#aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fbjg ,,an ,,act ,to support democracy and accountability in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo ,democracy and ,accountability ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress 7a7 ,in general ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,democratic ,republic of ,congo has historically faced election-related political instability1 endemic corruption1 armed conflict1 gross human rights abuses1 and humanitarian crises1 which destabilizes the region and causes massive human suffering2 7#b7 the ,united ,states has provided billions of dollars to help stabilize the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo1 including through humanitarian aid1 development assistance1 and support for peacekeeping operations1 since the end of the civil and regional war in #bjjc2 7#c7 the stability of the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo is a strategic priority for the ,united ,states on the ,african continent and it is in the national security interest of the ,united ,states to support accountable governance in the ,democratic ,republic of ,congo2 7#d7 ,united ,states policy with respect to the ,democratic ,republic of ,congo should focus on helping the country become more stable and democratic1 including through supporting legitimate state authority1 such that the ,government of the ,democratic ,republic of ,congo is better able to respond to and provide for the basic needs of its citizens and live in peaceful coexistence with its neighbors2 7#e7 the ,government of the ,democratic ,republic of ,congo should comply with all obligations under its ,constitution1 the ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights ratified on ,november #a1 #aigf1 and the ,december #bjaf ,saint ,sylvestre agreement brokered by the ,congolese ,conference of ,catholic ,bishops1 by-- 7,a7 immediately lifting restrictions on the freedoms of assembly1 expression1 and association2 7,b7 releasing all political prisoners1 including those detained for peacefully exercising their rights2 7,c7 ensuring that state security forces protect the rights of peaceful demonstrators2 7,d7 bringing to justice security force personnel accused of serious abuses against citizens1 including against protesters or opposition supporters2 and 7,e7 allowing private media outlets to operate freely2 7#f7 the ,united ,states should continue to support efforts to hold free1 fair1 and democratic elections in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo1 including by supporting the completion of an inclusive1 transparent voter registration process and civic education1 preventing or mitigating violence1 and facilitating credible election observation by the ,african ,union1 the ,southern ,african ,development ,community1 and other appropriate civil society entities4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress on humanitarian assistance for the people of the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 should continue to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the people of the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo through credible and independent nongovernmental organizations1 including local partners1 human rights organizations1 women-led organizations1 and faith-based or non-faith-based organizations4 ,in providing such assistance1 the ,secretary and ,administrator should prioritize-- 7#a7 promoting partnerships with organizations that have had a long-term presence in the country and have achieved measurable impact1 including by building the capacity of local partners1 human rights organizations1 women-led organizations1 or faith-based or non-faith-based organizations to address local needs2 7,a7 placing the country on a trajectory toward ending the need for foreign assistance2 and 7#b7 evaluating the comparative merits of grants1 cooperative agreements1 contracts1 and other methods for providing foreign assistance4 7c7 ,sense of ,congress on support for democratic governance and conflict mitigation mechanisms in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development should-- 7#a7 continue to-- 7,a7 support long-term peace and stability in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo by strengthening democratic institutions and promoting respect for the rule of law at the national1 provincial1 and local levels2 7,b7 support the capacity of civil society actors to promote transparency1 accountability1 freedom of expression1 and anti-corruption efforts2 7,c7 support conflict prevention and mitigation activities where appropriate1 particularly in the ,kasai region1 the ,tanganyika ,province1 the ,north and ,south ,kivu ,provinces1 and the ,ituri ,province2 and 7,d7 work to address the root causes of chronic violence and fragility1 with a focus on youth empowerment1 education1 and the promotion of justice and accountability mechanisms2 and 7#b7 seek to work directly with and through credible1 independent1 nongovernmental organizations1 including local partners1 human rights organizations1 women-led organizations1 and faith-based or non-faith-based organizations1 to-- 7,a7 defend internationally recognized democratic rights2 7,b7 support freedom of expression1 including through media broadcasting2 7,c7 combat public corruption2 and 7,d7 improve the transparency and accountability of governing institutions in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo4 #c4 ,support for efforts at the ,united ,nations on the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo ,the ,president should instruct the ,permanent ,representative of the ,united ,states to the ,united ,nations to use the voice1 vote1 and influence of the ,united ,states at the ,united ,nations to-- 7#a7 emphasize the importance of implementing the ,december #bjaf ,saint ,sylvestre agreement to the ,government of the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo1 including the need to lift restrictions on the freedoms of assembly1 expression1 and association1 and the need to conduct free1 fair1 and democratic elections2 7#b7 keep the humanitarian and political crisis in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo