[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 131 (Monday, September 19, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    AFRICAN CONFLICT RESOLUTION ACT

  Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4541) to authorize assistance to promote the 
peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4541

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``African Conflict Resolution 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) It is in the national interest of the United States to 
     help build African capability in conflict resolution. A 
     relatively small investment of assistance in promoting 
     African conflict resolution--
       (A) would reduce the enormous human suffering which is 
     caused by wars in Africa;
       (B) would help the United States avoid huge future 
     expenditures necessitated by Somalia-like humanitarian 
     disasters; and
       (C) would reduce the need for United Nations intervention 
     as African institutions develop the ability to resolve 
     African conflicts.
       (2) Africa, to a greater extent than any other continent, 
     is afflicted by war. Africa has been marred by more than 20 
     major civil wars since 1960. Rwanda, Somalia, Angola, Sudan, 
     Liberia, and Burundi are among those countries that have 
     recently suffered serious armed conflict.
       (3) In the last decade alone, between 2,000,000 and 
     4,000,000 Africans have died because of war. There were 
     5,200,000 refugees and 13,100,000 displaced people in Africa 
     in 1993. In Angola, relief organizations estimated that 1,000 
     people were dying each day at the end of 1993. In Rwanda, 
     more than 200,000 people died in less than 5 weeks of 
     fighting during 1994, while 300,000 people fled to other 
     countries to escape war.
       (4) Millions more Africans are currently at risk of war-
     related death. Looming or ongoing conflicts in Zaire, Angola, 
     Sudan, Rwanda, and other countries threaten Africa's future.
       (5) War has caused untold economic and social damage to the 
     countries of Africa. Food production is impossible in 
     conflict areas, and famine often results. Widespread conflict 
     has condemned many of Africa's children to lives of misery 
     and, in certain cases, has threatened the existence of 
     traditional African cultures.
       (6) Conflict and instability in Africa, particularly in 
     large, potentially rich countries such as Angola, Sudan, and 
     Zaire, deprive the global economy of resources and 
     opportunities for trade and investment. Peace in these 
     countries could make a significant contribution to global 
     economic growth, while creating new opportunities for United 
     States businesses.
       (7) Many African armies are far too large, threatening 
     political and economic stability while diverting scarce 
     resources from development needs. Military expenditures in 
     Africa average over twice the level in Latin America. 
     Demobilization and other measures to reduce military 
     expenditures are thus a critical need for many African 
     countries.
       (8) Conflict prevention, mediation, and demobilization are 
     prerequisites to the success of development assistance 
     programs. Nutrition and education programs, for example, 
     cannot succeed in a nation at war. Billions of dollars of 
     development assistance have been virtually wasted in war-
     ravaged countries such as Liberia, Somalia, and Sudan.
       (9) Africans have a long tradition of informal mediation. 
     This tradition should be built upon to create effective 
     institutions through which Africans can resolve African 
     conflicts.
       (10) The Organization of African Unity, under the 
     leadership of Secretary General Salim Salim, has established 
     a conflict resolution mechanism and has been active in 
     mediation and conflict resolution in several African 
     countries. Various subregional organizations have also become 
     active in conflict resolution efforts. These are encouraging 
     developments.
       (b) United States Policy.--The Congress declares, 
     therefore, that a key goal for United States foreign policy 
     should be to help institutionalize conflict resolution 
     capability in Africa.

     SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF THE 
                   ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--The President is 
     authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict 
     resolution capability of the Organization of African Unity, 
     as follows:
       (1) Funds may be provided to the Organization of African 
     Unity for use in supporting its conflict resolution 
     capability.
       (2) Funds may be used for expenses of sending individuals 
     with expertise in conflict resolution to work with the 
     Organization of African Unity.
       (b) Funding.--Of the foreign assistance funds that are 
     allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, not less than $1,500,000 
     for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998 should be used 
     to carry out subsection (a).

     SEC. 4. IMPROVING CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF 
                   MULTILATERAL SUBREGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN 
                   AFRICA.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--The President is 
     authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict 
     resolution capabilities of subregional organizations 
     established by countries in sub-Saharan Africa, as follows:
       (1) Funds may be provided to such an organization for use 
     in supporting its conflict resolution capability.
       (2) Funds may be used for the expenses of sending 
     individuals with expertise in conflict resolution to work 
     with such an organization.
       (b) Funding.--Of the foreign assistance funds that are 
     allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998 may 
     be used to carry out subsection (a).

