110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2003 
AN ACT 
To encourage and facilitate the consolidation of peace and 
security, respect for human rights, democracy, and eco-
nomic freedom in Ethiopia. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 eco-
nomic development in the Federal Democratic Re-
public 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, es-
pecially in the Ogaden region; 
(5) collaborate with Ethiopia in the Global War 
on Terror; and 
(6) strengthen United States-Ethiopian rela-
tions based on the policy objectives specified in para-
graphs (1) through (5). 
SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA. 
The Secretary of State shall— 
(1) provide financial support to local and na-
tional 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 polit-
ical prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethi-
opia 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 independ-
ence 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 Ethio-
pian and United States jurists, law schools, law 
professors, and law students, especially in legal 
fields such as constitutional law, role of the ju-
diciary, 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 mon-
itoring process, consisting of indigenous organiza-
tions, international organizations, or both, to mon-
itor judicial proceedings throughout Ethiopia, with 
special focus on unwarranted government interven-
tion 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 Ethi-
opia, including training, and technical support; 
(6) expand the Voice of America’s Ethiopia pro-
gram; 
(7) support efforts of the international commu-
nity 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 cur-
rent Government of Ethiopia who were engaged 
in gross human rights violations, including
those individuals who may be residing in the 
United States; and 
(B) to support and encourage the prosecu-
tion of individuals identified under subpara-
graph (A) in the United States or Ethiopia. 
SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIZATION IN ETHIOPIA. 
(a) STRENGTHENING LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NA-
TIONAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES.—The Secretary of 
State shall— 
(1) provide assistance to strengthen local, re-
gional, and national parliaments and governments in 
Ethiopia, as needed; 
(2) establish a program focused on reconcili-
ation efforts between the Government of Ethiopia 
and political parties, including in minority commu-
nities, in preparation for negotiation and for partici-
pation 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 as-
sistance for democracy promotion in Ethiopia should 
be made available to all political parties and civil so-
ciety 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 tech-
nical assistance to advance human rights, de-
mocracy, independence of the judiciary, freedom 
of the press, economic development, and eco-
nomic freedom in Ethiopia. 
(B) DEFINITION.—In this paragraph, the 
term ‘‘nonessential United States assistance’’ 
means assistance authorized under any provi-
sion of law, other than humanitarian assistance, 
food aid programs, assistance to combat HIV/ 
AIDS and other health care assistance, peace-
keeping assistance, and counter-terrorism as-
sistance. 
SEC. 5. ENSURING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR HUMAN 
RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY, AND ECONOMIC DE-
VELOPMENT 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 assist-
ance, counter-terrorism assistance, or inter-
national military education and training for ci-
vilian personnel under section 541 of the For-
eign Assistance Act of 1961 (commonly referred 
to as ‘‘Expanded IMET’’). Peacekeeping or 
counter-terrorism assistance provided to Ethi-
opia shall not be used for any other security-re-
lated purpose or to provide training to security 
personnel or units against whom there is cred-
ible 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 Ethi-
opia— 
(i) who has been involved in giving or-
ders to use lethal force against peaceful
demonstrators or police officers in Ethi-
opia; or 
(ii) against whom there is credible evi-
dence of gross human rights abuses or vio-
lations; 
(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 mur-
dering Etenesh Yemam; and 
(D) security personnel responsible for mur-
dering prisoners at Kaliti prison in the after-
math of the election violence in 2005. 
(3) 
CERTIFICATION.—The 
certification 
de-
scribed in this paragraph is a certification by the 
President to Congress that the Government of Ethi-
opia is making credible, quantifiable efforts to en-
sure 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 func-
tion independently and allowed to uphold the 
Ethiopian 
Constitution 
and 
international 
human rights standards; 
(D) security personnel involved in the un-
lawful killings of demonstrators and others, in-
cluding 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 tel-
evision 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) in-
cludes 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 in-
vestigations into human rights abuses in Ethi-
opia are admitted to Ethiopia and allowed to 
undertake their work in all regions of the coun-
try 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 in-
terests 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 Govern-
ment of the United States shall call upon the Gov-
ernment 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 organiza-
tions and international human rights investiga-
tors. 
(2) TORTURE VICTIM RELIEF.—While it is the 
responsibility of the Government of Ethiopia to com-
pensate 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 Con-
gress 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 le-
galization as political parties, and provide such as-
sistance as is warranted and necessary to help 
achieve the goal described in this paragraph; and 
(2) provide assistance to promote the privatiza-
tion of government owned or controlled industries 
and properties in Ethiopia. 
SEC. 6. SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ETHI-
OPIA. 
(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 as-
sistance, as needed, for sustainable development of Ethio-
pia’s Nile and Awash River resources, including assistance 
to help Ethiopia with the technology necessary for the con-
struction 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 mate-
rial 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 enact-
ment 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 appro-
priated 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. 
Passed the House of Representatives October 2, 
2007. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 2003 
AN ACT 
To encourage and facilitate the consolidation of 
peace and security, respect for human rights, de-
mocracy, and economic freedom in Ethiopia.