(Sec. 3) Authorizes appropriations to the President for FY 2001 for certain assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to the Sierra Leone DDR Trust Fund of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for demobilization, demilitarization, and reintegration assistance in Sierra Leone (but not for stipends to ex-combatants of the civil war in that country).
(Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations to the President for FY 2001 for assistance to: (1) rebuild and strengthen the capacity of the judiciary in Sierra Leone; and (2) assist efforts to establish the rule of law and maintain law and order there.
Authorizes the President, beginning one year after the conclusion of free and fair elections in Sierra Leone, to provide expanded international military education and training assistance to the military forces and related civilian personnel of Sierra Leone under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 solely for the purpose of providing training relating to defense management, civil-military relations, law enforcement cooperation, and military justice.
(Sec. 5) Declares the sense of Congress in favor of a thorough and nonpartisan initiative to collect comprehensive and detailed information on human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict in Sierra Leone, including the identification of specific units, individuals, and commanders found to have been especially abusive. Calls upon the administration strongly to support: (1) an independent process of data collection on human rights abuses in Sierra Leone, for use by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission when it has been established; and (2) any future initiatives of international accountability for Sierra Leone.
Authorizes the President to provide assistance for the establishment and support of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to establish accountability for human rights abuses in Sierra Leone.
Authorizes the Secretary of State, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, to collect human rights data with respect to Sierra Leone and assist the TRC.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 for: (1) establishment and support of the TRC; and (2) human rights data collection.
(Sec. 6) Directs the President to report to specified congressional committees information, including measurable, credible, and verifiable evidence, concerning: (1) the extent to which countries neighboring on Sierra Leone are involved in arms flows into that country; and (2) illicit sales of Sierra Leonean gold and diamonds through neighboring countries.
Declares that, if such a report contains measurable, credible, or verifiable evidence that a country is involved in arms flows into Sierra Leone, or that a country is involved in illicit sales of Sierra Leonean gold or diamonds through that country, then the Secretary of State shall: (1) take all necessary steps to initiate diplomatic efforts to bring about the termination of such activities by the country; and (2) inform the country, if it has not ceased the proscribed activity within three months after initiation of such diplomatic efforts, that U.S. foreign assistance may be terminated or suspended if it does not cease such activity.
Authorizes U.S. assistance to the Central Government of a neighboring country if such government: (1) provides demonstrated support for the peace process in Sierra Leone in accordance with the Lome Convention of July 7, 1999; and (2) does not provide training or other support for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the former Sierra Leonean army (AFRC) forces, or any other forces proscribed under the Lome Convention. Conditions assistance on such Government's cooperation with efforts to monitor arms flows to Sierra Leone.
[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3879 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3879
To support the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone in its peace-
building efforts, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 9, 2000
Mr. Gejdenson (for himself, Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. Towns, Mr. Hall
of Ohio, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Snyder, Ms. Lee, Ms. Millender-McDonald,
and Mr. Wexler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the
Committee on the Judiciary, 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 support the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone in its peace-
building efforts, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Sierra Leone Peace Support Act of
2000''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Eight years of civil war and massive human rights
violations have created a humanitarian crisis in the Republic
of Sierra Leone, leaving over 50,000 dead and 1,000,000
displaced from their homes.
(2) As many as 480,000 Sierra Leoneans have fled into
neighboring countries, especially Guinea.
(3) All parties to the conflict have committed abuses, but
the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and its ally, the former
Sierra Leonean army (AFRC) are responsible for the overwhelming
majority.
(4) The RUF and AFRC have systematically abducted, raped,
mutilated, killed, or forced children to fight alongside RUF
soldiers.
(5) The RUF continues to hold hundreds and perhaps
thousands of prisoners, including many child soldiers, despite
the agreement of RUF leadership at Lome to release all
children.
(6) The civil defense forces committed human rights
violations, including killings and recruitment of child
soldiers, and Economic Community of West African States
Military Observer Group (ECOMOG) forces have also committed
human rights abuses, including executions of captured
combatants and killings of civilians.
(7) Neighboring countries, especially Liberia and Burkina
Faso, have contributed greatly to the destruction of Sierra
Leone by aiding and arming the RUF and providing sanctuary for
RUF fighters.
