[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 89 (Wednesday, July 12, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H5932-H5953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 546 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the State of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, 
H.R. 4811.

                              {time}  2245


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union for the further consideration of 
the bill (H.R. 4811) making appropriations for foreign operations, 
export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2001, and for other purposes, with Mr. Thornberry in the 
chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. When the Committee of the Whole rose earlier today,

[[Page H5933]]

a request for a recorded vote on the amendment by the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters) had been postponed and the bill was open for 
amendment from page 2, line 22, to page 3, line 17.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of today, no further amendment to 
the bill shall be in order except pro forma amendments offered by the 
chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations or their 
designees for the purpose of debate and the following additional 
amendments, which may be offered only by the Member designated in the 
order of the House or a designee, or the Member who caused it to be 
printed or a designee, shall be considered read, shall be debatable for 
the time specified, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and 
an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be 
subject to a demand for a division of the question:
  (1) The following additional amendments, which shall be debatable for 
60 minutes:
  One of either the amendment printed in the Congressional Record and 
numbered 11 or the amendment numbered 15; and amendment by Ms. Lee, 
regarding child survival and disease program fund.
  (2) The following additional amendments, which shall be debatable for 
30 minutes:
  The amendment printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 28; 
and the amendment by Mr. Payne, regarding development assistance.
  (3) The following additional amendments, which shall be debatable for 
20 minutes:
  One, one of either the amendment printed in the Congressional Record 
and numbered 5 or the amendment numbered 6; two, Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
Texas, regarding conscription under the age of 18; and, three, the 
amendment printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 18.
  (4) The following additional amendments, which shall be debatable for 
10 minutes:
  The amendment by Mr. Bereuter regarding North Korea; Mr. Baker 
regarding Panama; Mr. Smith of Michigan regarding biotechnology 
research; Mr. Brown of Ohio regarding child survival and disease 
program fund; Mr. Brown of Ohio regarding the Tariff Act; Ms. Jackson-
Lee of Texas regarding peacekeeping operations; Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
Texas regarding Economic Support Fund; Mr. Payne regarding Congo; Mr. 
Payne regarding sanctions against Angola; Mr. Payne regarding 
peacekeeping operations; Mr. Payne regarding Sudan; Mr. Payne  
regarding restrictions on assistance to governments destabilizing 
Angola; Mr. Menendez regarding Peru; Mr. Filner regarding Economic 
Support Fund; Mr. Conyers regarding section 558; Mr. Capuano regarding 
Armenia-Azerbaijan peace and democracy initiative; Mr. Capuano 
regarding termination of unilateral agricultural or medical sanctions; 
Mr. Nadler regarding honor crimes; Mr. Jackson of Illinois regarding 
the African Development Bank; Mr. Latham regarding international 
financial institution loans; Ms. Kaptur regarding the Ukraine; Mr. 
Sherman regarding child survival; and the amendments printed in the 
Congressional Record and numbered 7, 9, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 
and 26.
  Are there further amendments to this portion of the bill?
  If not, the Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:


                        administrative expenses

       For administrative expenses to carry out the direct and 
     guaranteed loan and insurance programs (to be computed on an 
     accrual basis), including hire of passenger motor vehicles 
     and services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, and not to 
     exceed $30,000 for official reception and representation 
     expenses for members of the Board of Directors, $62,000,000: 
     Provided, That necessary expenses (including special services 
     performed on a contract or fee basis, but not including other 
     personal services) in connection with the collection of 
     moneys owed the Export-Import Bank, repossession or sale of 
     pledged collateral or other assets acquired by the Export-
     Import Bank in satisfaction of moneys owed the Export-Import 
     Bank, or the investigation or appraisal of any property, or 
     the evaluation of the legal or technical aspects of any 
     transaction for which an application for a loan, guarantee or 
     insurance commitment has been made, shall be considered 
     nonadministrative expenses for the purposes of this heading: 
     Provided further, That, notwithstanding subsection (b) of 
     section 117 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1992, subsection 
     (a) thereof shall remain in effect until October 1, 2001.


                overseas private investment corporation

                           noncredit account

       The Overseas Private Investment Corporation is authorized 
     to make, without regard to fiscal year limitations, as 
     provided by 31 U.S.C. 9104, such expenditures and commitments 
     within the limits of funds available to it and in accordance 
     with law as may be necessary: Provided, That the amount 
     available for administrative expenses to carry out the credit 
     and insurance programs (including an amount for official 
     reception and representation expenses which shall not exceed 
     $35,000) shall not exceed $37,000,000: Provided further, That 
     project-specific transaction costs, including direct and 
     indirect costs incurred in claims settlements, and other 
     direct costs associated with services provided to specific 
     investors or potential investors pursuant to section 234 of 
     the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, shall not be considered 
     administrative expenses for the purposes of this heading.


                            program account

       For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, $24,000,000, 
     as authorized by section 234 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961 to be derived by transfer from the Overseas Private 
     Investment Corporation noncredit account: Provided, That such 
     costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be 
     as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
     1974: Provided further, That such sums shall be available for 
     direct loan obligations and loan guaranty commitments 
     incurred or made during fiscal years 2001 and 2002: Provided 
     further, That such sums shall remain available through fiscal 
     year 2010 for the disbursement of direct and guaranteed loans 
     obligated in fiscal years 2001 and 2002: Provided further, 
     That in addition, such sums as may be necessary for 
     administrative expenses to carry out the credit program may 
     be derived from amounts available for administrative expenses 
     to carry out the credit and insurance programs in the 
     Overseas Private Investment Corporation Noncredit Account and 
     merged with said account: Provided further, That funds made 
     available under this heading or in prior appropriations Acts 
     that are available for the cost of financing under section 
     234 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, shall be available 
     for purposes of section 234(g) of such Act, to remain 
     available until expended.

                  Funds Appropriated to the President


                      trade and development agency

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of 
     section 661 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 
     $46,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2002.

                TITLE II--BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE

                  Funds Appropriated to the President

       For expenses necessary to enable the President to carry out 
     the provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and for 
     other purposes, to remain available until September 30, 2001, 
     unless otherwise specified herein, as follows:


                  agency for international development

                child survival and disease programs fund

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of 
     chapters 1 and 10 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961, for child survival, basic education, assistance to 
     combat tropical and other infectious diseases, and related 
     activities, in addition to funds otherwise available for such 
     purposes, $834,000,000, to remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That this amount shall be made available for such 
     activities as: (1) immunization programs; (2) oral 
     rehydration programs; (3) health and nutrition programs, and 
     related education programs, which address the needs of 
     mothers and children; (4) water and sanitation programs; (5) 
     assistance for displaced and orphaned children; (6) programs 
     for the prevention, treatment, and control of, and research 
     on, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, polio, malaria and other 
     infectious diseases; and (7) basic education programs for 
     children: Provided further, That none of the funds 
     appropriated under this heading may be made available for 
     nonproject assistance, except that funds may be made 
     available for such assistance for ongoing health programs: 
     Provided further, of the funds appropriated under this 
     heading, not to exceed $125,000, in addition to funds 
     otherwise available for such purposes, may be used to monitor 
     and provide oversight of child survival, maternal health, and 
     infectious disease programs: Provided further, That the 
     following amounts should be allocated as follows: 
     $290,000,000 for child survival and maternal health; 
     $30,000,000 for vulnerable children; $202,000,000 for HIV/
     AIDS; $99,000,000 for other infectious diseases; $103,000,000 
     for children's basic education; and $110,000,000 for UNICEF: 
     Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this 
     heading, up to $37,500,000 may be made available for a United 
     States contribution to the Global Fund for Children's 
     Vaccines.


                      Amendment Offered by Ms. Lee

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment offered by Ms. Lee:
       Page 6, line 25, after the dollar amount insert 
     (``increased by $42,000,000).
       Page 7, line 21, after the first dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $42,000,000)''.

