17 seats in the Ethiopian Parliament and guaran tees independence for the NEB in its decision making; (J) representatives of international human rights organizations engaged in human rights monitoring work in Ethiopia are admitted to Ethiopia 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 (i) the Government of Ethiopia has met the requirements of paragraph (3); and (ii) such a waiver is in the national 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. HR 2003 IH 18 1 (b) TREATMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AND 2 PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 (1) IN GENERAL.-The President, the Secretary of State, and other relevant officials of the Govern ment of the United States shall call upon the Government of Ethiopia to immediately release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, especially prisoners held without charge. (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 Con19 gress that the Government of the United States should (1) encourage the Government of Ethiopia to enter into discussions with peaceful political groups in order to bring such groups into full participation in the political and economic affairs of Ethiopia, in cluding their legalization as a political party; and 19 1 (2) provide such assistance as is warranted and 2 3 necessary to help achieve the goal described in para graph (1). 4 SEC. 7. SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ETHI 5 6 OPIA. (a) RESOURCE POLICY ASSISTANCE.—The President, 7 acting through the Administrator of the United States 8 Agency for International Development, shall provide as9 sistance for sustainable development of Ethiopia's Nile 10 and Awash River resources, including assistance to help 11 Ethiopia with the technology necessary for the construc12 tion of irrigation systems and hydroelectric power that 13 might prevent future famine. 14 (b) HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE.-The President, 15 acting through the Administrator of the United States 16 Agency for International Development, shall provide mate17 rial support to hospitals and health care centers in Ethi18 opia, especially hospitals and health care centers in rural 19 areas. 20 SEC. 8. REPORT. 21 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact22 ment of this Act, the President shall transmit to Congress 23 a report on the implementation of this Act, including a 24 description of a comprehensive plan to address the secu25 rity, human rights, democratization, and economic free HR 2003 IH 20 1 dom concerns that potentially threaten the stability of the 2 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. 3 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 4 (a) IN GENERAL.-There are authorized to be appro 5 priated to carry out this Act $20,000,000 for each of the 6 fiscal years 2008 and 2009. 7 (b) AVAILABILITY.-Amounts appropriated pursuant 8 to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) 9 are authorized to remain available until expended. AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE TO H.R. 2003 OFFERED BY MR. LANTOS OF CALIFORNIA Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 2 This Act may be cited as the "Ethiopia Democracy 3 and Accountability Act of 2007". 4 SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 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 |