[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E14]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  ENDING THE FOREIGN AID PIPELINE MESS

                                 ______


                             HON. TOBY ROTH

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced legislation to bring 
to an end a multibillion-dollar problem with our foreign aid programs: 
the so-called foreign aid pipeline. The pipeline consists of funds 
appropriated in prior years, up to a decade ago, but which are not 
expended and just sit in accounts waiting for some bureaucrat to dream 
up a way to spend it.
  Responding to my request for an investigation in 1991, the General 
Accounting Office reported that nearly $9 billion has been sitting in 
the pipeline, for up to 10 years. GAO recommended that such unneeded 
funds be canceled after 2 years, with a couple of specific exceptions.
  In 1991, the House adopted my amendment to cut off this pipeline, but 
the underlying bill was not enacted. Again in 1993, a version of my 
amendment was incorporated into the Foreign Affairs Committee's foreign 
aid reform bill, but that bill also was not enacted.
  Today, I am renewing my initiative to cut off this multibillion waste 
of taxpayers' funds. GAO estimated that about half of the funds in the 
pipeline could be recovered by enacting my proposal, as much as $4.5 
billion. My bill was drafted after consulting with experts at the GAO.
  At a time when Congress is debating reductions in programs for 
Americans, foreign aid should be cut first. The place to start cutting 
is in the foreign aid pipeline, because it has already been determined 
to be a source of waste.
  As the new Congress proceeds to considering legislation to make 
spending savings, I intend to seek action on this bill and end this 
misuse of taxpayers' money.


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