[[Page H5934]]

       Page 34, line 21, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(decreased by $42,000,000)''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) and a Member opposed each will 
control 30 minutes.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Alabama reserves a point of order.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for 30 
minutes on her amendment.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This amendment adds $40 million to the child survival and disease 
fund to the amounts allocated in that account for HIV/AIDS and really 
derives that funding from the FMF account.
  Mr. Chairman, I had the privilege to be part of the official United 
States delegation at the 13th International Conference on AIDS in 
Durban, South Africa. I returned yesterday with an even more sense of 
urgency regarding the HIV/AIDS pandemic throughout the world and 
especially in sub-Saharan Africa. There are over 10,000 people in 
Durban, South Africa breaking the silence on HIV/AIDS about the 
devastation of the AIDS pandemic this week. Our United States 
delegation is led by our very able Surgeon General, Dr. Satcher, and 
Sandy Thurman, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy.
  Can you imagine that in several countries now, life expectancy has 
been reduced from 70 years of age to 30 years of age because of this 
killer disease? This means also that many 13-year-old girls and boys 
will not live beyond 30 years of age because they will die from AIDS. 
This also means that years of development and progress have been really 
wiped from the face of the earth.
  Also, can you imagine now that there are over 12 million orphans in 
Africa? These children's fate lay unknown because their parents have 
died. And by the year 2010, there will be 40 million orphans in Africa. 
This is the number of children in America's public schools. Also, 
believe it or not, it is mind-boggling to know this, but in Durban, we 
talked about this and documented this and discussed this, that in many 
countries 20 to 38 percent of the country's populations have HIV/AIDS.
  This further cripples Africa because it does move to threaten 
economic stability which is a security threat as well, not only in 
terms of African security but in terms of our own national security. 
Can you imagine that this is really only the beginning? It is only the 
tip of the iceberg. India has nearly 7 million people infected with 
HIV/AIDS. This epidemic is spreading and it is spreading very rapidly.
  The conference in Durban, which is continuing this week, is really 
helping us break the silence with regard to the devastation of this 
pandemic. We must listen to what is coming out of that conference. We 
all have a sense of urgency about this, but many of us do not know what 
to do. But we do know that there is a state of emergency in sub-Saharan 
Africa.
  So the administration requested $244 million, minimal request, for 
HIV/AIDS this year, and we only have $202 million in this budget 
request. All this amendment does is add $42 million to bring to the 
level of the administration's request the AIDS funding to address this 
pandemic. This is not nearly enough. The United Nations has estimated 
that we need approximately $3 billion a year just to begin with the 
crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. So, Mr. Chairman, adding $42 million to 
this account is a mere pittance.
  I ask for your consideration. I ask for your real commitment to 
ensure that the United States of America goes on record tonight and 
passes this amendment to do the right thing and to send a message to 
the Durban conference and to those who are working so desperately to 
save lives in Africa that we are stepping up to our moral obligation, 
and we do want to restore this mere $42 million to our account.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. 
Meek).
  (Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank my dear colleague who has 
spearheaded this strong effort for yielding this time.
  As we are becoming a more global community, we must become more 
concerned about what is going on with our national borders as well as 
the people we know are now suffering from AIDS throughout this world. 
It just does not take very much unless you understand man's inhumanity 
to man to think that in a country as rich as ours we have not placed 
the amount of money on the prevention and treatment of AIDS as we 
should. Now it is reaching catastrophic dimensions and we must realize 
that it is now an epidemic that is an impediment to our national 
security.
  A study by the National Security Council prepared in January 
projected that a quarter of South Africa's population is likely to die 
of AIDS. I have only 1 minute, 60 seconds' worth of distance run to say 
to you that to place money in an AIDS prevention and treatment program 
in Africa will be money well spent. If not, we are on a disastrous 
course. It is time now to place money where we can help man and his 
humanity.
  Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for calling this special order 
to highlight the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
  As our world becomes more of a global community, we must become more 
concerned about what's going on beyond our national borders. As the 
Washington Post aptly described, the global spread of AIDS is reaching 
catastrophic dimensions and is now seen as a threat to our own national 
security.
  A study by the National Security Council prepared in January 
projected that a quarter of southern Africa's population is likely to 
die of AIDS and that the number of people dying of the disease will 
rise for a decade before there is much prospect of improvement. 
Further, based on current trends, that disastrous course could be 
repeated, perhaps exceeded, in south Asia and the former Soviet Union.
  50 million people--1% of the world's population--have become infected 
with HIV.
  Sub-Saharan Africa has been by-far more severely affected by AIDs, 
than any other part of the world. Africans make up 10% of the worlds 
population, but nearly 70% of the worldwide total HIV/AIDS cases.
  In many African countries 35% of all adults are infected with HIV/
AIDS, and it is estimated that half of today's teenage population in 
parts of Africa will die of AIDS.
  In Africa, as in the case throughout the world, young girls are most 
infected.
  In a study of eleven African countries, the rate of infection in 
teenage girls was more than five times higher than in boys of the same 
age. Each day more than 15,000 people become infected. 1,600 of them 
are children, infected during or shortly after birth.
  Infection rates in the Caribbean are also high.
  There is an epidemic in Asia with more than 6 million people 
infected, and the potential for millions more.
  Fortunately, we now have the opportunity for a much more effective 
response to the HIV epidemic.
  We now know how to prevent the spread of HIV and provide care for 
those infected. The tools are complex and imperfect. But we know that 
when used correctly, these tools can help slow the epidemic, relieve 
suffering and enable millions of people to have additional years of 
quality life.
  Yet, with opportunity comes responsibility and challenge. There are 
no more excuses. The millions who are infected and the hundreds of 
millions who are at risk will not forgive us if we do not take 
advantage of the opportunities for action that exist today.
  No one constituency can act alone to change the face of this 
epidemic, and America must step up to play a leadership role in 
reducing the global spread of HIV/AIDS. Wherever there is inequity, 
conflict or lack of mutual respect, the virus feeds on our 
divisiveness.
  It is distressing what is happening in the world with this pandemic, 
particularly when we have found interventions that work--interventions 
that can reduce HIV incidence by up to 80%.
  Yet, we have not seen any systematic action to reduce the global 
spread of HIV/AIDS because all too often we have been short-sighted and 
refused to take action outside of our borders to help ease the 
suffering and loss of life which is taking place with respect to this 
pandemic in Africa and throughout the world.
  This isolationists' mentality must stop. If America is to remain a 
global leader we ought to act like one and take the lead on helping to 
reduce the global spread of HIV/AIDS.
  On this issue, we can't claim the high horse, and then take the low 
road.
  More than ever, we need to unite with the nations of the world and 
exert our leadership in responding to the destruction to society that 
has been wrought by HIV.
  Here at home, and throughout the world, the consequences of HIV/AIDS 
are clear, HIV affects more people than it infects. It makes

[[Page H5935]]

families poor as they try to meet the costs of health care and 
funerals: they become poorer as they cope with the loss of income 
following the death of a breadwinner.
  Miami-Dade County, Florida has the third highest incidence of HIV/
AIDS cases in the United States. With 24,000 reported AIDS cases, 
Miami-Dade County has more cases than all but four states. A 
disproportionate number of these cases tend to be comprised of racial 
or ethnic minorities.
  With strong prevention initiatives, we have helped slow the rate of 
new HIV infections in the U.S. And, we have made widely available new 
medications and treatment to those who are infected.
  As a world leader, we have a responsibility to help other nations 
reduce infections and treat those who are ill, and to act locally and 
globally toward a cure for this dreaded disease.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) seek to 
claim the time in opposition?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentlewoman 
for yielding me this time. We have heard the information. We understand 
the ravages of this tremendous disease running rampant throughout the 
continent. And so we know what action is needed. We know that we need 
resources. We know that we need to add additional money so that there 
can be health education information, so that there can be medicine and 
supplies, and so that individuals who are greatly in need of assistance 
can receive it. I simply want to commend the gentlewoman for this 
amendment, pledge undying, unstinting support for it, and urge all 
Members of this House to vote in favor of the Lee amendment.

