[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 204 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 204

 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of United 
 States foreign assistance programs as a diplomatic tool for fighting 
    global terrorism and promoting United States security interests.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 5, 2002

Mr. DeWine (for himself, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lott, Mr. 
    Dorgan, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Sarbanes, and Mr. Bingaman) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of United 
 States foreign assistance programs as a diplomatic tool for fighting 
    global terrorism and promoting United States security interests.

Whereas the international community faces a continuing epidemic of ethnic, 
        sectarian, and criminal violence;
Whereas poverty, hunger, political uncertainty, and social instability are the 
        principal causes of violence and conflict around the world;
Whereas broad-based, equitable economic growth and agriculture development 
        facilitates political stability, food security, democracy, and rule of 
        law;
Whereas democratic governments are more likely to advocate and observe 
        international laws, protect civil and human rights, pursue free market 
        economies, and avoid external conflicts;
Whereas the United States Agency for International Development has provided 
        critical democracy and governance assistance to a majority of the 
        nations that successfully made the transition to democratic governments 
        during the past two decades;
Whereas 43 of the top 50 consumer nations of American agricultural products were 
        once United States foreign aid recipients;
Whereas in the past 50 years, infant child death rates in the developing world 
        have been reduced by 50 percent, and health conditions around the world 
        have improved more during this period than in any other period;
Whereas the United States Agency for International Development child survival 
        programs have significantly contributed to a 10 percent reduction in 
        infant mortality rates worldwide in just the past eight years;
Whereas investments by the United States and other donors in better seeds and 
        agricultural techniques over the past two decades have helped make it 
        possible to feed an additional 1,000,000,000 people in the world;
Whereas, despite this progress approximately 1,200,000,000 people, one-quarter 
        of the world's population, live on less than $1 per day, and 
        approximately 3,000,000,000 people live on only $2 per day;
Whereas 95 percent of new births occur in developing countries, including the 
        world's poorest countries; and
Whereas only one-half of one percent of the Federal budget is dedicated to 
        international economic and humanitarian assistance: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) United States foreign assistance programs should play 
        an increased role in the global fight against terrorism to 
        complement the national security objectives of the United 
        States;
            (2) the United States should lead coordinated international 
        efforts to provide increased financial assistance to countries 
        with impoverished and disadvantaged populations that are the 
        breeding grounds for terrorism;
            (3) consistent with United States foreign policy, economic 
        incentives should be used to end state support or tolerance of 
        terrorism; and
            (4) the United States Agency for International Development 
        and the Department of Agriculture should substantially increase 
        humanitarian, economic development, and agricultural assistance 
        to foster international peace and stability, and the promotion 
        of human rights.
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