(8) International humanitarian efforts to assist Sierra
Leoneans, both at home and in Guinea, have fallen far short of
need such that conditions in refugee camps and among displaced
persons camps are deplorable, food and medicine is dangerously
inadequate, and the refugee population on the Sierra Leonean
border continues to be preyed upon by RUF insurgents and
subjected to rape, mutilation, or killing.
(9) Demobilization, demilitarization, and reintegration
(DDR) efforts, as called for in the Lome agreement of July
1999, have begun months late and are still at beginning stages.
(10) With the withdrawal of the West African peacekeeping
forces, the United Nations Security Council has approved the
deployment of 11,000 peacekeeping forces for Sierra Leone.
(11) There are approximately 45,000 combatants, including
many child soldiers, in Sierra Leone who must be demobilized,
provided with alternate employment, and reintegrated into their
communities.
(12) Both the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF/AFRC
formally agreed in the Lome Convention of July 7, 1999, to
uphold, promote, and protect the human rights (including the
right to life and liberty, freedom from torture, the right to a
fair trial, freedom of conscience, expression, and association,
and the right to take part in the governance of one's country)
of every Sierra Leonean as well as the enforcement of
humanitarian law.
(b) Sense of Congress.--The Congress urges the President to
vigorously promote efforts to end further degradation of conditions in
the Republic of Sierra Leone from further degradation, to dramatically
increase United States assistance to demobilization, demilitarization,
and reintegration (DDR) efforts and humanitarian initiatives, to assist
in the collection of documentation about human rights abuses by all
parties, and to engage in diplomatic initiatives aimed at consolidating
the peace and protecting human rights.
SEC. 3. DEMOBILIZATION, DEMILITARIZATION, AND REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the
President $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 for assistance under chapter
4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2221 et
seq.) to the Sierra Leone DDR Trust Fund of the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development for demobilization, demilitarization,
and reintegration assistance in Sierra Leone. Assistance under the
preceding sentence may not be used to provide stipends to ex-combatants
of the civil war in the Republic of Sierra Leone.
(b) Additional Requirements.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to
subsection (a)--
(1) are in addition any other amounts available for the
purpose described in such subsection; and
(2) are authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 4. DEMOCRATIZATION, ELECTORAL, AND JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) Democratization and Electoral Assistance.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the President $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 for assistance--
(A) to train political parties in the Republic of
Sierra Leone in democratic processes; and
(B) to assist with the preparation for democratic
elections in Sierra Leone.
(2) Limitation.--Assistance under paragraph (1)(A) may only
be provided to political parties whose leaders and members
cooperate with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra
Leone (UNAMSIL) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
described in section 5(b).
(b) Judicial Assistance.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the President $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 for assistance to rebuild
and strengthen the capacity of the judiciary in the Republic of Sierra
Leone and to assist efforts to establish the rule of law and maintain
law and order in Sierra Leone.
(c) Additional Requirements.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under each of subsections (a) and (b)--
(1) are in addition any other amounts available for the
purposes described in each such subsection, respectively; and
(2) are authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 5. ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) Statement of Congressional Concern About Accountability.--It is
the sense of the Congress that a thorough and nonpartisan initiative to
collect information on human rights abuses by all parties to the
conflict in the Republic of Sierra Leone be undertaken. Comprehensive
and detailed information, particularly the identification of specific
units, individuals, and commanders found to have been especially
abusive, will be essential for vetting human rights abusers from the
newly formed armed forces and police forces of Sierra Leone and for
deterring abuses by all parties in the future. Accordingly, the
Congress calls upon the administration to strongly support an
independent process of data collection on human rights abuses in Sierra
Leone, for use by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission when it has
been established, and to support any future initiatives of
international accountability for Sierra Leone.
(b) Assistance for Truth and Reconciliation Commission.--
(1) Assistance for establishment and support of
commission.--The President is authorized to provide assistance
for the establishment and support of a Truth and Reconciliation
Commission to establish accountability for human rights abuses
in the Republic of Sierra Leone.
(2) Assistance for human rights data collection.--The
Secretary of State, acting through the Assistant Secretary of
the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, is authorized
to collect human rights data with respect to Sierra Leone and
assist the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in carrying out
its functions.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--
(A) Establishment and support of commission.--There
is authorized to be appropriated to the President
$1,500,000 for fiscal year 2001 for assistance under
chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 to carry out paragraph (1).