                              {time}  2300

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New 
York (Mrs. Lowey).
  (Mrs. LOWEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment 
which would make a critical investment in combatting HIV-AIDS around 
the world. When one looks at the numbers, it is astonishing. More than 
16.3 million people across the globe have died of AIDS. More than 33.6 
million are currently living with the disease. Over the course of the 
year, approximately 5.6 million more people will become infected with 
AIDS.
  This is a pandemic of immense proportions, and if we hold back on 
investing and finding solutions to the world's AIDS crisis now, there 
will be consequences, both domestically and internationally later on.
  The AIDS crisis has disproportionately affected the developing world. 
Sub-Saharan Africa has been particularly hard hit. Already 13.7 million 
Africans have died of HIV-AIDS, leaving behind social and economic 
devastation that will affect the nature and pace of African development 
for years to come.
  AIDS is hurting Africa. It is crippling Africa's viability as a 
destination for business. I urge my colleagues to support this 
amendment.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Millender-McDonald).
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in strong support 
of the amendment of my colleague and friend, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Lee), and I urge everyone to support this amendment, 
because it is really a moral issue that we are talking about tonight.
  The devastation caused by this pandemic has been most severe in sub-
Saharan Africa where over 23 million people are infected with HIV, and 
nearly 14 million Africans have already died from AIDS. This is indeed, 
my friends, a moral issue, and we have an obligation and a 
responsibility to heed the warning here.
  The funding, $42 million, is not a cure-all for HIV-AIDS, but it is 
an urgent and necessary step in the right direction. This AIDS epidemic 
has also drastically decreased life expectancy in Africa, and I urge 
everyone within the sound of my voice to know that our children are 
being left as orphans because of the death of their parents.
  I urge Members to support the Lee amendment.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, let me thank the 
gentlewoman for presenting this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I hope we are listening. I really do hope that we are 
not going to close our eyes and turn our ears off and ignore this 
problem. Let us try to listen to this one more time. A total of 5.4 
million people globally became newly infected with HIV in 1999. A total 
of 34.3 million people globally are living with HIV-AIDS.
  We cannot sit here and allow this to happen without some kind of 
intervention. There have been a total of 18.8 million global AIDS-
related deaths since the beginning of this epidemic. A total of 13.2 
million children globally have become orphaned since the AIDS epidemic. 
There are 34.3 million adults and children living with AIDS in the 
world.
  We have to act now. This is an emergency. Experience shows that the 
right approach, applied quickly enough with courage and resolve, can 
and does result in lower HIV infection rates and less suffering for 
those affected by this epidemic. An ever-growing AIDS epidemic is not 
inevitable; yet unless action against this epidemic is scaled up 
drastically, the damage is going to be done.
  We have got to act now. We have got to eradicate this ugly disease. 
The time is now. It is urgent. Support my colleague's amendment.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Waxman).
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment. As the only major 
power in the world and one that takes its moral responsibilities 
seriously, this is a small step, but one we must take. I also supported 
the Waters debt-relief amendment for the very same reason.
  I found it offensive that the manager of this bill would suggest that 
the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), or anyone else, was anti-
Israel for supporting debt relief. I think that was factually 
incorrect, and this deficient foreign aid bill makes me think now it 
was designed in a way to try to drive wedges between people and divide 
us; and that should have no place on issues as serious as AIDS and debt 
relief.
  Mr. Chairman, I am going to vote for the Waters amendment, and I am 
going to vote for the Lee amendment; and I am very seriously thinking 
that this bill ought to be defeated.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Meeks).
  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Chairman, I wonder, where is this 
compassion we often hear talked about? Compassion. You know, where I 
come from, they have this saying; they say that talk is cheap. Put your 
money where your mouth is.
  When we talk about HIV-AIDS, we can talk about it and talk about how 
bad it is and talk about how awful it is, but you know what? That talk 
means nothing.
  We need to put our money where our mouth is. Until we do that, we are 
doing nothing but whistling Dixie. It is time for us to reverse that, 
to understand that this world is much smaller than it was just 10 years 
ago. If you do not believe it, let us not put our money where our 
mouths are. You think the epidemic is over there; but you know what, 
there is a boomerang, and what goes around will come around.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve my point of order.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton).
  (Mrs. CLAYTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Chairman, the Lee amendment deserves our 
enthusiastic support. This amendment provides $42 million for our 
effort against AIDS abroad. We can be thankful, Mr. Chairman, that many 
people in America today are living longer and more comfortable lives 
with AIDS. Not so in Africa. We can be grateful that the life 
expectancy of a person in the United

[[Page H5936]]

States afflicted by AIDS has increased significantly since this Nation 
began paying attention to this disease some 20 years ago. Not so in 
Africa.
  AIDS has lowered the life expectancy in some places in Africa almost 
20 years in just the last 10 years. In America, the number of new AIDS 
cases in recent years has declined, or at least has leveled off. Not so 
in Africa. In Africa, in some places, up to 35 percent of all adults 
are inflicted by the HIV-AIDS. The survival rate of women and children 
affected by AIDS in the United States is steadily increasing. Not so in 
Africa.
  In some parts of Africa, half of all the pregnant women are infected, 
and 15 percent of the children have been left as orphans due to AIDS. 
Drug therapy in response to AIDS is almost $20,000 annually. There is 
no money to pay. In fact, they commit less than $10.
  Every day, in Africa, more than 5,000 people die from AIDS--18 
million lives have been lost to AIDS in Africa, in recent years.
  AIDS in Africa, Mr. Chairman, has been declared to be a threat to 
this Nation's national security. AIDS in Africa undermines efforts to 
extend democracy. AIDS in Africa contributes to political instability 
and encourages civil wars. AIDS in Africa puts American citizens at 
risk who may be there for business, military, diplomatic or other 
purposes. AIDS in Africa is a menace to America.
  In recent years, the introduction of newer and more effective 
therapies, on the whole, has led to dramatic reductions in mortality 
and morbidity and an increase in the number of people living with HIV/
AIDS. This progress has been due, in large part, to the fact that 
funding in the United States for research, prevention, care and 
treatment has multiplied, from a few hundred thousand dollars twenty 
years ago to $6 billion in the fiscal year.
  In Africa, funding programs for the prevention and research for AIDS 
and HIV have fallen far short. The Lee amendment, in a very modest way, 
seeks to bring some balance to that imbalance.
  Mr. Chairman, unfortunately, there is no vaccine or medication that 
will cure AIDS. Yet, as the Washington Post indicated today, there is 
hope due to a new tests. And, we know that through intervention, we 
can, and we have, caused effective prevention of the spread of AIDS.
  By preventing the spread of AIDS, we have reduced the demand for care 
services. And, consequently, we have reduce the costs associated with 
AIDS.
  We are making progress in America. Not so in Africa. Support the Lee 
amendment. The women, the children, the people of Africa are worthy of 
our support.

                              {time}  2310

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Los 
Angeles, California (Ms. Waters).
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. I am 
amazed that we have spent so much time on the Africa Trade bill talking 
about how we want to be involved with trade in Africa. In South Africa, 
we have spent years getting rid of apartheid. We have worked hard to 
make sure that we give democracy a chance in Africa.
  But what good is all of this if, in fact, we do not recognize that 
HIV/AIDS is devastating Africa? I just spoke with the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Payne) who just returned from Botswana; a beautiful 
infrastructure is that country. However, they are about to be wiped out 
because of the way that AIDS is ravaging that small country.
  The same thing is true in South Africa. What good does it do to have 
done all of that work to talk about getting rid of an apartheid 
government, to have a new opportunity here for housing and for health 
and for all of those things that we have fought for for so many years, 
when we have AIDS run amok.
  This country cannot, cannot in good faith talk about wanting to have 
a relationship with Africa and South Africa, which it has embraced and 
all of these other nations, and ignore the fact that AIDS is ravishing 
this continent.
  Mr. Chairman, I would ask everyone to support this amendment. This is 
a very mild amendment. As a matter of fact, the amount of dollars that 
are being asked for is insignificant, almost. So I cannot understand 
why anyone would be opposed to supporting this amendment. I believe 
there is $42 million in this amendment. We are spending more money than 
that on giveaways, practically, in the budget, throughout the budget of 
the United States.
  So I would ask my colleagues, please, please allow us to leave this 
floor this evening with some renewed faith in our ability to have just 
a little bit of a conscience as it relates to the continent.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
northern California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
this time and for her extraordinary leadership on this global AIDS 
issue.
  Mr. Chairman, as my colleagues know, this past week the world's 
leading experts on HIV/AIDS gathered in Durbin, South Africa for the 
13th International HIV/AIDS Conference. The participants shared their 
knowledge and attempted to find solutions to the challenges of 
prevention, affordable treatment, and eventually a cure for HIV/AIDS. 
We must do our part in this country to respond to what has truly become 
a global crisis.
  Mr. Chairman, when those experts met in Durbin, South Africa, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) was there, and she is here 
tonight, less than 36 hours since her arrival in this country; she is 
here tonight leading the way. The world is finally waking up to the 
scope and seriousness of the HIV/AIDS problem, as more resources are 
devoted to expanding the infrastructure to fight the disease. It would 
be a serious blow if the United States did not live up to its 
commitments at this time. Again, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lee) is here to lead the way in that regard.
  Mr. Chairman, in addition to commending my colleague, I want to 
introduce into the Record a USAID report project which projects a 
dramatic increase in AIDS orphans. Over the next 10 years, there will 
be more than 30 million orphans because their parents will die of AIDS. 
This represents a dramatic increase.
  How many more parents have to die? How many more children have to 
become orphaned? Many of those children, HIV-infected themselves. How 
many more children will have to die before we wake up to an 
appropriate, appropriate response to AIDS?
  This increase that the gentlewoman is proposing brings what is in the 
bill up to the President's request of $244 million. Frankly, it is the 
least we can do. It is certainly not enough, but it is a good start for 
us. USAID will use these additional funds for education, prevention and 
interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmissions. Funding will be 
used to aid countries to establish their own HIV interventions.
  I commend the gentlewoman for her leadership and I urge my colleagues 
to support her amendment.