     SEC. 5. AFRICAN DEMOBILIZATION AND RETRAINING PROGRAM.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--In order to facilitate 
     reductions in the size of the armed forces of countries of 
     sub-Saharan Africa, the President is authorized to provide 
     assistance for--
       (1) the encampment and related activities for the purpose 
     of demobilization of such forces; and
       (2) the reintegration of demobilized military personnel 
     into civilian society through activities such as retraining 
     for civilian occupations, creation of income-generating 
     opportunities, the reintegration into agricultural 
     activities, and the transportation to the home areas of such 
     personnel.
       (b) Funding.--Of the foreign assistance funds that are 
     allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, $25,000,000 for each of the 
     fiscal years 1995 and 1996 should be used for the assistance 
     described in subsection (a), if conditions permit.

     SEC. 6. TRAINING FOR AFRICANS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND 
                   PEACEKEEPING.

       Chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 546. CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PEACEKEEPING PROGRAM FOR 
                   SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.

       ``In addition to the other education and training 
     activities carried out under this chapter, the President is 
     authorized to establish a program to provide education and 
     training in conflict resolution and peacekeeping for civilian 
     and military personnel of countries in sub-Saharan Africa.''.

     SEC. 7. BUILDING MEDIATION CAPABILITY IN AFRICA.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--The President is 
     authorized to provide assistance to nongovernmental 
     organizations that are engaged in mediation and 
     reconciliation efforts in Africa.
       (b) Funding.--Of the foreign assistance funds that are 
     allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 and 1996 should 
     be used to carry out subsection (a).

     SEC. 8. PLAN FOR UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR CONFLICT 
                   RESOLUTION AND DEMOBILIZATION IN SUB-SAHARAN 
                   AFRICA.

       (a) In General.--In furtherance of and building upon the 
     provisions of sections 3 through 7, the President shall 
     develop an integrated long-term plan to provide support for 
     the enhancement of conflict resolution capabilities and 
     demobilization activities in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (b) Contents of Plan.--Such plan shall identify, among 
     other things, the following:
       (1) The type, purpose, amount, and duration of assistance 
     that is planned to be provided to conflict resolution units 
     in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (2) The type and amount of assistance that is planned to be 
     provided for the demobilization of military personnel of 
     countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including--
       (A) a list of which countries will receive such assistance 
     and an explanation of why such countries were chosen for such 
     assistance; and
       (B) a list of other countries and international 
     organizations that are providing assistance for such 
     demobilization.
       (3) The type and amount of assistance that is planned to be 
     provided to nongovernmental organizations that are engaged in 
     mediation and reconciliation efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (4) A description of proposed training programs for 
     Africans in conflict resolution and peacekeeping, including a 
     list of prospective participants and plans to expand such 
     programs.
       (5) The mechanisms to be used to coordinate interagency 
     efforts to administer the plan.
       (6) Efforts to seek the participation of other countries 
     and international organizations to achieve the objectives of 
     the plan.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report containing a 
     description of the plan developed under this section.

     SEC. 9. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit 
     to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
     describing the efforts and progress made in carrying out the 
     provisions of this Act.

     SEC. 10. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.

       The President shall consult with the appropriate 
     congressional committees prior to providing assistance under 
     section 3 or section 5.