(B) Human rights data collection.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State
$500,000 for fiscal year 2001 to carry out paragraph
(2). Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization
of appropriations under the preceding sentence shall be
deposited in the ``Human Rights Fund'' of the Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the Department of
State.
(C) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to
the authorization of appropriations under subparagraphs
(A) and (B) are authorized to remain available until
expended.
SEC. 6. LIBERIA AND BURKINA FASO.
(a) Reports to Congress.--
(1) Arms flows.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the
Congress a report to the Committee on International Relations
of the House of Representatives, in classified or unclassified
form, which provides information concerning intelligence
estimates of arms flows into the Republic of Sierra Leone,
particularly detailing any role of Liberia and Burkina Faso.
(2) Sierra leonean minerals.--Not later than 6 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall
submit a report to the Committee on International Relations of
the House of Representatives, in classified or unclassified
form, which provides information concerning illicit sales of
Sierra Leonean gold and diamonds through Liberia.
(b) Assistance for Neighboring Countries.--
(1) United States assistance may be provided to the Central
Government of a neighboring country if such government--
(A) provides demonstrated support for the peace
process in the Republic of Sierra Leone; and
(B) does not provide training or other support for
the RUF/AFRC forces or any other forces organized
against the elected government of Sierra Leone.
(2) United States assistance may be provided to the Central
Government of neighboring countries only if such Government
cooperates with efforts to monitor arms flows to Sierra Leone.
(3) United states assistance.--In this subsection, the term
``United States assistance'' means assistance of any kind which
is provided by grant, sale, loan, lease, credit, guaranty, or
insurance, or by any other means, by any agency or
instrumentality of the United States Government.
SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) mechanisms should be in place to provide for an
increase in assistance to the United Nations peacekeeping force
to enable that force to protect civilians from atrocities in
the event of a breakdown in the peace agreement and a return to
fighting; and
(2) if the governments of countries neighboring the
Republic of Sierra Leone are determined to be aiding insurgents
in Sierra Leone and armed conflict resumes, the United States
should impose sanctions against RUF/AFRC supporters in the
region by denying visas to the President and other high
government officials in Liberia and Burkina Faso, freezing
their assets in the United States, and consideration of an
embargo of diamonds coming from areas not under the control of
the Government of Sierra Leone.
SEC. 8. DESIGNATION FOR PURPOSES OF GRANTING TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS
TO SIERRA LEONEANS.
(a) Designation.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of section 244 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a), the Republic
of Sierra Leone shall each be treated as if it had been
designated under subsection (b) of such section, subject to the
provisions of this section.
(2) Period of designation.--Such designation shall take
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall
remain in effect until such time as the President certifies to
the Congress that conditions are sufficiently improved to allow
aliens to return to Sierra Leone, or such time as the
designation with respect to Sierra Leone expires and is not
extended, whichever occurs later.
(b) Aliens Eligible.--In applying section 244 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act pursuant to the designation under this Act, subject
to section 244(c)(3) of such Act, an alien who is a national of the
Republic of Sierra Leone meets the requirement of section 244(c)(1) of
such Act only if--
(1) the alien has been continuously physically present in
the United States since January 1, 1998;
(2) the alien is admissible as an immigrant, except as
otherwise provided under section 244(c)(2)(A) of such Act, and
is not ineligible for temporary protected status under section
244(c)(2)(B) of such Act; and
(3) the alien registers for temporary protected status in a
manner which the Attorney General shall establish.
(c) Consent To Travel Abroad.--The Attorney General shall give the
prior consent to travel abroad described in section 244(f)(3) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act to an alien who is granted temporary
protected status pursuant to the designation under this Act, if the
alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that
emergency and extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the alien
require the alien to depart for a brief, temporary trip abroad. An
alien returning to the United States in accordance with such an
authorization shall be treated the same as any other returning alien
provided temporary protected status under section 244 of such Act.
<all>
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa.
Referred to the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.
Referred to the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade.
Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade Discharged.
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights Discharged.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
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Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Mr. Gilman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2428-2432)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3879.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2428-2429)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2428-2429)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.