I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6851 
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. 
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, reconstruc-
tion 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Republic of Georgia Enhanced Trade Assistance, Eco-
nomic 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 Re-
public of Georgia. 
Sec. 5. Authorization of appropriations. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Since establishing its independence from the 
former Soviet Union in 1991, the Republic of Geor-
gia 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 per-
sonnel to bolster the United States-led alliance in 
the Iraqi conflict. 
(2) The Republic of Georgia has achieved sig-
nificant progress in democratization and market re-
form efforts, but advances in these areas have now 
been severely set back due to the conflict with the 
Russian Federation. 
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(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 infra-
structure, including bridges, railroads, radar sites, 
and ports, Georgia’s economy and the flow of goods, 
services, and communications have been severely dis-
rupted. 
(4) The destruction of villages and civilian 
houses during and following the conflict has led to 
the displacement of the tens of thousands of inter-
nally displaced persons. 
(5) The Georgian people have suffered depriva-
tion of their basic needs as a result of the conflict 
and their suffering will increase absent urgent as-
sistance 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. 
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SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO FACILITATE TRADE WITH THE RE-
PUBLIC OF GEORGIA AND CERTAIN OTHER 
COUNTRIES. 
The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Com-
merce shall cooperate in working with the Governments 
of the Republic of Georgia, Ukraine, Turkey, Latvia, Lith-
uania, 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 Part-
nership in Northern Europe (e-PINE). 
SEC. 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 Gov-
ernment of the Republic of Georgia for— 
(1) the reconstruction of critical and other es-
sential 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 
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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 re-
covery 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 Inter-
national Monetary Fund, and the European Bank for Re-
construction 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 re-
construction and development of Georgia. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated 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. 
Æ 
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