US Releases New Bill with Notes on Financial Assistance for Georgia

The House Appropriations Committee has released the draft fiscal year 2021 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs funding bill. The legislation funds the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and other international programs and activities.

The document states that $132,025,000 financial assistance will be allocated for Georgia. However, it also notes that 15% of the funds may not be obligated if State Secretary doesn't determine and report that the Georgian government is meeting certain conditions.

"Of the funds appropriated by this Act under titles III and IV, not less than $132,025,000 shall be made available for assistance for Georgia. Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading ‘‘Assistance to Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia’’ and made available for assistance for the central Government of Georgia, 15 percent may not be obligated until the Secretary of State determines and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such government is taking effective steps to:

(A) strengthen democratic institutions as described under this section in the report accompanying this Act;

(B) combat corruption within the government, including in the application of anti-corruption laws and regulations; and

(C) ensure the rule of law in the private sector is consistent with internationally recognized standards, including protecting the rights of foreign businesses to operate free from harassment and to fully realize all due commercial and financial benefits resulting from investments made in Georgia", reads the document.

The bill also clarifies that the withholding of funds doesn't apply to programs that support "democracy, the rule of law, civil society and the media, or programs to reduce gender-based violence and to protect vulnerable populations".

By Ana Dumbadze 

See the full document here