Central Asia Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-3189
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administration of justice
American investments
Armed Forces and National Security
Arms sales
Central Asia
Charities
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime prevention
Democracy
Developing countries
Discrimination
Dissenters
Economic assistance
Education
Election administration
Ethnic relations
Export finance
Forced labor
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Freedom of association
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Government ownership
Higher education
Human rights
International broadcasting
International cooperation
Investment guaranty insurance
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal education
Military and naval supplies
Military assistance
Military training
Military transportation
Minorities
Misconduct in office
Nongovernmental organizations
Pluralism (Social sciences)
Police brutality
Police training
Political parties
Political prisoners
President and foreign policy
Printing
Prosecution
Prostitution
Public corruption
Punishment
Radio broadcasting
Religion
Religious liberty
Right of assembly
Rule of law
Sanctions (International law)
Science, Technology, Communications
Slavery
Social Welfare
Tajikistan
Technical assistance
Television broadcasting
Torture
Transportation and Public Works
Turkmenistan
United Nations
Uzbekistan
Women
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Central Asia Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2005 - Authorizes the President to provide assistance for the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) to support democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
 
Authorizes additional appropriations beginning in FY2006 for Voice of America and RFE/RL, Incorporated to expand radio broadcasting in languages spoken in Central Asia.
 
Conditions certain assistance, including military assistance (but excluding refugee, disaster relief, food and medicine, and HIV/AIDS assistance) to a Central Asian government upon presidential certification to the appropriate congressional committees that such government meets specified requirements respecting: (1) democratization; (2) freedom of expression and the media; (3) freedom of religion, association, and the right of peaceful assembly; (4) prevention of torture; and (5) rule of law and nondiscrimination. Withholds assistance for failure to meet such requirements at 33% for the first fiscal year, 66% for the second fiscal year, and 100% (with a national security waiver for less than 100% withholding) for the third and subsequent fiscal years. Authorizes withheld amounts to be used for democracy assistance under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-02-28
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2006-02-28
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2006-02-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in House