[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 149 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S13398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     PRESIDENT'S VETO OF THE FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, a lack of leadership from the 
administration is responsible for the present difficulty in reaching an 
agreement on the foreign operations appropriations bill. The President 
says he vetoed the bill over low levels of foreign assistance in 
general and a lack of funding for the Wye Accord specifically. The 
Administration did not exert the leadership needed to secure the Wye 
funding, however, and did not work with Congress to find a way to 
provide this critical assistance to Israel, Jordan, and the 
Palestinians without raiding the Social Security surplus. I am a strong 
supporter of funding the Wye Accord if the money can be found without 
using Social Security surplus funds. The President should make Wye 
funding the priority it should be and find the money somewhere in the 
budget.
  The lack of leadership from the administration in providing for our 
allies and interests in the Middle East already has had real costs, 
however. The President's veto of the foreign operation appropriations 
bill on October 18, 1999 sends a disturbing signal that our foreign 
policy is being held hostage to the domestic budget politics of the 
administration. While the President's veto was the wrong step for U.S. 
foreign policy around the world, the administration's rejection of the 
bill is particularly troubling for U.S. policy in the Middle East and 
strategic allies such as Israel.
  The foreign operations bill passed by Congress contains $960 million 
in economic assistance and $1.9 billion in military assistance for 
Israel. The foreign operations bill also contains over $2 billion in 
assistance to Egypt and $225 million in aid to Jordan, both important 
countries in the peace process. The provision of such assistance to 
Israel is critically important at this juncture of the peace process, 
and it troubles me that the administration did not lay the groundwork 
for an acceptable foreign assistance package. The government of Prime 
Minister Ehud Barak has stated its intention to complete final status 
negotiations within one year. Many difficult issues must be resolved 
for a final settlement to be reached. Jerusalem, refugees, and water 
rights are just several of the monumental issues that will be topic of 
negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
  It is my hope that the administration will support Israel more 
forcefully during these negotiations, including a clear statement of 
U.S. policy that Jerusalem is and should remain Israel's undivided 
capital. As final status negotiations proceed, the United States should 
defend Israel against diplomatic ambushes in international fora such as 
the United Nations. An unequivocal U.S. position in support of Israel 
in the coming months will be essential to achieve a sustainable peace 
settlement.
  Also at stake is a potential peace settlement with Syria. I trust 
that Prime Minister Barak will not make territorial concessions in the 
Golan Heights that will jeopardize Israel's security. As a former 
military chief of staff, Prime Minister Barak is well aware of the 
security implications associated with relinquishing territory in the 
Golan. Any Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights should be met with 
the most reliable assurances from Syria that its hostility toward 
Israel and support for terrorism will cease. For the peace to be 
sustainable, however, and Israel-Syrian settlement will have to be 
based on more than words. Israel will have to be able to defend itself, 
and continued provision of annual U.S. military assistance is an 
integral part of that process.
  With all that is at stake right now in the peace process, it is 
difficult for me to understand why the administration has not worked 
closely with Congress to ensure that vital assistance is provided to 
Irasel in a timely fashion. Mr. President, it is my hope that the 
administration will demonstrate better leadership in supporting Israel 
as the peace process enters this critical year.

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