As a Maryland voter, I have been devastated by the war in Tigray and northern Ethiopia. Since the war started in November 2020; other concerned citizens and I have advocated tirelessly against the war and for negotiations, unfettered humanitarian access, and justice and accountability.

For this reason, I write to you in support of S.3199, the Ethiopia Peace and Democracy.

Promotion Act of 2021.

The provisions of S.3199 are very similar to those of HR6600, the Ethiopia Stabilization, Peace, and Democracy Act introduced by Congressman Tom Malinowski. HR6600 passed

unanimously out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including with the support of

Congressman Chris Smith and Congresswoman Karen Bass.

In your December 22nd letter with Congresswoman Bass to President Biden regarding AGOA, you wrote, “In light of recent reports that the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is planning to withdraw from the Amhara and Afar regions, we hope that this move can serve as an opening for a negotiated ceasefire.” Three months later, not a single convoy of food aid has reached the Tigray region except a few flights carrying medicine and nutritional supplies. No concrete steps toward a negotiated ceasefire have taken place. On the contrary, full-scale fighting resumes seem likelier with each passing day.

The current approach toward the Ethiopian government is not working. S.3199 will provide the necessary incentives for parties to the conflict to take serious steps toward negotiating peace, allowing unfettered humanitarian access, and providing accountability and redress to victims. I urge you to support this bill in its most potent form.