     SEC. 11. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

       For purposes of this Act, the term ``appropriate 
     congressional committees'' means the Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee 
     on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Appropriations, and the Committee on Armed Services of the 
     Senate.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Johnston] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Johnston].
  Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4541.
  The African Conflict Resolution Act, H.R. 4541, is a comprehensive 
program through which the United States can help address the tragedy of 
war in Africa. This bill has strong bipartisan support and has been 
endorsed by the administration.
  A relatively small United States investment in African conflict 
resolution capability could help save lives and help the United States 
avoid huge future expenditures caused by war-related humanitarian 
disasters. The need for expensive and controversial U.N. intervention 
would also diminish if African institutions develop the ability to 
resolve African conflicts.
  In the last decade, between 2 million and 4 million Africans died 
because of war. There were 5.2 million refugees and 13.1 million 
displaced people in Africa in 1993 alone. Many Americans now associate 
the country of Rwanda with the word genocide. In southern Sudan, entire 
tribes and cultures are at risk. And the problem is certainly not going 
away; looming or ongoing conflicts threaten millions more Africans.
  War has also caused untold damage to economies and development 
programs. Much of African famine is war-related. Literally billions of 
dollars of economic assistance has produced minimal results in war-
ravaged countries such as Liberia, Somalia, and Sudan. Finally, 
demobilization of African armies must be a top priority. Oversized 
African armed forces threaten political and economic stability while 
diverting scarce resources from development needs. I believe that we 
should view demobilization as a central element in, or even a 
prerequisite to, our development assistance programs.
  This legislation would help build African capability in conflict 
resolution by authorizing assistance in 5 areas:
  First, assistance to the Organization of African Unity. The bill 
authorizes assistance of $1.5 million per year over a 4-year period to 
the OAU's new conflict resolution unit. Consistent with the Foreign 
Affairs Committee's initiative of last year, the Administration has 
already made $1.5 million of fiscal year 1994 funds available. This 5-
year program will provide critical training and infrastructure to the 
OAU.
  Second, assistance to subregional organizations. The bill authorizes 
assistance to help build the conflict resolution capabilities of 
subregional organizations in Africa. ECOWAS, SADC, and IGADD have shown 
promise, and we believe the U.S. should consider helping 
institutionalize mediation capabilities within these organizations.
  Third, African demobilization and retraining program. The bill 
authorizes a 2-year program of $25 million per year, if conditions in 
Africa permit this level of expenditure. I again emphasize that 
demobilization is a critical element of the development challenge 
facing Africa.
  Fourth, the fourth plank of this legislation pertains to training for 
Africans in conflict resolution and peacekeeping. The bill authorizes 
the President to establish a program to provide education and training 
in conflict resolution and peacekeeping for Africans.
  Fifth, finally, the bill authorizes assistance to facilitate the work 
of non-governmental organizations that are engaged in mediation efforts 
in Africa.
  This legislation draws only on funds that are already allocated to 
Africa--no new funding is requested.
  This legislation is very much in the U.S. national interest. It could 
help save a great many lives. It could help alleviate a weighty 
humanitarian and peacekeeping burden on the international community. I 
strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been on the Subcommittee on Africa of the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs now for I think about 8 years. During that 
period of time, we have seen conflicts that have resulted in the death 
and misery and suffering of millions of people in Africa. We have seen 
conflicts in Angola, in Mozambique, in Zaire, in Namibia, Rwanda, 
Ethiopia, Somalia, the Sudan, and in Liberia. We all know about South 
Africa. All of these conflicts have resulted in a great deal of human 
misery.

