{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=14C8C726-2848-4857-AA41-E3BFEEA626E3", "STATEMENT BY SENATORS JOHN McCAIN & LINDSEY GRAHAM ON EGYPTIAN LEGISLATION REGULATING NGOS", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "John McCain", "M000303", "www.mccain.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u00ad\u2013 U.S. Senators \u00a0John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released the following statement today on the Egyptian parliament\u2019s passage of legislation regulating non-governmental organizations (NGOs):\r\n\u201cThe Egyptian parliament\u2019s passage of draconian legislation regulating non-governmental organizations (NGOs) undermines Egypt\u2019s stated commitment to protecting constitutionally-guaranteed rights and to furthering Egypt\u2019s democratic transition. We urge President al-Sisi to reject this legislation and uphold Egypt\u2019s constitutional commitment to freedom of association and assembly.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThis legislation would effectively subject the operation of independent NGOs to powerful Egyptian security agencies.\u00a0Egypt\u2019s longstanding and vibrant civil society would be placed under unprecedented pressure to cede control of nearly all of their activities to the Egyptian government, or risk massive fines or lengthy prison sentences.\r\n\u201cThe intent of this legislation is clear: to starve independent Egyptian civil society of funding and bring all of their activities under state control, and make it essentially impossible for foreign NGOs to operate in Egypt.\u00a0These include organizations that have worked in Egypt for decades to improve the lives of Egyptians by increasing access to education, basic health and medical services, and employment opportunities.\r\n\u201cMoreover, this legislation will only deepen the NGO crisis that began in 2011 with dozens of American and international NGO workers wrongfully convicted and a number of NGOs shut down. For years, we have asked the Egyptian government to resolve Case No. 173 and pass a new NGO law that would enable Egyptian and international non-governmental organizations to operate without undue restrictions in the country. Yet the Egyptian government has rebuffed those requests. And the passage of this legislation would make resolution of this issue nearly impossible.\r\n\u201cEgypt has legitimate security and economic concerns to address. But passing a law which aims to effectively shut down civil society in Egypt will do nothing to make the country more safe or more prosperous. Instead, closing crucial channels for peaceful expression and association \u2013 and the delivery of much-needed food and health services \u2013 will only exacerbate Egypt\u2019s problems and threaten long-term stability.\r\n\u201cShould President al-Sisi sign into law this draconian legislation, we will endeavor to strengthen democratic benchmarks and human rights conditions on U.S. assistance for Egypt in fiscal years 2017 and 2018.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=14C8C726-2848-4857-AA41-E3BFEEA626E3"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3947812840342522, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}