[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 97 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S8594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

  Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I ask that the pending business be 
temporarily set aside and that S. 2260, the Commerce-State-Justice 
appropriations bill, be laid before the Senate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2260) making appropriations for the Departments 
     of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and 
     for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.


 funding for the organization for economic cooperation and development

  Mr. ROBB. Madam President, I would like to call my colleagues' 
attention to one of the international organizations being funded by the 
Commerce-State-Justice Appropriation bill, the Organization for 
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
  As many of my colleagues areaware, the OECD has its origins in the 
Marshall plan. While its original mandate was to help rebuild post-War 
Europe, over the years, the OECD has taught us that nations through 
economic cooperation can take charge of their own destinies. Article 1 
of the OECD Convention clearly states its mission, which is to have its 
member nations achieve the highest sustainable economic growth and 
employment, to contribute to sound economic expansion in Member as well 
as non-member nations, and to contribute to the expansion of world 
trade on a multilateral, non-discriminatory basis. These goals are as 
relevant today as they were when the OECD was founded.
  The current work of the OECD spans the horizon. A few issues that are 
important to this Congress that the OECD is working on are the Asian 
economic crisis, the Anti-Bribery Convention and crytography policy. 
OECD economic surveys, its twice-yearly Economic Outlook and its 
countless statistics on a wide range of economic activities are 
important sources of information for us as we meet the challenges of 
the global economy.
  But the OECD has also understood that in today's tough budgetary 
environment, there is a real need to make cuts. And organization 
officials have taken these necessary steps. The OECD is decreasing its 
budget which to date includes a reduction of 180 staff, more than 10% 
of its total. Clearly, the OECD gets the message and deserves credit 
for its efforts.
  I urge the committee and the administration to fully fund the OECD. 
It continues to make a valuable contribution, and is willing to 
implement the kinds of reforms that should only increase its efficiency 
and productivity.

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