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U.S. Congress legislation
The U.S. Congress, however, attempted to set conditions, over the objections of the Bush Administration. In October, 2007, the House of Representatives passed the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007, banning military aid, for other than counter-terror and peacekeeping unless Ethiopia improved its human rights record. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, but was not voted on. The bill sought to restrict U.S. military aid for any purpose other than counter-terrorism and peacekeeping purposes. If the President certified that all political prisoners had been released and an independent media could function without excessive interference, full, normal military aid could resume. The EDAA would have restricted security assistance and imposed travel restrictions on Ethiopian officials accused of human rights violations unless Ethiopia met the conditions – although the legislation would have given the president a waiver to prevent such measures from taking force.

The Act also exempted counter-terrorism, peacekeeping operations and international military training from any funding restrictions, a reflection of Ethiopia’s military capabilities and its perceived role as a source of stability in the volatile Horn of Africa.

In 2006, the Ethiopian government hired law firm DLA Piper to lobby against the passage of the EDAA. The Ethiopian government was specifically concerned about the sanctions that would be enacted. DLA Piper, on behalf of the Ethiopian government, released statements emphasizing the counterterrorism role that the country played in the region. Additionally, The Ethiopian diaspora, in support of EDAA, hired, Bracewell and Giuliani, to lobby for the passage of H.R. 2003.

When asked about the EDAA, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, stated, "The administration does not support this particular house resolution." The Bush administration believed that human rights violations in Ethiopia needed to be addressed, but it did not think that H.R. 2003 was the best method to do so. Instead, Secretary Rice argued that the administration was working with NGOs to improve the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, and that cooperation with the Ethiopian government was essential for the efficacy of those programs.