[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 23, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1098-E1099]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    SETTING INTERNATIONAL PRIORITIES

                                 ______


                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 23, 1995
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us provides an opportunity 
to reorder our international priorities and put our fiscal house in 
order. This bill represents the first major reform in overseas 
operations in 50 years by slashing $1.8 billion from the President's 
1996 fiscal year request.
  This bill eliminates AID, USIA, and ACDA, three bloated and 
inefficient agencies and [[Page E1099]] consolidates their relevant 
functions within the State Department. This $200 million reduction in 
operating expenses abolishes duplicative legislative, legal, and 
administrative personnel. In addition, with the savings derived from 
the ending these wasteful programs, we are able to fully fund narcotics 
control, antiterrorism, and security programs.
  Streamlining the foreign aid bureaucracy and prioritizing our 
commitments abroad allows us to continue our deficit slashing agenda. 
The bill moves us closer to that goal and represents a step in the 
right direction. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to keep our 
budgetary goals in mind as we continue to debate and fine tune this 
bill.


                          ____________________