        USAID Report Projects Dramatic Increase in AIDS Orphans

       Durban, South Africa.--The U.S. Agency for International 
     Development (USAID) today released the executive summary of 
     Children on the Brink 2000, a study of AIDS orphans across 
     the globe. The study finds that by 2010, at least 44 million 
     children will have lost one or both parents to all causes in 
     the 34 countries most severely affected by the AIDS pandemic.
       Of these 44 million orphans, 68 percent of their parents 
     will die of AIDS. This represents a dramatic increase from 
     1990, when AIDS accounted for 16.4 percent of parental 
     deaths. Orphans are distributed among world areas in the same 
     patterns as HIV-prevalence, so that countries with the 
     highest infection levels usually have the highest orphan 
     rates.
       The orphan crisis is most acute in sub-Saharan Africa. In 
     at least eight countries in this region, between 20 and 35 
     percent of children under 15 have lost one or both parents. 
     By 2010, 11 countries will reach this rate.
       Children on the Brink 2000 finds that with few exceptions 
     the number of children being orphaned will accelerate through 
     at least 2010. In many countries, the proportion of orphaned 
     children will remain exceptionally high until 2020 or 2030.
       One country studied was Zambia. Children on the Brink 2000 
     finds that in Zambia, currently 27.4 percent, or 1.2 million 
     children, who are under age 15, are orphans. Chronic 
     malnutrition is widespread. Orphan caregivers are 
     predominantly poor women. Children in these households are 
     significantly more disadvantaged than children in two-parent 
     families, largely because women have less access to property 
     and employment. Female-headed households are larger and 
     poorer than male-headed households in all regions.
       The executive summary of Children on the Brink 2000 was 
     released at a USAID press conference at the XIII 
     International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa.
       Since 1986, USAID has dedicated over $1.4 billion dollars 
     for the prevention and mitigation of this epidemic in the 
     developing world. USAID's HIV/AIDS budget of $200 million for 
     2000 is four times as great as the

[[Page H5937]]

     next-largest donor's budget. USAID is working in 46 of the 
     hardest hit countries around the world. Nearly 70 percent of 
     USAID's HIV/AIDS program assistance goes to small non-
     governmental organizations that have direct connections to 
     the poorest of the poor and those most vulnerable to 
     infection.
       Children on the Brink 2000 updates USAID's 1997 report on 
     orphans, and provides estimates of the number of orphans in 
     34 developing nations, as well as offering strategies to 
     support children affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide. The original 
     report included the first international orphan estimates 
     published since 1990 and contributed to a growing sense of 
     urgency about the impact of HIV/AIDS, particularly in sub-
     Saharan Africa. The complete Children on the Brink 2000 will 
     be released this fall.
       Children on the Brink 2000 presents new orphan estimates 
     for the 23 countries studied in the 1997 report, as well as 
     11 additional developing countries. The report also provides 
     a summary of new statistics on the HIV/AIDS pandemic; new 
     programming recommendations for children, families, 
     communities, and governments; and an updated overview of 
     actions taken by international organizations to assist 
     families and children affected by HIV/AIDS.
       The executive summary of Children on the Brink 2000 is 
     available at www.usaid.gov.
 The U.S. Agency for International Development is the U.S. 
     government agency that provides development and humanitarian 
     assistance worldwide.

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Watt).
  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman 
from California for yielding me this time and for bringing this 
important issue to the floor of the House.
  We have made a substantial amount of progress in our country in 
dealing with AIDS and HIV. Unfortunately, that same kind of progress 
has not been evident in Africa where 10 percent of the world's 
population resides, but nearly 70 percent of the worldwide total 
infected AIDS cases exist.
  A number of countries in Africa are beginning to make progress such 
as Senegal and Uganda, and we need to do what we can in this country to 
assist in meeting this crisis, not only here in our country, but 
worldwide. I cannot think of any other issue that is more important to 
address than the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. Therefore, I rise in 
support of the gentlewoman's amendment.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, let me thank the gentlewoman 
from California for her leadership. Mr. Chairman, $42 million. 
Juxtapose that against the $82 million, only 16 percent of what the 
administration asked for, to relieve the burden of debt on these 
countries so that they could at least deal with this travesty of AIDS.
  The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) just came back from South 
Africa and she has been on this mission for a long time, and I have 
joined her, along with many other Members. We were in Africa just about 
a year ago. Tell me if my colleagues have ever experienced going into a 
hut, that is right, and seeing a 4-year-old being the only person able 
to care for dying relatives. Cleaning up the excrements, providing the 
medicine, helping them to the rest room, if you will. Dying babies 
being held in one's arms. Families burying six members of their family 
at a time. Have my colleagues ever lived through a pandemic or a dying 
Nation or continent? That is what we are talking about.
  For us to be on this floor tonight in the most prosperous times, when 
the gentleman from Alabama indicated that we merely would be missing a 
Sunday newspaper if we did not provide debt relief or, in this 
instance, maybe a candy bar if we put $42 million against a nation of 
200 million plus people in the United States of America. How can we 
reject the opportunity to provide funds to eliminate 4-year-olds taking 
care of dying relatives. It is an outrage that we even have to diminish 
the request to this amount.
  Mr. Chairman, I would only say to my colleagues, when they begin to 
talk about a tragedy of this size, they are beginning to talk about a 
continent that not withstands this attack, but falls to this attack. We 
cannot do any less than to support the amendment of the gentlewoman 
from California and stand up against this terrible tragedy.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment by my democratic 
colleague Representative Barbara Lee from California in an amendment to 
H.R. 4811, the Foreign Appropriations bill before this body. This 
amendment if adopted would make an additional $100 million available to 
the World Bank AIDS Marshall Plan Trust Fund.
  HIV/AIDS has been declared the world's deadliest disease by the World 
Health Organization. HIV/AIDS has become a plague on the Continent of 
Africa of biblical proportions by claiming over 18 million lives in 
recent decades. This crisis is having a direct impact on the future 
viability of many sub-Saharan African communities. For this reason, I 
am joining Congresswoman Lee of California in support of additional 
funding for the World Bank's effort to fight the spread of the deadly 
HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.
  This amendment would fund the World Bank AIDS Marshall Plan Trust 
Fund at $100 million. This will allow the trust fund to distribute 
additional resources through directed grants so that an effect response 
can be mounted against the HIV/AIDS tragedy, which is being played out 
in too many African nations.
  According to the UNAIDS Update report released last week on HIV/AIDS 
infected rates in many countries up to 35 percent of all adults are 
infected with the disease. The report also estimates that half of 
today's teenage population in parts of Africa will perish from HIV/
AIDS. The most vulnerable group being affected by HIV/AIDS is the women 
of Africa; their infection rate is far greater than males. About 55 
percent of all adults living with HIV are women, and this rate is 
expected to continue to rise in countries where poverty, poor health 
systems, and limited resources for prevention and care are present. 
What fuels the spread of this disease or any disease is ignorance, 
misinformation, cultural practices, passivity on the part of leaders, 
neglect on the part of those nations with resources that if engaged 
would make a difference in the fight to win out over the disease.
  I would like to commend Congresswoman Lee for her efforts to offer a 
clear perspective on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. She recently 
returned from Durban, South Africa, after participating in AIDS 2000, 
which was the 13th International AIDS conference.
  Now, more than ever, the leadership of the United States is needed in 
order to avert a tragedy on the Continent of Africa. Therefore, I 
implore my fellow colleagues of the House to seriously reconsider the 
level of funding that has been appropriated for this critical area. It 
is critical that we join efforts to support the comprehensive, 
bipartisan World Bank AIDS Marshall Plan Trust Fund to address this 
crisis.
  Many people have asked why this is important to the United States. I 
reiterate that aside from the humanitarian perspective, the CIA has 
issued a report that declares HIV/AIDS a threat to our national 
security. HIV/AIDS undermines democracy and progress in many African 
nations and the developing world. Left to its own course HIV/AIDS will 
lead to political instability and may result in civil wars, which may 
affect the global balance of power as well as economic viability of 
many African nations. In many of these instances, our military service 
personnel may be pressed into to service in order to defend American 
interest in any attempt to bring stability to those nation's that 
decline into civil strife because of the ravages of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS 
like any plague cannot be contained in any specific geographical area 
it will roll across borders of the rich and poor nations alike. 
Unfortunately, when this dreaded disease came to our shores many felt 
that it was a calamity for gay people, drug users but AIDS knows no 
boundaries. With globalization, we also must be conscious of the 
potential for AIDS and other infectious diseases to be carried across 
borders.
  Now is the time for this body to act to remove the threat of AIDS 
from our global community. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to 
support this amendment.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Brown).
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, first of all, let me thank the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for going to the International 
AIDS Conference representing the United States.
  At this crucial time in this country, the world is looking at what we 
are doing here in the United States, and they are wondering, what is 
our position on AIDS and HIV. I would like to have a colloquy for a 
moment with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters). I know that 
other countries are providing treatment, they are providing drugs. Why 
are we, the most powerful country in the world, who stand on the Bible 
and believe and talk all the time about to whom God has given much, 
much is expected, and we have some obligation as leaders in the world, 
where are we on this crucial issue of AIDS and HIV?

