the brutal dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam was brought down 
in 1991. I strongly believe that the United States should do all it can 
to support this transition, including bolstering civil society and 
speaking out when fundamental human rights are violated.
  Mr. Speaker, Ethiopia is a leader in its region, and in the African 
continent, and has the potential to be a great global leader. However, 
years of fighting and alleged abuses are standing in the way of 
Ethiopia's progress. We need a roadmap toward establishing peace, 
stability, protection of human rights, and democracy in Ethiopia, and 
in the entire Horn of Africa region. This will necessitate addressing 
the ongoing lawlessness in neighboring Somalia, which continues to 
destabilize and threaten the entire region.
  Ethiopia has a long and proud history. It is the cradle of mankind, 
as illustrated by ``Lucy,'' also known as Dinkinesh (Amharic for ``you 
are wonderful''), which is the nearly complete hominid skeleton 
discovered by archaeologists in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia on 
November 30, 1974. Lucy is estimated to have lived 3.2 million years 
ago and has redefined science's understanding of human evolution. I was 
happy to work with Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, Ethiopian 
Ambassador Samuel Assefa, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science to 
bring Lucy to Houston, which is one of only 9 American cities and the 
only city in Texas to host the exhibit. The bones are currently on 
display in Houston, and will be until April 2008.
  Ethiopia is also the oldest independent nation in Africa, has never 
been colonized, and is home to the African Union. Despite Ethiopia's 
rich history, however, this bill recognizes that recent decades have 
brought hardship and suffering to Ethiopia's people, through military 
conflict, natural disasters, and a military dictatorship.
  For over a decade in the House of Representatives, and prior to that 
in the Houston city council, I have been an outspoken and unwavering 
advocate for the country of Ethiopia and its people, both in Ethiopia 
and in the diaspora. Following in the legendary footsteps of my 
predecessor, Mickey Leland, who died attempting to alleviate the 
starvation faced by Ethiopia's innocent populace, I have been a 
champion of increasing foreign aid to, political, economic, and social 
cooperation with, and improving human rights in Ethiopia.

  While I continue to advocate close interaction and constructive 
dialogue with Ethiopia and its leaders, I believe the human rights 
situation there must be addressed. Of particular recent concern was the 
detention of elected parliamentarians, human rights advocates, and 
independent journalists and the harsh response to protesters after 
Ethiopia's recent unprecedented elections in 2005. In response to 
reports that thousands of prisoners languished in prisons throughout 
Ethiopia, I was proud to join a number of my colleagues in sending a 
letter to Secretary Rice, expressing our strong concern about the 
treatment of detainees.
  In July, an Ethiopian court harshly sentenced 35 opposition leaders 
and activists to life in prison and denied them the right to vote or 
run for public office on charges of inciting violence. Although I was 
pleased to see the Court rebuff the prosecution's call for the death 
sentence against these defendants, I believe that the sentence of life 
imprisonment is still too severe a punishment.
  However, I am heartened by the active role that elders such as 
Professor Ephraim Isaac played in the negotiations for these prisoners' 
release, and I was extremely pleased that these negotiations led to the 
release of these prisoners. Only through amnesty will the Ethiopian 
government and opposition leaders be able to secure a path to 
reconciliation rather than assuring a future of political divisiveness.
  This legislation reaffirms the United States commitment to supporting 
Ethiopia as it builds the necessary institutions and civil society 
framework for a successful democracy. It contains a number of important 
provisions directing the Department of State to provide mechanisms for 
supporting and monitoring the promotion of human rights and democracy 
within Ethiopia.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that we in Congress should focus on the 
pursuit of truth. It is extremely important that we seek truthful 
accounts of what is going on in Ethiopia, and in the entire Horn of 
Africa region, and that we use these reports to develop a roadmap that 
will guide Ethiopia along the path to democracy and greater guarantees 
for human rights. This roadmap must be characterized, above all, by 
firm diplomacy.
  I would like to conclude by reiterating my firm belief in the extreme 
importance of supporting the strengthening of democracy and human 
rights in Ethiopia.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2003, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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