                              {time}  1710

  If this legislation will lead to heading off some of these types of 
conflicts in the future, then I think it is money well spent. So I 
commend the gentleman from Florida for his efforts and other members of 
the subcommittee who have worked very hard on this, the gentleman from 
New Jersey [Mr. Payne], the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Hastings], and 
others. I also commend Hank Cohen, former Assistant Secretary of State 
for Africa who has worked tirelessly on this project, for his role in 
the origin of this initiative, and although I had initial misgivings 
about this approach, mainly because of the sorry track record of the 
OAU, I have decided to support it because there is so much misery in 
Africa for so many countries that we must find ways to encourage 
Africans to find ways of resolving conflicts on that continent 
themselves before they erupt. This legislation opens the possibility of 
doing just that. There is no guarantee of success, but it is certainly 
worth a try.
  This is an approach that should be monitored, however, very closely 
and very carefully and be evaluated in the future on a routine basis 
before we continue to support it. With Africa so beset by conflict and 
misery, it makes sense to try a small investment in an initiative that 
will bring about hopefully better results on that continent.
  Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, Americans have always responded with great 
generosity in responding to the all-too-frequent humanitarian crises in 
Africa. When we see human suffering, it is in our nature to respond 
with a helping hand--often in the form of relief dollars, and--in the 
case of Somalia and Rwanda--with the deployment of United States Armed 
Forces in a humanitarian mission.
  But far better than reacting to crises, the international community 
should take every opportunity to help to prevent them in the first 
place.
  This simple logic--which is borne out vividly by staggering loss of 
life in the Rwanda crisis--is the basis for H.R. 4541, the African 
Conflict Resolution Act. I commend Africa Subcommittee Chairman 
Johnston and the ranking member, Mr. Burton, for his initiative.
  When we consider that the United States alone has allocated or spent 
$200 million in a few short months to respond to the man-made crisis in 
Rwanda, this legislation represents a fairly modest investment aimed 
not just at saving money but, vastly more important, saving lives.
  Africa's key leaders have demonstrated their political will to take 
charge of their own affairs, and well-targeted seed money and training 
will help them do so more effectively.
  This bill seeks, in part, to bolster the mediation role of the 
Organization of African Unity [OAU], which is under dynamic new 
leadership and has begun seeking negotiated solutions to regional 
conflicts with some promising results. This legislation says that the 
President should provide financial support for conflict resolution 
under the OAU and other subregional organizations, which are in the 
best position to find African solutions to African problems.
  This bill also authorizes that existing U.S. aid funds can be used 
for demobilizing armed forces. This assistance addresses the cruel 
lesson that development dollars are sometimes virtually wasted in 
transitional environments if the issue of resettling and retraining 
demobilized armed groups is not addressed.
  H.R. 4541 does not earmark U.S. funds or appropriate additional 
moneys for these worthy activities. Rather, it authorizes the President 
to make a relatively small investment of existing aid dollars in 
conflict prevention. In doing so, we seek to reduce the enormous human 
and material costs of unchecked violence and strife in Africa.
  Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, before yielding further let me 
personally thank the gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. Burton] for all of 
his help on this bill. He is one of the unique Members of Congress who 
has a decade of perception of this continent and what has happened to 
it. I also want to thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Hastings].
  (Mr. HASTINGS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I thank the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] for making 
this matter a bipartisan one and for bringing it to the House of 
Representatives and to this Nation and to the world such that we might 
be about the business of mediation as opposed to conflict.
  I rise today to express my support for H.R. 4541. It is known as the 
Africa Conflict Resolution Act. This legislation of which I, along with 
all of the Members of the Africa Subcommittee are proud to be 
cosponsors of, is a comprehensive program to help build an indigenous 
capacity to resolve regional conflicts in Africa.
  This legislation is in our own national interests, for if we can help 
these nations solve their own conflicts before they spin out of 
control, we will save American lives no doubt, and certainly save 
American dollars. We will save lives because we will no longer have to 
send American troops or participate in United Nations exercises 
