Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007

To encourage and facilitate the consolidation of peace and security, respect for human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in Ethiopia.

10/2/2007--Passed House amended. Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 -
(Sec. 2) States that is U.S. policy to:
(1) 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;
(2) collaborate with Ethiopia in the Global War on Terror;
(3) seek the release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia;
(4) foster stability, democracy, and economic development in the region;
(5) support humanitarian assistance efforts, especially in the Ogaden region; and
(6) strengthen U.S.-Ethiopian relations.
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of State to take specified actions to support human rights and democratization in Ethiopia.
(Sec. 5) Prohibits until the President makes specified congressional certifications:
(1) security assistance to Ethiopia, with exceptions for peacekeeping, military education and training for civilian personnel, or counter-terrorism assistance; and
(2) U.S. entry of any Ethiopian official involved in giving orders to use lethal force against peaceful demonstrators or accused of gross human rights violations, and government security personnel involved in specified shootings of demonstrators or prisoners, or murdering Etenesh Yemam. Authorizes the President, after congressional notification, to waive such prohibitions for national security purposes. Directs the President, the Secretary, and other relevant U.S. government officials to call upon the government of Ethiopia to:
(1) release all remaining political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, especially prisoners held without charge; and
(2) allow full access to the Ogaden region by humanitarian aid organizations and international human rights investigators. Directs the President to provide assistance for the rehabilitation of Ethiopian torture victims. Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should:
(1) 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; and
(2) provide necessary assistance to help achieve such goal.
(Sec. 6) Directs the President to provide Ethiopia with assistance to:
(1) develop Ethiopia's Nile and Awash River resources, including assistance for the construction of irrigation systems and hydroelectric power that might prevent future famine; and
(2) support hospitals, clinics, and health care centers, especially in rural areas.
(Sec. 7) Directs the President to report to Congress respecting implementation of this Act.
(Sec. 8) Authorizes FY2008-FY2009 appropriations.

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Sponsor

• Rep. Donald Payne [D, NJ-10]
• and 85 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D, HI-1]
  • Rep. Robert Andrews [D, NJ-1]
  • Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2]
  • Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
  • Rep. Corrine Brown [D, FL-3]
  • Rep. Dan Burton [R, IN-5]
  • Rep. George Butterfield [D, NC-1]
  • Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]
  • Rep. Michael Capuano [D, MA-8]
  • Rep. Julia Carson [D, IN-7]
  • Rep. Donna Christensen [D, VI-0]
  • Rep. Yvette Clarke [D, NY-11]
  • Rep. William Clay [D, MO-1]
  • Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D, MO-5]
  • Rep. James Clyburn [D, SC-6]
  • Rep. John Conyers [D, MI-14]
  • Rep. Jim Costa [D, CA-20]
  • Rep. Joseph Crowley [D, NY-7]
  • Rep. Elijah Cummings [D, MD-7]
  • Rep. Artur Davis [D, AL-7]
  • Rep. Danny Davis [D, IL-7]
  • Rep. Susan Davis [D, CA-53]
  • Rep. William Delahunt [D, MA-10]
  • Rep. Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]
  • Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-17]
  • Rep. Chaka Fattah [D, PA-2]
  • Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]
  • Rep. Barney Frank [D, MA-4]
  • Rep. Al Green [D, TX-9]
  • Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
  • Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D, IL-4]
  • Rep. Alcee Hastings [D, FL-23]
  • Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [D, SD-0]
  • Rep. Mazie Hirono [D, HI-2]
  • Rep. Rush Holt [D, NJ-12]
  • Rep. Michael Honda [D, CA-15]
  • Rep. Jesse Jackson [D, IL-2]
  • Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D, TX-18]
  • Rep. William Jefferson [D, LA-2]
  • Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30]
  • Rep. Henry Johnson [D, GA-4]
  • Rep. Stephanie Jones [D, OH-11]
  • Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D, RI-1]
  • Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick [D, MI-13]
  • Rep. Tom Lantos [D, CA-12]
  • Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA-9]
  • Rep. John Lewis [D, GA-5]
  • Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D, CA-16]
  • Rep. Doris Matsui [D, CA-5]
  • Rep. Betty McCollum [D, MN-4]
  • Rep. James McDermott [D, WA-7]
  • Rep. James McGovern [D, MA-3]
  • Rep. Kendrick Meek [D, FL-17]
  • Rep. Gregory Meeks [D, NY-6]
  • Rep. R. Bradley Miller [D, NC-13]
  • Rep. Gwen Moore [D, WI-4]
  • Rep. James Moran [D, VA-8]
  • Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D, NY-8]
  • Rep. Eleanor Norton [D, DC-0]
  • Rep. John Olver [D, MA-1]
  • Rep. Frank Pallone [D, NJ-6]
  • Rep. William Pascrell [D, NJ-8]
  • Rep. Edward Pastor [D, AZ-4]
  • Rep. David Price [D, NC-4]
  • Rep. Charles Rangel [D, NY-15]
  • Rep. Ciro Rodriguez [D, TX-23]
  • Rep. Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9]
  • Rep. Bobby Rush [D, IL-1]
  • Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]
  • Rep. David Scott [D, GA-13]
  • Rep. Albio Sires [D, NJ-13]
  • Rep. Adam Smith [D, WA-9]
  • Rep. Hilda Solis [D, CA-32]
  • Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
  • Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D, CA-10]
  • Rep. Bennie Thompson [D, MS-2]
  • Rep. Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]
  • Rep. Nydia Velazquez [D, NY-12]
  • Rep. Maxine Waters [D, CA-35]
  • Rep. Diane Watson [D, CA-33]
  • Rep. Melvin Watt [D, NC-12]
  • Rep. Anthony Weiner [D, NY-9]
  • Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6]
  • Rep. David Wu [D, OR-1]
  • Rep. Albert Wynn [D, MD-4]
  close

