In an attempt to provide safer and faster evacuation of American citizens, especially children, from war zones, U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) has authored two amendments to the Stability and Democracy for Georgia Act of 2008.

Smith's congressional district includes Howell, Jackson, Lakewood and Plumsted.

The act seeks to authorize assistance to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Georgia, and for other purposes, according to the Internet Web site govtrack.us. The bill is H.R. 6911. It has been introduced, but no further action has been taken.

The amendments to the act were proposed in Congress after Smith, along with United States Ambassador to Georgia John F. Tefft and France's Ambassador to Georgia Eric Fournier, and representatives of the Red Cross, collaborated to rescue Ashley Evans, 7, and her sister, Sophia Evans, 3, of Howell, from their grandparents' farm in Georgia following a Russian military incursion into that nation this past summer.

The first amendment proposed by Smith calls for new procedures and training for U.S. embassy staff members.

"When I was in Georgia, I met with officials from the Red Cross and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and learned that there were opportunities for swiftly evacuating American children that our embassy's consular staff didn't even know about," Smith said.

"My amendment will lead to new procedures and training so that U.S. embassy staff the world over can quickly and decisively act to rescue American children trapped in any future war zone," he said.

The second amendment focuses on counteracting the increased risk of human trafficking in conflict zones of Georgia.

According to Smith, "We know these thugs, the traffickers, look for women and children in the most vulnerable of times and places. A war zone is ripe for the abuse and fraud inherent in human trafficking and we must be vigilant in precluding every added opportunity for this despicable crime."

Although Smith has been able to rescue more children from Georgia with the help of the Red Cross, an aide to the congressman said there are still a number of children who need to be brought out of that country.

The Stability and Democracy for Georgia Act of 2008 was introduced in the House of Representatives on Sept. 16. Before it can be signed into law by the president, it will have to go through the legislative process.

The next step for the act will be the consideration of the House's Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

— Toynett Hall