designed to stabilize the region; and we will save dollars because we 
will not have to provide band aid-like food and medical services after 
wars or famine have massacred fertile countries and the young people 
who would help run them.
  We can throw money at nations around the world in the hopes of 
helping them develop without ever seeing progress. Real change will 
only come when these countries have been taught how to solve their own 
problems. I believe this legislation is a giant step in that direction.
  It has been said that it is harder to wage peace than to wage war. 
But just this day and over the developing events of the last 48 hours 
we have had an opportunity to see what conflict resolution can produce 
in the way of positive results. If in every instance we had a President 
Carter or a Colin Powell or Senator Sam Nunn to be able to travel to 
the countries as enunciated by Chairman Johnson and the gentleman from 
Indiana [Mr. Buton] in their conflicts as they have developed over the 
years in Africa, then no doubt we might achieve the same kind of 
results that these distinguished Americans were able, along with 
President Clinton, to achieve in Haiti. It is my great hope that this 
step in the right direction will assist in ameliorating the problems on 
the Continent of Africa. It will not eliminate them, it will not even 
come close to causing them not to occur, but under the aegis of the 
Organization of African Unity, doubtless we will find a way to assist 
in conflict resolution and I am sure we will find a way to cause these 
conflicts to be reduced on the Continent of Africa.
  The times that I have traveled there, Mr. Speaker, as well as the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne] the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. 
Burton] and countless other Members of this body in an effort to assist 
in the extraordinary work that has been done on behalf of Africa in 
trying to resolve conflicts on the African continent have to be forever 
commended, and I commend you for your leadership in allowing H.R. 4541, 
the Africa Conflict Resolution Act, to come to the floor so that we may 
in a bipartisan way show our concern in this regard.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 3 minutes to 
my great friend and colleague, the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. 
Bereuter].
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member rises as a strong supporter and a cosponsor 
of H.R. 4541.
  This Member would congratulate the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Africa, the distinguished gentleman from Florida [Mr. Johnston] and the 
distinguished ranking member, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] 
for their excellent effort in producing a genuinely bipartisan piece of 
legislation. Under the leadership of these distinguished gentlemen, the 
subcommittee has not shied away from the difficult and intractable 
issues that beset Africa. This Member would observe that our Nation's 
foreign policy toward Africa is improved because of this legislative 
effort.
  H.R. 4541 seeks to address the particularly difficult problem of 
conflict resolution. With more than a score of smoldering conflicts, 
there are few regions in Africa that have not been touched by civil war 
and unrest. Even in nations that are trying to put years of warfare 
behind them, a deep legacy of animosity and distrust remain.
  In the 102d Congress, this Member introduced the Horn of Africa 
Recovery Act, legislation that begins to articulate a policy for 
addressing the humanitarian needs in war-torn Africa. H.R. 4541 is 
consistent with this earlier effort, and it seeks to employ existing 
mechanisms such as the Organization of African Union [OAU] to address 
these problems. H.R. 4541 is an attempt to be proactive rather than 
reactive. In seeking to put an end to the cycle of death and misery, it 
uses existing funds from the Development Fund for Africa in a creative 
and positive manner.
  Mr. Speaker, it is, however, necessary to offer a cautionary note. In 
attempting to address the issue of demobilization of the millions of 
combatants now present in sub-Saharan Africa, this legislative 
initiative ventures into largely uncharted territory. The fact of the 
matter is that we don't really know how to effectively demobilize 
warring parties. Previous international efforts to disarm ex-combatants 
in Cambodia, Nicaragua, Angola, and El Salvador have met with mixed 
success. We can take the time to train excombatants and these 
individuals still oftentimes will return to brigandage. The 
international community can do everything right, and things can still 
turn out wrong. This is not to say that support for demobilization 
efforts are not important, for its is important. However, 
demobilization is a very difficult and tricky undertaking. 
Nevertheless, despite the difficulties, this is a very worthy and valid 
effort.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4541 makes a meaningful contribution to the peace 
process in war-ravaged Africa. There is no claim that this legislation 
is a panacea, but it is an important useful first step. This Member 
urges adoption of H.R. 4541.

