[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 161 (Monday, November 15, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8196, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT 
        FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 5, 1999

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, today I cast my vote in support of H.R. 
3196, the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2000. 
However, I did so with great reluctance. Late last night, a compromise 
was reached to provide $1.8 billion for the Wye River Accord and an 
additional $799 million for other accounts. Many accounts such as the 
African Development Bank, the International Development Association, 
the Peace Corps, and the North American Development Bank were provided 
with more realistic funding levels that will allow these entities to 
carry out their programs.
  However, one of the most disturbing inadequacies of this bill is the 
level of funding provided for the Republics of the Former Soviet Union. 
If this bill becomes law, the Republics of the Former Soviet Union are 
slated to receive $839 million. This is $104 million short of the 
President's request, and $3 million less than fiscal year 1999. Many of 
the Newly Independent States are still facing serious economic and 
democratic challenges, and a few still have access to nuclear weapons. 
On one hand the people of Ukraine and Georgia recently held successful 
Presidential elections on October 31. On the other hand, the Prime 
Minister and the Speaker of the Parliament were brutally assassinated 
in Armenia, and Belarus who is inching toward greater integration with 
Russia frequently suppresses political dissidents by censuring or 
imprisoning them. Clearly, this region is still very unstable and the 
United States should make every effort to show our support for these 
fragile democratic institutions. We also should provide assistance so 
that countries in dire financial straits are not forced to resort to 
nuclear arms dealing in order to feed their people. If we fail to 
provide adequate funding for this region, we jeopardize the security of 
Americans.
  In addition, this bill underfunds the Migration and Refugee Account 
by $35 million less than the President's request and $281 million less 
than fiscal year 1999. During the previous months, I have worked to 
include provisions for counseling assistance to refugee survivors of 
rape in times of conflict and war. As we witnessed during the conflict 
in Kosovo, many women not only suffered from the act of rape itself, 
but they must also live with the social stigmas dictated by their 
culture as a result of being a victim of rape. Without adequate funding 
for this and other programs, many women and children in need will 
continue suffering.
  This bill also does not provide sufficient funding for debt relief 
for the world's poorest countries. The Banking Committee just reported 
a bill, H.R. 1095, that will help reduce the unpayable debt held by 
many of the world's developing countries. This important bipartisan 
legislation will help alleviate the suffering of people living in 
nations with unmanageable debt burdens. Unfortunately, full funding for 
this vital initiative is not included in this bill.
  Furthermore, on July 23, 1999, many of my colleagues and I voted in 
favor of an amendment to the original Foreign Operations Appropriations 
bill to prohibit funding for the School of Americas which has gained an 
infamous reputation for training human rights violators in Latin 
America. Despite the passage of this amendment by a vote of 230-197, 
this bill reinstates $2 million for the School of Americas. 
Furthermore, this bill eases some restrictions on aid to Indonesia and 
only prohibits funds from being obligated to Indonesia until the 
President advises the Appropriations Committee in writing 20 days prior 
to allocation. this is an outrage considering that 250,000 East 
Timorese refugees are still held captive in refugee camps in West 
Timor. Many of these refugees have been intimidated by Indonesian 
military, and many more are not permitted to return to East Timor.
  Mr. Speaker, the success of U.S. foreign policy and programs depends 
upon adequate funding to administer consistent humanitarian relief to 
our neighbors and allies who are confronting extraordinary natural 
disasters, civil strife, and economic and political transformations. 
Global interaction and cooperation enhances our nation's security. This 
revised bill goes a long way to ensure implementation of a broad array 
of bilateral and multilateral assistance programs which directly impact 
American interests. I reluctantly supported this bill today, because I 
felt it was irrational to hold up funding for the many worthwhile 
programs in this bill. However, despite additional funding for several 
accounts, this bill still contains a number of weaknesses which I hope 
will be corrected before it ultimately becomes law.

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