[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1700-E1701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LOUIS B. STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2159) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1998, and for other purposes:

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2159, which 
provides foreign operations appropriations for fiscal year 1998. This 
$12.3 billion bill has aspects which give cause for reservation, but 
overall, addresses critical funding for areas that are consequential 
for the global interests of the United States.
  There is no doubt that with the end of the cold war America now 
reigns supreme as the world's only superpower. Over the past several 
years, our foreign policy has undergone a massive undertaking to adjust 
to a post-cold-war world which has allowed us to maintain a better 
balance of our domestic and foreign interests.
  The world faces the proliferation of dangers that have the 
possibility to grow unchecked without our leadership. These dangers 
include terrorism and extremism, acquisition of weapons by hostile 
regimes, poverty and disease, economic instability, narcotics 
trafficking, and global environmental hazards. American national 
security eventually becomes an issue as these problems spread across 
the globe.
  President Clinton's foreign operations request reasonably addressed 
the overseas interests of the United States by maintaining our 
obligations to our friends and the world's neediest people. H.R. 2159 
still falls $4.6 billion short of President Clinton's request, but is 
still an improvement over recent years in which devastating cuts were 
proposed by the Republican majority. The overall funding level of H.R. 
2159 is near that of fiscal year 1997.
  This bill provides $7.4 billion for bilateral economic assistance, 
$3.3 billion for military assistance, $1.1 billion for multilateral 
economic assistance, and $451 million for export assistance.
  Foreign aid is no giveaway. This is demonstrated by the dollars that 
work as an effective means of developing and expanding U.S.

[[Page E1701]]

export markets. In fact, the recipients of U.S. foreign aid constitute 
the fastest growing market for U.S. exports. Over the past decade, our 
exports to developing countries have more than doubled from $71 to $180 
billion. This valuable trade results in thousands of much needed jobs 
for American workers.

  Mr. Speaker, a particular element of this bill that I strongly 
support is the total of $3.1 billion in aid to Israel. This funding 
level consists of $1.8 billion for foreign military financing [FMF] 
grants, and $1.2 billion in economic support fund [ESF] assistance. 
H.R. 2159 also expresses the sense of Congress that Arab League 
countries should immediately renounce their resumption of the boycott 
against Israel and its trading partners, and calls on the President to 
consider a country's participation in the boycott when determining 
whether to sell United States weapons to the country.
  I am also encouraged by the House adoption of an amendment which 
doubles the level of the African Development Fund [AfDF], to fully fund 
the President's request of $50 million. This fund addresses poverty 
reduction in sub-Saharan African through loans to borrowing countries. 
Areas of focus include agriculture, heath care, education, micro-
enterprise, and basic infrastructure. This funding plays an important 
role to a region in need at relatively small cost.
  Contrary to critics of international assistance, foreign aid 
constitutes less than 1 percent of the U.S. budget. This small 
investment is leveraged further by a public-private partnership 
involving several hundred U.S.-based charitable organizations.
  Greatly troubling to me about H.R. 2159, however, is the inclusion of 
highly restrictive provisions to international family planning 
assistance to developing countries. These restrictions, which 
unreasonably strike at reproductive rights as they pertain to current 
law, will draw a veto if they are contained in this bill upon arrival 
to the President. The Senate has not included such abortion 
restrictions, and it is my hope that the House restrictions will be 
removed in conference.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, because of dramatic changes in world 
politics, the U.S. is faced with a tremendous opportunity to direct 
funds to relieve problems here at home and help improve the lives of 
our friends overseas. H.R. 2159 is a reasonable step toward the latter, 
and it is my hope such steps will further expand for the global good.

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