[[Page H5938]]

                              {time}  2320

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Brown) for yielding to me.
  As we look at what the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) is doing 
and the tremendous work she is putting into this international AIDS 
crisis, tonight there is a category called Child Survival and Disease 
Program Fund in the budget for $202 million, and she is adding to that 
fund so perhaps just one or two more babies will have medicine, one or 
two more children may be able to survive HIV or full-blown AIDS, even.
  Let me just say that what we are doing is minuscule. It is not nearly 
enough. We need to do more. That is why we have to take up all of this 
time on the floor to beat everybody across the head on this issue, and 
not let this epidemic continue in the way that it is doing. We have to 
keep pushing this issue, keep pushing the envelope, because we have not 
even begun to do what we should be doing.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I include for the Record the 
information fact sheet about AIDS in Africa.


                       AIDS in Africa--FACT SHEET

       Today there are 34 million people living with HIV and AIDS.
       Sub-Saharan Africa has been far more severely affected by 
     AIDS than any other part of the world.
       Africans make up about 10% of the world's population but 
     nearly 70% of the worldwide total of infected people.
       An estimated 18 million Africans have lost their lives to 
     AIDS.
       2.8 million people died of AIDS in 1999, 85% of them in 
     Africa.
       The overall rate of infection among adults in sub-Saharan 
     Africa is about 8.6% compared with a 1.1% infection rate 
     worldwide.
       20% of people in South Africa are infected with HIV and the 
     rate has reached 35.8% in Botswana.
       5.4 million new AIDS infections in 1999, 4 million of them 
     in Africa.
       An estimated 600,000 African infants become infected with 
     HIV each year through mother to child transmission.
       An estimated 8 million African children have lost their 
     mother or both parents to AIDS.
       It is estimated that within the next decade more than 40 
     million children will be orphaned in developing countries.
       Some have estimated that approximately half of all today's 
     15-year-olds in the worst affected sub-Saharan countries will 
     die of AIDS.
       Community awareness has had some success, particularly in 
     Senegal and Uganda where the rate of infection has been cut 
     in half.
       Aside from Africa, India has more infected people than any 
     other nation, more than 3.5 million.
       A 1999 South African study found that the total costs of 
     employee benefits in that country will increase from 7 
     percent of salaries in 1995 to 19 percent by 2005 due to 
     AIDS.

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Hastings).
  (Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from 
California for yielding time to me.
  I would also like to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Pelosi) for the extraordinary leadership she has provided in this 
measure, as well as my colleagues in the Republican party who have come 
forward and demonstrated how they feel with reference to this issue.
  Of course, people like the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) 
and countless others have been here for us, as well as all of the women 
of this House, providing the kind of leadership that we need in an 
effort to speak out about these matters.
  Please know this, that what we are failing to do is to assist a 
continent of people who, in the final analysis, are finding their life 
expectancy, according to reports in today's New York Times, reduced to 
30 years of age.
  Ron Dellums, who the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) replaced 
in Congress, spoke often to this House with passion regarding this 
issue, and now finds himself involved in this issue, trying to avoid, 
ultimately, the death in the next 5 years of 35 million people.
  Research and development is needed to rid this scourge in Africa and 
America. Please support this measure.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my colleague, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, as so many speakers before me have said, 
it is a shame that we are not providing more. Thirty-four million 
people in Africa with HIV, and even if we pass this amendment, that is 
less than $10 per infected person, less than $10 per person who will 
probably lose their lives.
  After we consider this amendment, I will call up an amendment that 
will add another $10 million to this program, and shame on me that that 
amendment is not larger.
  We should be doing a lot more. This is a national security problem 
for not only Africa but for the entire world. This is a continent with 
34 million infected people, most of whom do not know that they are 
infected, that figure comes only from estimation, so they could end up 
infecting others.
  This is not just a problem in Africa, this is a likely disease that 
will mutate and spread to various places around the world. We should do 
more.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Vermont 
(Mr. Sanders).
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time 
to me.
  Mr. Chairman, the horror that we are dealing with is so unspeakable 
that it is literally very difficult to imagine the extent of what is 
going on, but let us try for a moment.
  In at least eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa, between 20 and 35 
percent of children under 15 have lost one or both parents. Let us stop 
and think what that would mean to our hometowns or our State. One-third 
of the children under 15 have already lost one or both parents.
  I think after all is said and done, what we are learning tonight is 
that we live in one world, and whether we like it or not, we cannot 
ignore the horrendous suffering that is going on in Africa. Our souls 
will be tarnished if we do not respond, and ultimately, mark my words, 
it will become a national issue, as well.
  We live in one world. We have got to respond. We should support this 
amendment, and do a lot more than that.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, let me rise in strong support of this 
amendment, and commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) and 
those who have worked with her, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Waters), the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Christensen).
  Let me also admire the work of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Pelosi), who has for many years been there fighting for the right 
causes.
  Mr. Chairman, about 8 years ago I started to discuss the problem of 
HIV-AIDS with President Museveni. At that time he was totally opposed 
to any kind of prevention programs, especially the use of preventative 
things. We talked about that. He finally decided that he would move to 
having prevention and education. Now in Uganda we have seen it level 
off. If we put in the correct amount of funds, we will be able to put a 
moratorium and start to win the battle.
  A week ago on Wednesday I was in Gaborone in Botswana. I met with 
President Festus Mohae. His whole discussion at our meeting a week ago 
was simply about the HIV-AIDS virus. He said that his life expectancy 
in his country was 71. Two years from now the life expectancy in 
Botswana will be at 39, they have lost that much. In about 5 years from 
now, there will be a minus population growth in the country of 
Botswana.
  We can no longer sit by and watch the world die. Let us pass this 
amendment.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my colleague, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).
  (Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, to my colleagues, in this country 
today we have a societal condition of grandparents raising 
grandchildren. Imagine the situation that exists in Africa, where we 
have grandparents raising as many as 35 grandchildren.

