U.S. House Pushes Forward with MEGOBARI Act
House backs "MEGOBAR Act," pending Senate approval
In a recent show of bipartisan support, the U.S. House of Representatives has given the green light to the MEGOBARI Act. With an impressive tally of 349 votes in favor and just 42 votes against, the legislation now heads to the Senate for potential approval.
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Originally proposed last year by Congressman Joe Wilson, the MEGOBARI Act (short for the Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act) has found renewed backing this term from Congressmen Steve Cohen (Democrat), Richard Hudson (Republican), and Marc Veasey (Democrat).
This legislation aims to publicly support the people of Georgia amid external political pressures from entities such as the Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian regime, and the Russian Federation. It also addresses internal issues like human rights abuses and efforts to undercut democratic institutions.
As the U.S. House moves forward with this bill, let's take a closer look at some of its key provisions.
Key Provisions
- Sanctions and Visa Restrictions: High-ranking Georgian officials implicated in corruption, threats to democracy, or obstructions to Euro-Atlantic integration could face sanctions and visa restrictions under this act.
- Review of U.S.-Georgia Relations: The bill mandates a comprehensive review of U.S.-Georgia relations, covering all assistance programs.
- Trade and Visa Liberalization: Negotiations for a more preferential trade agreement with Georgia and expansion of exchanges and visa liberalization are encouraged.
- Support for Euro-Atlantic Integration: The MEGOBARI Act expresses support for Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union and NATO.
- Defense and People-to-People Connections: Strengthened defense cooperation and enhanced people-to-people connections are promoted when Georgia meets its constitutional requirements.
Stay tuned for updates as this bill makes its way through the Senate. As of our current knowledge, the MEGOBARI Act has passed the House of Representatives, but its status in the Senate remains uncertain. Should the Senate approve the bill, it would then be sent to the President for signing into law.
The MEGOBARI Act, having garnered bipartisan support, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives with 349 votes in favor and 42 against, now moving to the Senate for potential approval. Congressmen Joe Wilson, Steve Cohen, Richard Hudson, and Marc Veasey spearheaded the bill, aiming to support Georgia against external political pressures and internal issues.
Key provisions within the MEGOBARI Act include sanctions and visa restrictions for corrupt Georgian officials, a review of U.S.-Georgia relations, encouragement for trade and visa liberalization negotiations, support for Euro-Atlantic integration, and defense and people-to-people connection promotion.
The progression of the MEGOBARI Act in the Senate is uncertain, with its current status unclear, but should it be approved by the Senate, the bill would then head to the President for signing into law. The policy-and-legislation, general-news, and politics worlds anticipate further updates on the MEGOBARI Act's progress.