on the regular agenda of the ,united ,nations ,security ,council until the completion of a peaceful transfer of power through free1 fair1 and democratic elections2 7#c7 ensure that the ,united ,nations ,organization ,stabilization ,mission in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo has an appropriately focused mandate tailored to security and governance conditions on the ground with a particular focus on civilian protection1 and that the mission has sufficient means1 including specialized personnel and effective leadership1 to execute its mandate2 and 7#d7 improve ,member states' implementation of ,united ,nations ,security ,council-imposed sanctions on individuals and entities violating the ,united ,nations arms embargo1 threatening the peace and security of the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo1 engaging in human or resource trafficking1 or perpetrating gross human rights violations in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo4 #d4 ,codification of sanctions relating to the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo 7a7 ,in general ,united ,states sanctions provided for in ,executive ,order #acfga 7#gi ,fed4 ,reg4 #ciidg2 relating to taking additional steps to address the national emergency with respect to the conflict in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo7 and ,executive ,order #acdac 7#ga ,fed4 ,reg4 #fdajc2 relating to blocking property of certain persons contributing to the conflict in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo71 as amended by ,executive ,order #acfga 7#gi ,fed4 ,reg4 #ciidg2 relating to taking additional steps to address the national emergency with respect to the conflict in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo71 as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this ,act1 shall remain in effect for the #e-year period beginning on such date of enactment unless the ,president determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the ,government of the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo-- 7#a7 is making significant progress towards holding free and fair elections and respecting the freedoms of press1 expression1 and assembly1 as described in the ,december #bjaf ,saint ,sylvestre agreement and in ,united ,nations ,security ,council ,resolution #bcdh 7#bjag72 or 7#b7 has held free and fair presidential elections in accordance with the ,constitution of the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo and a democratically elected ,president has been sworn in and taken office4 7b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section may be construed to limit the authorities of the ,president under the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq47 or any other provision of law4 7c7 ,list of senior political figures ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of each senior foreign political figure1 as such term is defined in section #ajaj4fje of title #ca1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this ,act71 of the ,government of the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo4 7d7 ,additional sanctions determination required ,not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report listing each person included in the list required by subsection 7c7 that the ,president determines meets the criteria to be sanctionable pursuant to one or more of the following3 7#a7 ,executive ,order #acfga 7#gi ,fed4 ,reg4 #ciidg2 relating to taking additional steps to address the national emergency with respect to the conflict in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo74 7#b7 ,executive ,order #acdac 7#ga ,fed4 ,reg4 #fdajc2 relating to blocking property of certain persons contributing to the conflict in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo74 7#c7 ,executive ,order #achah 7#hb ,fed4 ,reg4 #fjhci2 relating to blocking the property of persons involved in serious human rights abuse or corruption74 7#d7 ,paragraph 7#c7 or 7#d7 of section #abfc7;a7 of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for fiscal year #bjaf 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef note74 7e7 ,report on human rights abuses and corruption in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo ,not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing each of the following3 7#a7 ,the extent to which government officials in the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo1 including members of the military and security services1 are responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses against civilians1 including by deliberately impeding humanitarian access to civilians4 7#b7 ,the methods used to transfer and conceal financial assets of senior officials of the ,government of the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo that are acquired through acts of corruption4 7#c7 ,united ,states actions to combat such corruption1 which could include the issuance of a ,fin,c,e,n ,advisory by the ,department of the ,treasury or the imposition of targeted sanctions4 7#d7 ,to what extent and in what manner such corruption threatens the security of the surrounding region or ,united ,states national security interests4 7#e7 ,any assistance provided by the ,united ,states to facilitate oversight1 transparency1 and adherence to due diligence and accountability measures within the ,democratic ,republic of the ,congo's minerals1 forestry1 and agribusiness sectors4 7f7 ,form2 public availability 7#a7 ,form ,the list required by subsection 7c7 and the reports required by subsections 7d7 and 7e7 shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex4 7#b7 ,public availability ,the unclassified portion of the report required by subsection 7e7 shall be published on a publicly available website of the ,department of ,state4 7g7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,appropriations1 the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 and the ,committee on ,ways and ,means of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,committee on ,appropriations1 and the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,november #bg1 #bjah4;,clerk4