[[Page H5939]]

  The condition of AIDS in Africa is a security risk. It is an economic 
issue. It is a workforce issue. It is a global issue. We as a country 
must step up to the plate and take care of the children of Africa. 
They, too, are our own children.
  That epidemic, that disease, can spread worldwide. Next year we will 
be talking about AIDS in every other country, because we travel so 
frequently together.
  Let us resolve this issue. Let us take care of the children. Let us 
take care of our families, as well, and support this amendment.

                              {time}  2330

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Olver).
  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lee) for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Chairman, I would just like to point out that we in the United 
States have nearly a million people suffering with HIV/AIDS at the 
moment. We spend something over $10 billion every single year on this 
issue, and that averages out to well over $10,000 per person in what we 
do here in this country in relation to AIDS. In Africa, the amendment 
that is being offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), the 
amendment by itself would involve $2 per person of the roughly 25 
million people now suffering from HIV/AIDS, 20 percent in a country 
like South Africa, as high as 35 percent of the population in Botswana.
  It is a very small, a very small pittance for us to contribute to 
dealing with the AIDS pandemic around this world. We should adopt the 
amendment by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I want to first thank the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Pelosi) for her extraordinary leadership on this issue and also 
for her support consistently and constantly on helping us really raise 
the level of awareness on the HIV/AIDS crisis here in the United States 
Congress, and also to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), to 
the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Christensen), to all of 
the Members who spoke here tonight.
  I want to pay a special recognition and tribute to my former boss and 
predecessor Congressman Ron Dellums who often has been the lone voice 
in the wilderness speaking about this pandemic in Africa.
  Finally, I believe we are breaking the silence here in the United 
States Congress. I want to thank all of my colleagues for engaging in 
the debate tonight. I believe many of you read the incredible series of 
articles that was in The Washington Post last week. These articles 
demonstrated and documented the fact that we knew as early in the 1990s 
that the potential for this pandemic in Africa was going to be so 
great, we chose to put our heads in the sand on this issue.
  Mr. Chairman, it is chilling to think that we have not done much of 
anything in the last 10 years, so tonight we are just asking for a mere 
$42 million, that is it. We heard the arguments for that. I implore and 
plead with the other side to please join us in a bipartisan effort and 
restore $42 million to the budget.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) wish to 
be heard on his point of order?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw the point of order.
  The CHAIRMAN. The point of order is withdrawn.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
and simply want to say that I think that the committee has been most 
understanding. In response to many requests that I received from many 
of those that spoke tonight, we have increased this year's assistance 
to HIV/AIDS problems from $175 million to $212 million, an 18 percent 
increase.
  Mr. Chairman, I just do not want my colleagues to think that I have 
ignored their plights and their pleas when they came to me hearing the 
message. In addition to that, I spent last week in Africa talking to 
some of the political leaders there, and I recognize fully especially 
in Africa the tremendous problem with HIV/AIDS. And if, indeed, we 
reach a stage in this process of the conference committee, as I have 
told the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) with respect to the 
HIPC problem, if we reach a stage where additional allocations are 
given to us, certainly we would request this, but to take it out of the 
FMF program we think is not proper.
  Mr. Chairman, I do not want to go through that debate again, but I 
might remind my colleagues that now we are, if we adopt the Waters 
amendment and we adopt the gentlewoman's amendment, then we will be 
into the Middle East portion of the FMF, but I hope that we do not do 
that. I hope that it is better resolved to your satisfaction at some 
other point in the process. Mr. Chairman, I ask for a no vote.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 546, further proceedings 
on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) 
will be postponed.
  Are there further amendments to this section of the bill?


                 Amendment Offered by Mr. Brown of Ohio

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Brown of Ohio:
       In title II of the bill under the heading ``BILATERAL 
     ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE-Funds Appropriated to the President-
     agency for international development child survival and 
     disease program fund'', after the first dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $40,000,000)'' and in the fifth proviso after 
     the fourth dollar amount (relating to other infectious 
     diseases) insert ``(increased by $40,000,000)''.
       In title IV of the bill under the heading ``MULTILATERAL 
     ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE-Funds Appropriated to the President-
     contribution to the asian development fund'', after the 
     dollar amount insert ``(decreased by $40,000,000)''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the order of the House of earlier today, 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) will be recognized for 5 minutes 
and a Member opposed will be recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the 
amendment of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown).
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) reserves a 
point of order.
  The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) is recognized for 5 minutes on 
his amendment.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.
  Mr. Chairman, the threat of tuberculosis is spreading rapidly through 
the developing world. TB is the greatest infectious killer of adults 
worldwide. It is the biggest killer of young women. It kills 2 million 
people per year. Over more than 1,000 people in India die everyday. TB 
hit an all time high in 1999 with 8 million new cases, 95 percent in 
developing countries.
  Mr. Chairman, I would first like to thank the gentleman from Alabama 
(Mr. Callahan) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) for 
their good work in increasing the appropriations to tuberculosis in the 
last 3 years up to $60 million.
  Our amendment asks for an additional $40 million added to the other 
infectious diseases component of the Child Survival and Diseases 
Program. This increase is meant specifically for TB control efforts. 
This level of spending for health is much lower than any other 
multilateral development bank despite the fact that the majority of 
deaths globally from TB and childhood infectious diseases occur in 
Asia, that is why we are taking dollars from the Asia Development Bank, 
which does not meet its mission to save the poor, in order to fund a 
program that will absolutely save millions of lives and preserve 
communities in the best interests of Asia, in the best interests of 
Africa, and in the best interests of Latin America, and only in the 
best interests of the United States where TB is becoming a more and 
more serious problem.

[[Page H5940]]

  Gro Bruntland, the director general of the World Health Organization 
has said that tuberculosis is not a medical issue, it is a political 
issue. Getting Americans engaged in an international medical issue like 
tuberculosis, even when addressing that issue serves our best interests 
as a Nation is an uphill battle.
  Mr. Chairman, we have an opportunity to save millions of lives now 
and prevent millions of needless deaths in the future. We are asking 
for $40 million from the Asia Development Bank, a bank that has not 
done well at serving the poor, and we can clearly save thousands and 
thousands of lives by upping our contribution to the world TB effort, 
according to the requests of the World Health Organization of $100 
million.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I do not seek time at this point, but I 
rise in opposition to the amendment and reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman 
from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), who was the cosponsor and the cowriter of 
this amendment last year when the chairman helped us increase 
tuberculosis spending $5 million more.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Brown) for yielding me the time and thank the gentleman for his 
leadership on this very important issue.
  Mr. Chairman, I also want to extend my thanks to the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Callahan), the chairman of the committee, the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Pelosi) for the work they have done in raising the 
amount for tuberculosis. This is really very important.
  Mr. Chairman, TB kills more women than any single cause of maternal 
mortality, and it is the biggest killer of people with AIDS which was 
just recently discussed. It accounts for 40 percent or more of all AIDS 
deaths in Africa and in Asia. I could go on and on with what is 
happening in the developing world in terms of attacking its victims in 
their most productive years, medical costs rising, families that are 
dissipated, children that are put to work, lack of educational 
opportunities.
  According to the WHO, recent studies in India found that 100,000 
women are rejected by their family because of TB every year.

