U.S. lawmakers to call hearing on Georgia conflict
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers next month will examine the U.S.-Russia relationship in light of Moscow's military moves into neighboring Georgia, but no decisions have been made on whether legislation will be advanced, aides said.
The House of Representatives committee on foreign affairs plans to hold an oversight hearing in September that will attempt to probe whether Russia is embarking on a more muscular military stance in the world, or whether the new administration of President Dmitry Medvedev is getting off to a rocky start that could stabilize, according to a Democratic aide who asked not to be identified.
The hearing, which has not yet been scheduled, would solicit testimony from Bush administration officials and private sector experts, according to the aide.
Rep. Allyson Schwartz, a Pennsylvania Democrat and congressional point person on Georgia, said it was hard to assess how much support there was for the $1 billion in aid to Georgia suggested by Sen. Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat who since tapped as Barack Obama's vice presidential running mate.
"We're not in session at the moment," she said in a telephone interview from Denver. "Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi is very supportive."
"It's for humanitarian aid and economic aid, it's emergency assistance. Georgia has experienced a serious loss of infrastructure, road and bridges," she said.
Earlier this month, Moscow sent tanks and troops into Georgia and on Tuesday declared the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were now independent states. The moves have drawn sharp rebukes from the Bush administration and European leaders.
The Russian military engagement led two House members to propose nonbinding legislation calling on the International Olympic Committee to revoke Russia's designation as host of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. It was not clear if a House floor vote on the measure will be scheduled.
The House aide would not detail other legislative steps that might be considered next month.
Congress has been on a five-week recess, which ends on September 8, so many lawmakers have not been able to consult with each other on developments in Russia.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan; editing by Cynthia Osterman and Todd Eastham)