                             {time}   1720

  Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne], who in the 1970's, 
1980's, and 1990's has been intimately involved in peacekeeping in 
Africa, long before he came to Congress.
  (Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by complimenting 
the chairman, the gentleman from Florida, for the outstanding work that 
he has done In his stewardship and diligence with the Subcommittee on 
Africa, and the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] for his support of 
4541. Let me also compliment the full chair, the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Hamilton], and the gentleman from New York [Mr. GIlman], for their 
support for this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, with the genocide that went on in Rwanda and that 
continues in several conflicts in Nigeria, Rwanda, and Angola and the 
Sudan, nothing is more relevant to consider than how we can enable 
African people to take charge of resolving their own conflicts.
  As we depart from the cold-war days when bilateral influence was 
exerted to counter the moves of the former Soviet Union, we should now 
look forward to a genuine multilateral approach that enables Africans 
to be the architects of their own destiny. I cannot stress too strongly 
the importance of providing significant resources to the Organization 
of African Unity in order to carry out this responsibility.
  When we consider the damage done to Africa by pursuing the cold war, 
surely appropriate reparations are called for. It is not practical to 
sit back and expect African countries that can hardly meet their own 
payrolls for their own civil servants to be able to foot the entire 
bill to make the Organization of African Unity a strong and important 
organization. More funds are needed to assist the demobilization of 
large armies that were created by the United States of America in order 
to fight the cold war, armies that were built by United States funds in 
Angola to fight against communism, in Mozambique so-called to fight 
against the cold war, in Ethiopia and in Zaire, so let us not forget 
the reason why these large armies stand today.
  I have been saddened by the large numbers of troops in many of the 
countries sitting and waiting for an opportunity to return home to 
their families, to their homes, to their farms, for employment.
  Let us say that the African Conflict Resolution Act to authorize 
assistance to promote peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa will 
go a long way towards righting many of the wrongs I have cited. The 
bill is well thought out and researched.
  Several authorities have been consulted. The additional $28.5 million 
in funding this bill will come from other less-important projects.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, in this post-cold-war era and with colonialism's 
recent ebb, the world will finally look to Africa with a view for what 
it can do for itself. I can firmly say that the United States, as the 
world's only superpower, has an obligation to play a useful role in 
bolstering this new move in Africa to support its indigenous 
institutions.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that over the past 12 years 
that I have been in Congress we have seen an end of the cold war, and 
one of the reasons that we saw an end to the cold war was that the 
Soviet Union, which once had a very great expansionist policy into 
areas like Africa, simply reached a point where their economy could no 
longer support their adventurism in places like Ethiopia and Angola and 
Mozambique and elsewhere. One of the things that led to our victory 
over the Soviet Union in the cold war was this country's willingness to 
support those countries in their fight against Communist tyranny and 
expansionism.
  We are looking back, and see a problem created because left behind is 
a residue of military equipment that was used during that cold war. So 
I do agree with my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. 
Payne], that that is a problem that must be resolved.
  But let us not forget that the reason we did it was to stop the 
advance of communism into many areas of Africa.
  I would just like to say one other thing, and that is the reason I 
reluctantly support this resolution and now wholeheartedly support this 
resolution is because it has cost us literally billions and billions of 
dollars to send American troops around the world to help countries in 
their fight for survival and freedom and human rights and democracy. We 
saw in Somalia the United States lose a great many American lives and 
spend billions of dollars of hard-earned Americans' tax dollars to try 
to solve the problem in Somalia, and yet we have withdrawn and the 
problems still exist. It has not been solved.
  Now we see our troops today going into Haiti. It is going to cost us 
at least a half-billion dollars for the initial invasion or landing of 
our troops and to keep them there and to house them and to supply them, 
and probably over the long haul it will cost American taxpayers 
billions of dollars. So if we can take steps to resolve conflicts like 
we are talking about today without American taxpayers' dollars being 
spent to the tune of billions and billions, if we can resolve these 
conflicts without sending American troops over there at risk to their 
lives and to possible long-term injuries that will result from their 
being there in these countries, then I think it is money well spent.
  So I support this legislation, and not just because we think the 
responsibility should rest with organizations like the Organization of 
African Unity, but because the United States cannot be the world's 
policeman. We cannot in a never-ending way use our resources, our 
manpower, our American blood to solve these countries' problems. Where 
it is in our national interest to do so, we should. When it is not in 
our national interest to do so, then it is my feeling we should try to 
help those countries and those organizations resolve the problems 
themselves without sending Americans' blood, America's young men, and 
America's tax dollars over there to do the job that they should be 
doing themselves.

                              {time}  1730

  So, Mr. Speaker, I do support this legislation and urge the house to 
adopt it unanimously.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my strong support to the 
African Conflict Resolution Act (H.R. 4541) which promotes the 
development of an indigenous African capacity to resolve domestic and 
international conflicts. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs 
Subcommittee on Africa, I would like to pay tribute to Subcommittee 
Chairman Harry Johnston for the fine work he has done on this 
legislation.
  Throughout the 1980's and the 1990's, the world has witnessed an 
endless stream of wars and humanitarian crises in Africa. Because 
little capability has existed within African institutions to mediate 
between parties to conflicts, no preemptive intervention occurred.
  Civil war and humanitarian disasters have caused immeasurable damage 
throughout African countries. Only by bolstering indigenous African 
conflict resolution mechanisms will there be a real possibility to halt 
a dispute before it develops into a major crisis.
  To accomplish this goal, the African Conflict Resolution Act 
authorizes U.S. assistance for various purposes. It builds the 
Organization of African Unity's subregional organizations, promotes the 
process of military demobilization in Africa, and provides training for 
Africans in conflict resolution.
  I believe that this legislation represents a significant step forward 
and will play a positive role in preventing new African crises. I urge 
my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barlow). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Johnston] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4541, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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