Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-4423
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2005-11-18 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administration of justice
Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Agriculture and Food
American investments
Armed Forces and National Security
Boundaries
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Collective security
Commerce
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Dams
Democracy
Developing countries
Dissenters
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Election administration
Energy
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Export finance
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Free enterprise
Freedom of information
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Human rights
Hydroelectric power
Infrastructure
Insurgency
Investment guaranty insurance
Irrigation
Judicial officers
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal education
Money laundering
Murder
Nongovernmental organizations
Opposition (Political science)
Peace negotiations
Peace treaties
Police brutality
Police training
Political parties
Political prisoners
Political violence
President and foreign policy
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Radio broadcasting
Religion
Religious liberty
Rivers
Rule of law
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business
Sustainable development
Technical assistance
Television broadcasting
Terrorism
Torture
Voter registration
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2005-11-18
text: 
Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005 - Directs the President: (1) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to revise the USAID country plan for Ethiopia to provide support for independent human rights monitoring and related training for government officials, and to provide support for training political parties on organization building, message development, and election monitoring; (2) through the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program of the Department of Justice, to provide training for Ethiopian police, security, and prison personnel in maintaining international standards for arrest and interrogation; (3) through USAID, to support programs to increase the independence and competence of the Ethiopian judicial system, and to provide assistance for development of Ethiopia's Nile and Awash River resources, including assistance to help Ethiopia with technology for the construction of dams, irrigation systems, and hydroelectric power that might prevent future famine; (4) provide financing for U.S.-Ethiopian commercial ventures; and (5) suspend joint security activities until a certification is made that Ethiopia is observing international human rights standards and enforcing the principle of the rule of law. 
 
Declares that the current stalemate in the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea has the potential to lead to conflict and must be addressed. Prohibits assistance to the governments of Ethiopia or Eritrea (with exceptions for assistance for democracy, peacekeeping, child survival and health, education, and agriculture) until the Secretary of State certifies that Ethiopia or Eritrea is taking steps to comply with the Algiers Agreements. 
 
Prohibits nonessential U.S. assistance to Ethiopia if the government of Ethiopia obstructs U.S. technical assistance to Ethiopian opposition parties.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 6 - 4.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2006-04-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations.
action_date: 2006-03-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E439-440)
action_date: 2005-11-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2005-11-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-11-18
text: Introduced in House