The bill would also lift any legal restrictions on Egypt which prohibit most direct assistance to foreign governments after a military coup or decree in which the military plays a decisive role ousts a duly elected government, allowing aid from FY13 to proceed under certain circumstances.
In a statement addressed to President Barack Obama, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) emphasized that there are no waivers on conditions for the delivery of assistance to Egypt in FY14, and called the language the “toughest conditions the Congress has imposed on aid to the Egyptian military.”
FY14 aid will be divided into two tranches of $975 million and $576.8 million. The first tranche is available to be disbursed once the Secretary of State certifies that Egypt has held a constitutional referendum, and the second tranche is available to be disbursed once the Secretary of State certifies Egypt held parliamentary and presidential elections. In each allocation, the Secretary must also certify steps are being taken to “support a democratic transition” and “govern democratically,” respectively.
The explanatory statement, which accompanies the bill also directs the Secretary to include in the consideration of the certification “the conduct of the referendum, including voter participation, and the support by the Government of Egypt for the development of democratic political processes and basic freedoms, including civil society and the media.”
Further, the statement authorizes a “a multiyear strategic review of military and economic assistance for Egypt” and an analysis “of actions by the Government of Egypt to prosecute and bring to trial officials of previous Egyptian governments.”
The full text of Section 7041 of the spending bill which pertains to Egypt aid may be found here, and the explanatory statement accompanying the bill providing further detail is available here.
Sources:
“Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On The Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act” Patrick Leahy: U.S. Senator for Vermont (English) 01/14/2014
“Summary Of Egypt Aid Limits In The Omnibus Appropriations Bill” Patrick Leahy: U.S. Senator for Vermont (English) 01/14/2014
“US set to unfreeze aid to Egypt” Ahram Online (English) 01/14/2014
“US Congress makes $1.3bn in military aid available in 2014” Daily News Egypt (English) 01/14/2014
“U.S. State Department Press Briefing” U.S State Department (English) 01/14/2014