U.S. Congress passes Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006

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U.S. Congress passes Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006

U.S. Congress - December 9, 2006

Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006 - Summary

Title I - Bilateral Action on Addressing Urgent Needs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Section 102 -

Sets forth specified U.S. political, social, civil, and economic policy objectives (policy objectives) with respect to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Section 103 -

Authorizes additional FY2006 funds for bilateral assistance programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, and the Arms Export Control Act.

States that: (1) the Department of State should submit budget requests in FY2007-FY2009 that contain bilateral assistance increases for the Democratic Republic of the Congo that are similar to the FY2006 increase if progress is being made toward accomplishing the policy objectives; (2) the Secretary of State should consult with the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on the Budget of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives to determine appropriate funding reductions, especially redundant or duplicative programs, to offset the funding increase authorized in this section; and (3) the United States should work with other donor nations to increase international contributions to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Section 104 -

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be committed to achieving specified policy objectives if U.S. and international efforts are to be effective in bringing relief, security, and democracy to the country; and (2) the international community is providing substantial funding that is giving the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo an opportunity to make progress towards such policy objectives but this assistance cannot continue in perpetuity.

Requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report respecting the progress made toward accomplishing the policy objectives.

Authorizes the Secretary to withhold assistance if the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not making sufficient progress towards accomplishing the policy objectives.

Section 105 -

Directs the President to report to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives respecting a strategy for achieving the policy objectives, including a description of a mechanism for coordinating U.S. government efforts to implement such strategy.

Section 106 -

States that the President should appoint a Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region (who may be a Department employee with the rank of Deputy Assistant Secretary or higher) to resolve the instability and insecurity in Eastern Congo and to enhance regional harmonization of U.S. policies and assistance programs.

Title II - Multilateral Actions to Address Urgent Needs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Section 201 -

Directs the United States to use its influence in the U.N. Security Council to: (1) address exploitation at the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC); (2) ensure that appropriate codes of conduct and programs for sexual abuse prevention and trafficking in persons are undertaken by the United Nations; (3) strengthen MONUC; (4) ensure that the recruiting and arming of children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is halted; (5) strengthen the arms embargo; (6) allow for more effective protection of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially in the eastern part of the country; (7) press countries in the Congo region to help facilitate an end to the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and (8) encourage the U.N. Secretary-General to become more involved in completing such policy objectives and ensure that fighting in North Kivu, Ituri, and other areas does not create widespread instability throughout the country.

Section 202 -

Directs the President to use U.S. influence to support increased international humanitarian and development assistance for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

States that if the Secretary determines that the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not making sufficient progress towards accomplishing the policy objectives the President shall consider withdrawing U.S. support for such international assistance when future funding decisions are considered.

Sponsor: Sen. Barack Obama [D-IL]

Cosponsors in Senate

Sen. Samuel Brownback [R-KS]
Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY]
Sen. Susan Collins [R-ME]
Sen. Mark Dayton [D-MN]
Sen. Michael DeWine [R-OH]
Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL]
Sen. James Inhofe [R-OK]
Sen. Tim Johnson [D-SD]
Sen. Mary Landrieu [D-LA]
Sen. Patrick Leahy [D-VT]
Sen. Joseph Lieberman [D-CT]
Sen. Barbara Mikulski [D-MD]