[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5924-S5925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   AUTHORIZATION FOR EAST-WEST CENTER

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, during the negotiations to achieve passage 
of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1997, a number 
of concessions had to be made to accommodate competing interests. One 
such example was the continuation of the authorization for the East-
West Center at the current level of $10 million for both fiscal years 
1998 and 1999.
  According to its budget justification, the East-West Center seeks to 
improve understanding and relations between Asia, the Pacific islands, 
and America. While this may be a worthwhile endeavor, we must question 
whether it merits a direct subsidy when the center seems to duplicate 
State Department activities and other private business, academic, 
cultural exchange, and tourism programs.

[[Page S5925]]

  The East-West Center already receives a high proportion of its 
funding from private sources and project specific Federal grants. It 
seems that it could continue its core functions without the American 
taxpayer footing the bill. Even the Clinton administration has 
recognized the need to terminate Federal funding for this center. The 
administration's budget summary noted that the effort to phase out 
governmental funding for the East-West Center will continue with its 
request of $7 million. Yesterday we took a step backwards from 
achieving that goal. It is my sincere hope that the appropriators will 
reduce funding from the current level.
  I started my fight to eliminate Federal funding for the East-West 
Center nearly 2 years ago, and I plan to continue my efforts. Many of 
my colleagues think that $10 million isn't a lot of money considering 
that we have a $1.6 trillion budget. I believe every expenditure should 
be reviewed regularly. At a time when Congress, at the request of the 
taxpayers, is working to finally balance the budget, this kind of sole-
source, noncompetitive project can no longer be justified.

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