                              {time}  2340

  Because there is no way to stop TB at national borders, the only way 
to eliminate it here in the United States is to control it worldwide, 
especially in nations with the greatest burden. It is not a matter of 
doing just what is right; it is a matter of doing what is smart. A 
single case of drug-resistant TB can cost hundreds of thousands of 
dollars to treat in the United States. Let us ratchet the amount up.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this amendment to increase 
funding for global TB control because, although we have a cheap, 
effective treatment for TB, the tragic fact is TB will kill more people 
this year than any year in history--someone every 15 seconds.
  TB is the biggest infectious killer of young women in the world. In 
fact, TB kills more women than any single cause of maternal mortality. 
TB is the biggest killer of people with AIDS--accounting for 40 percent 
or more of all AIDS deaths in Africa and Asia.
  In the developing world, tuberculosis also destroys girls' and 
women's futures. TB tends to attack its victims in their most 
productive years, often killing or sickening the primary breadwinner of 
a family. In order to pay for medical costs and generate income, 
families frequently take their young girls out of school and put them 
to work. TB means the loss of educational opportunity for girls. It 
means dire poverty for families.
  In some parts of the world there is a great stigma attached to 
contracting TB. This leads to increased isolation, abandonment and 
divorce of women. According to WHO, recent studies on India found that 
100,000 women are rejected by their families because of TB every year. 
In Nepal, there are numerous stories of young widows with no income and 
no prospects for another marriage turning to prostitution in order to 
support their families. Currently an estimated one third of the world's 
population including some 10-15 million people in the United States are 
infected with the TB bacteria. Because there is no way to stop TB at 
national borders, the only way to eliminate TB here in the U.S. is to 
control it worldwide, especially in nations with the greatest TB 
burden.
  The real tragedy is that effective TB treatment--with drugs costing 
as little as $10 for a full 6 month course--is only reaching 20 percent 
of those ill with TB.
  It is crucial that we act aggressively now to expand access to this 
cost-effective treatment and thereby control the spread of TB 
worldwide. There is only a small window of opportunity available to us 
to do so. If we fail to act now, resistant strains of TB will continue 
to develop which will be incredibly costly and possibly even impossible 
to treat.
  I want to acknowledge and thank the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, 
especially Chairman Callahan and Ranking Member Pelosi, for their 
efforts this year and over the past several years to give TB greater 
priority. I stand here today because I believe we need to ratchet up 
that effort even more, to go even further. $100 million is needed to 
help jumpstart effective control programs globally.
  This is not just a matter of doing what is right, it is a matter of 
doing what is smart--a single case of drug resistant TB can cost 
hundreds of thousands of dollars to treat in the U.S. We must invest 
now in preventing and treating TB worldwide or we will pay the price 
later in lives and dollars if we fail to do so.
  I urge support of this amendment.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), who is the co-author of this amendment; 
and I thank her for the good work that she has done.
  Mrs. WILSON. Mr. Chairman, I wanted to thank the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Brown) for his leadership on this public health issue and also the 
chairman of the committee for increasing the investment in TB in this 
bill over the last 4 years from really nothing to $60 million.
  Tuberculosis is back with a vengeance, and it is back with drug-
resistant strains that are affecting parts of the world where it was 
thought to be under control.
  In March of this year, there was an outbreak of resistant 
tuberculosis in Toronto, Canada; in Germany; in Denmark; in Mexico; in 
Italy; in Puerto Rico. Drug-resistant TB is on the rise, and we are not 
immune to it here in the United States.
  I am one of those who believes it is better to play offense than 
defense when it comes to public health issues, if one has got a good 
offense to play. We have a very limited window of opportunity to attack 
TB with a proven public health strategy abroad where resistant TB is 
growing.
  The reason the resistant TB is growing is because of inconsistent and 
inadequate treatment. But a treatment does exist. It is called DOTSC. 
That means Directly Observed Treatment Short Course. If we invest in it 
now, we can treat TB when it first shows up so that those resistant 
strains do not have an opportunity to grow. We will not be faced with a 
huge and very expensive epidemic worldwide and in the United States.
  It costs between $11 and $20 to treat a case of TB that is not 
resistant. It costs about $250,000 to treat drug-resistant TB. In the 
early 1990s, there was an outbreak in New York City that cost $1 
billion to suppress it, and half of the people affected with it died.
  Let us do the right thing from a public health point of view. Let us 
invest in this while the window of opportunity was there and reduce the 
cost over the long term.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) insist 
on his point of order?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. No, I do not insist on the point of order, but I rise 
in opposition to the amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Alabama withdraws the point of 
order.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I am almost surprised at the fact that the gentleman 
brought this amendment to the House. In response to his request and to 
the request of many of my colleagues, we have increased this fund from 
$12 million to $55 million, a fourfold increase in response to the 
recognition of the problem.
  While I know that they have serious concerns about tuberculosis; we 
all do. The very fact that we have quadrupled the aid in just 2 years 
is amazing to me that they still insist upon bringing an amendment to 
reconstruct our bill.

[[Page H5941]]

  We have constructed this bill to the best of our ability, providing 
as much as we can afford to provide to every need that has been 
presented to this committee. So I would respectfully request that the 
gentleman withdraw his amendment; and if he does that, I will agree to 
work in conference to conceivably get it increased if we receive a 
higher allocation. I offered him that, and yet he seems to reject that 
offer. So if he wants me to remove that offer, I will be happy to do 
it. But I would respectfully request that he withdraw his amendment.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. I am happy to yield briefly to the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, before withdrawing the amendment, if 
I could, I would like to ask, and I will do that and appreciate the 
good words and the good work already that the gentleman from Alabama 
(Mr. Callahan) has done in the last 3 years. I would like to ask the 
gentleman from Alabama (Chairman Callahan) if he would yield 30 seconds 
to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), who was in his office and 
hurried over and would like to say a few words on this issue if he 
could get some time from the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan). I 
unfortunately used my time, but I will withdraw the amendment after 
that if that is possible.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Green).
  (Mr. GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I join my colleagues, and I 
appreciate the work of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing and Related Programs. This is money well spent, because if we 
do not deal with tuberculosis nationwide, literally in Texas, we are 
seeing it cross our border. So I thank the subcommittee for their work.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment, which I am 
pleased to have cosponsored along with Sherrod Brown and 
Representatives Heather Wilson and Connie Morella.
  Seven years ago, the World Health Organization declared Tuberculosis 
to be a global emergency.
  TB is an emergency in Africa--in Asia--in Latin America--in the 
Caribbean. TB could soon be an emergency in the United States.
  No area has been more harmed by the epidemic than Asia. In the past 
ten years there have been over 35 million cases in South and South-East 
Asia.
  In East Asia and the Pacific there have been over 21 million cases.
  In India, over 1.8 million new cases are diagnosed each year. In 
China, 1.4 million. In Bangladesh, half a million.
  While the majority of Tuberculosis cases are found overseas, this is 
disease that could be passed on to you . . . or to anyone in your 
family.
  TB is highly contagious and spreads just like the common cold--
through hand-shaking, coughing, or contact.
  With the increase in international travel we are seeing more and more 
cases of TB right here in North America--and those cases will continue 
to increase unless we act now.
  Our amendment increases funding for TB control by $40 million. Much, 
much more is needed but to comply with budget rules we are only 
proposing a $40 million boost.
  Our amendment is offset by reducing funding to the Asian Development 
Bank by an equal amount.
  The Asian Development Bank has not been effective. Its lending for 
health has averaged just 1.5% of total lending annually from 1978-1998.
  This level of lending for health is much lower than any other 
multilateral development bank despite the fact that the majority of 
deaths globally from TB and many childhood infectious diseases occur in 
Asia.
  While the amount of its lending for the health sector has increased 
since 1978, the proportion of total lending devoted to health has 
stayed the same at about 1.5%.
  This low number cannot be accounted for simply because the Bank does 
not make low-interest loans to India or China while, for instance, the 
World Bank has.
  Even excluding China and India, World Bank lending for health in Asia 
and the Pacific in 1996 was 7.3% of lending, more than 4 times the 
Asian Development Bank's lending.
  The $40 million we are taking away from the Asian Development Bank is 
better spent combating the adverse economic impacts of TB.
  TB has had a devastating social and economic impact on Asia and other 
regions.
  Because patients lose an average of 3 to 4 working months a year, 
they lose 20 to 30 percent of the family's income.
  Seventy five percent of TB infections and deaths are people between 
the ages of 15 and 54--most of them workers.
  In India, the annual cost to that nation's economy is $3 billion. 
About 70% of households went into debt because of health care bills 
related to TB.
  This is not surprising when you consider that, in India, the cost to 
patients for treatment is about $125 U.S. dollars, more than half the 
annual income of a daily wage laborer.
  By using this $40 million to combat TB we will keep hundreds of 
thousands of folks working and that has a direct impact on Asia's 
economy--an impact that cannot be matched by the Asian Development 
Bank.
  We need to battle TB abroad because it is appearing on our borders.
  That's a sound investment--and one we should all support.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw 
my amendment.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object, and I do not 
intend to object, but I do want to commend the gentleman from Alabama 
(Mr. Callahan) for his tireless leadership on this issue. The challenge 
of tuberculosis is a great one throughout the world, not unrelated to 
AIDS. Many people with HIV die of tuberculosis.
  But I do want to commend the chairman because he has responded at 
least two times that I am aware of to the appeal for increases last 
year and in the committee accepted my amendment for the increase to the 
point that we are now.
  The gentleman is a man of his word. If he says that he is going to 
help in conference, then the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) has 
already graciously agreed to withdraw.
  So I look forward to working with the gentleman from Alabama on that. 
I commend the gentleman for his leadership and acknowledge the strong 
bipartisan support and commend all of the cosponsors on this 
legislation. It is very important to all of us.
  Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) is withdrawn.
  There was no objection.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Sherman