Committees

• Senate Foreign Relations
• 2 more
  • House Foreign Affairs
  • House Foreign Affairs
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.2003

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
April 23, 2007		October 02, 2007

Show All Actions (13 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Oct 03, 2007: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
• Passed by voice vote in the House on Oct 02, 2007. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
• Oct 02, 2007: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2003.
• Oct 02, 2007: Considered under suspension of the rules.
• Oct 02, 2007: Mr. Payne moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• Added to calendar on Sep 26, 2007: Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules, (Amended) by Voice Vote..
• Sep 26, 2007: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Jul 18, 2007: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
• Jul 18, 2007: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Jul 11, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health.
• Jun 25, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1403-1405)
• Apr 23, 2007: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• Introduced on Apr 23, 2007.

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Related Bills:

• H.R.2228

Related Issue Areas:

• Terrorism
• Foreign policy
• Admission of nonimmigrants
• Africa (Sub-Saharan)
• 60 more
• Agriculture
• Armed forces
• Assassination
• Civil liberties
• Clinics
• Communications
• Congress
• Congress and foreign policy
• Congressional oversight
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Counterterrorism
• Criminal justice
• Defense policy
• Democracy
• Economic assistance
• Economic development
• Economic policy
• Energy
• Ethiopia
• Famines
• Food
• Foreign aid
• Foreign leaders
• Freedom of the press
• Health policy
• Hospitals
• Human rights
• Hydroelectric plants
• Hydroelectric power
• Immigration
• Infrastructure
• International affairs
• International relief
• Irrigation
• Job training
• Law
• Medical care
• Medicine
• Military assistance
• Military education
• Military training
• Murder
• Nongovernmental organizations
• Peacekeeping forces
• Political participation
• Political prisoners
• Political violence
• Politics and government
• President and foreign policy
• Presidents
• Public demonstrations
• Rule of law
• Rural affairs
• Rural health
• Sanctions (International law)
• Torture
• Victims of crimes
• Visas
• Water resources
• Water resources development

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

January 25, 2008 University instructor´s attempt to paint good pictures of HR 2003 ...

By Ethio Boy It is to be recalled that the US House of Representatives or Congress passed the HR 2003 bill known otherwise the Ethiopian Democracy and ...

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Source: American Chronicle, CA

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January 16, 2008 Washington Update By Mesfin Mekonen (KIC)

The hearing could set the stage for the introduction of HR 2003 in the Senate. The subcommittee chairman, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin) has actively ...

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Source: Nazret.com, MD

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January 12, 2008 Democratization, Sovereignty, and US Intervention in Ethiopia

Not so with HR 2003, since the bill only supports the wish and determination of the Ethiopian people to bring about a democratic political system. ...

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Source: Sudan Tribune, Sudan

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Blog Coverage

July 19, 2008 Ninth Circuit refutes immigration judge statements made in ...

In October 2007, the US House of Representatives passed the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 (HR 2003), aimed in part at encouraging the human rights situation in Ethiopia, and the bill awaits a Senate vote. ...

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Source: JURIST - Paper Chase

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July 14, 2008 CALL ME BY MY NAME: After the symposium

Ato Mesfin spoke on the current progress of HR 2003. He promised that if the Senate passes the legislation on HR 2003, it would have enormous impact on the Ethiopian societies as a whole. Engineer Fantahun has spoken at length about ...

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Source: Assimba Blog

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July 14, 2008 CALL ME BY MY NAME: After the symposium

Ato Mesfin spoke on the current progress of HR 2003. He promised that if the Senate passes the legislation on HR 2003, it would have enormous impact on the Ethiopian societies as a whole. Engineer Fantahun has spoken at length about ...

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Source: Debteraw Blog

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