[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E959-E960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  FUNDING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING [IMET] 
                                PROGRAM

                                 ______


                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 1995
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on International Relations 
will be considering the American Overseas Interests Act of 1995, 
authorizing foreign assistance programs for fiscal years 1996 and 1997, 
this week.
  The International Military Education and Training [IMET] Program will 
be among those authorized in this legislation. The administration 
considers IMET a cost-effective and critically important program in 
advancing the U.S. interest in enhancing allies' defense 
professionalism and promoting professional militaries under civilian 
control. Accordingly, Under Secretary of Defense Slocombe has written 
to me, urging full funding of the administration's $39.8 million 
request for IMET for each fiscal year. The letter follows:

                               The Under Secretary of Defense,

                                      Washington, DC, May 5, 1995.
     Hon. Lee Hamilton,
     Ranking Democratic Member, Committee on International 
         Relations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Hamilton: I ask your support for full funding of 
     the Administration's FY96 budget request for the critically 
     important International Military Education and Training 
     (IMET) program.
       [[Page E960]] I am sensitive to the austere budget 
     environment, but believe that less than full funding will 
     make it virtually impossible to conduct a viable worldwide 
     IMET program responsive to the changing international 
     situation. Our modest, but essential, $39.8M request will 
     request will reach more than 3,500 personnel from over 100 
     countries. It will enhance friends and allies' defense 
     professionalism, strengthen their own training capabilities, 
     and give us access and influence. The IMET program directly 
     supports the United States' National Security and National 
     Military Strategies. Our regional Commanders in Chief 
     forcefully and repeatedly emphasize the program's centrality 
     to the success of their regional security strategies.
       While the FY96 request may appear to be a significant 
     expansion of the program, in reality it would simply return 
     IMET closer to traditional funding levels. From FY88 through 
     FY93, annual IMET appropriations ranged from $47.4M to 
     $42.5M. Then, in FY94, funding was precipitously cut in half, 
     to $21.25M, with only a modest recovery to $25.5M in FY95.
       Implementing the IMET program within dramatically lower 
     funding levels of the past two years has been very difficult. 
     Since FY91, our overriding national interest in the promotion 
     and expansion of democracy around the world has required us 
     to initiate IMET programs with 28 new and emerging 
     democracies, primarily in Central Europe and the Newly 
     Independent States. FY94-95 funding levels compelled us to 
     curtail these new programs' growth, eliminate some 
     traditional programs, and slash many more, particularly in 
     Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Moreover, inflation and a 
     smaller pool of U.S. students have significantly increased 
     training costs for foreign students, reducing each IMET 
     dollar's purchasing power. For example, the Army War College 
     now costs $14,498 per student, vice $11,429 in FY93.
       While we seek to return close to, though still below, the 
     FY93 funding level, it is important to understand we are not 
     simply returning to the earlier program. Important, positive 
     changes have been made to the program's content and focus 
     over the past two years. IMET has been tightly focused on 
     professional military education and Expanded IMET (E-IMET). 
     High cost education, such as pilot training, has been 
     eliminated. The technical training that is still supported is 
     focused on ``training the trainer'' so that countries can 
     assume more responsibility for their own equipment-oriented 
     instruction. Proposed FY96 funding for new democracies is 160 
     percent higher than in FY93, while funding for traditional 
     programs is 25 percent less.
       If we are to build upon our investments in the new and 
     emerging democracies, maintain support for countries 
     important to Middle East peace, and restore some of the 
     funding for other traditional programs important to our 
     regional strategies, the FY96 IMET request needs to be fully 
     funded. For the Defense Department, IMET is critically 
     important. I would be pleased to discuss these issues with 
     you, and greatly appreciate your support for this important 
     program.
           Sincerely yours,
                                               Walter B. Slocombe.
     

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