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:
  Amendment offered by Mr. Sherman:
       Page 6, line 25, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.
       Page 7, line 21, after the dollar amount for HIV/AIDS 
     insert ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.
       Page 38, line 23, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(decreased by $10,000,000)''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the order of the House of earlier today, 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) and a Member opposed each 
will be recognized for 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2\1/2\ minutes.
  Mr. Chairman, I am presenting this amendment on behalf of myself and 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). This entire bill is woefully 
underfunded. We should be adding several billions to this bill, perhaps 
many billions to this bill. But within the scope of the bill as 
presented, all we can do is move money from one part of the bill to 
another. That is an important task, because there are parts of this 
bill that are more in need of funding than others.
  As explained by the speeches for the last hour, the most important 
part of this bill is the funding for AIDS. With some 34 million people 
in Africa, with over 10 million people in South Asia and Southeast Asia 
stricken with HIV, we need to do more, not just the $202 million 
provided in the bill, not just the $242 million which will be available 
if the Pelosi-Lee amendment is passed, but we need to do all we can.
  This amendment will increase the amount for AIDS by an additional $10 
million. That is still not even $10 for every infected person in the 
continent of Africa, let alone less than $5 for each infected person on 
the face of the earth.
  The question is not why is it important to provide more funds to 
combat AIDS, but where do we get those funds?

[[Page H5942]]

 This bill, this amendment takes those funds from the allocation from 
the World Bank and more particularly from IDA. Now, IDA is a good 
program of the World Bank, but it is not as important as dealing with 
AIDS. Just as important, those of us who are concerned with promoting 
foreign aid in this country have to make sure that the foreign aid we 
appropriate is consistent with American values.
  Last month, the World Bank loaned $231 million to Iran, while 
ignoring the fact that Iran would jail 10 Jewish citizens just because 
of their religion, hence a desire, a need to transfer $10 million. Not 
only that, but I talked to the President of the World Bank today who 
was unable to assure me that the funds appropriated in this bill would 
not be lent to Sudan, Afghanistan. The funds provided to IDA in this 
bill can be lent to any corrupt government anywhere in the world. That 
is why it is better to spend the money through American agencies 
fighting AIDS.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) claim 
the time in opposition to the amendment?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Callahan).
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I think it is rather ironic, here we have 
the HIV program in need, and IDA is also in need. I know that the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the ranking member on our 
subcommittee, has been such a strong proponent of IDA. I am just 
wondering if she is going to object to this.

                              {time}  2350

  In any event, I think with the same argument I have used on every 
amendment, there is nothing wrong with the destination the gentleman is 
seeking, I just think this attempt to restructure and to reallocate the 
monies that we have been working on for 6 months to try to fairly 
distribute under the limitation of the allocation given to us, in my 
opinion, is wrong. It could cause an avalanche of problems, and then we 
start going back and we start taking money from one program which is 
doing a great deal of good, to give it to another program to do a great 
deal of good.
  So while I know that the gentleman's intentions are noble and I 
respect that, I know that the needs of the HIV/AIDS problem is great, 
at the same time, at this point, I would urge my colleagues to object 
to the amendment, or vote ``no'' on the amendment, because of the 
restructuring argument that I presented earlier.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to point out that the World Bank does do some good, but it also does 
substantial harm when it loans American money to Iran at this time and 
when it is possible that it would loan American money to Sudan or 
Afghanistan at this time.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I think it needs to be pointed 
out that the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) has put $834 million 
into the Child Survival and Disease program, and it is a significant 
increase, but the explosion of AIDS certainly makes it an issue that 
requires more attention.
  We know that there is very little being done in the area of shelters, 
of helping those people who have the disease to get a longer and a 
higher quality of life. Much of the focus has been on prevention, and 
surely much of the focus should be on prevention. But for those who 
have it, those who have the ``slims,'' as they call it in Africa, need 
to be helped through their terrible ordeal, and there is much more that 
we could be doing to help in that way.
  I commend my friend for offering the amendment. I am glad to be one 
of the cosponsors, but, again, I do think it should be underscored 
there is $834 million in here for child survival and diseases. This is 
a tweak, but it is an important tweak.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) has 1\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings).
  (Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time, and perhaps I can respond quickly to the 
distinguished subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Callahan).
  I am a proponent of the International Development Fund, IDA, and I am 
also a supporter of the measure that is being offered by the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Sherman). Ultimately, what it boils down to is 
that we have budgetary constraints that we have created in a time of 
prosperity. And in all fairness, if we had sufficient motivation, I 
believe that we would come up with the necessary funds.
  Thus, we are going to not only have in this appropriation measure, 
but in countless numbers of other amendments and other appropriations 
yet to be done and ones that have passed, offsets that are required 
that pit one program against another. No one can argue that I am not 
for IDA, and no one can argue that I am not against the spread of AIDS 
not only in Africa but throughout the world.
  Let me give some more statistics. HIV/AIDS infects more than 10 
million children worldwide. Africa is most affected by the disease, 
with 70 percent of the world's 34 million HIV infected people. In 
Botswana, for example, a third of all girls and 16 percent of all boys 
are infected with HIV. In South Africa, 25 percent of all girls and 11 
percent of all boys are infected. Furthermore, they do not educate our 
children on how to protect themselves.
  We should support this measure and we should be prepared to support 
others with offsets.
  The CHAIRMAN. Time of the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) has 
expired. The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) has 3\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Has all time expired on the other side?
  The CHAIRMAN. That is correct.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to rise once again in opposition to the amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The CHAIRMAN. Are there further amendments to this section of the 
bill?
  If not, the Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:


                         development assistance

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of 
     sections 103 through 106, and chapter 10 of part I of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, title V of the International 
     Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1980 (Public Law 
     96-533) and the provisions of section 401 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1969, $1,258,000,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2002: Provided, That of the amount 
     appropriated under this heading, up to $10,000,000 may be 
     made available for and apportioned directly to the Inter-
     American Foundation: Provided further, That of the amount 
     appropriated under this heading, up to $16,000,000 may be 
     made available for the African Development Foundation and 
     shall be apportioned directly to that agency: Provided 
     further, That none of the funds made available in this Act 
     nor any unobligated balances from prior appropriations may be 
     made available to any organization or program which, as 
     determined by the President of the United States, supports or 
     participates in the management of a program of coercive 
     abortion or involuntary sterilization: Provided further, That 
     none of the funds made available under this heading may be 
     used to pay for the performance of abortion as a method of 
     family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to 
     practice abortions; and that in order to reduce reliance on 
     abortion in developing nations, funds shall be available only 
     to voluntary family planning projects which offer, either 
     directly or through referral to, or information about access 
     to, a broad range of family planning methods and services, 
     and that any such voluntary family planning project shall 
     meet the following requirements: (1) service providers or 
     referral agents in the project shall not implement or be 
     subject to quotas, or other numerical targets, of total 
     number of births, number of family planning acceptors, or 
     acceptors of a particular method of family

[[Page H5943]]

     planning (this provision shall not be construed to include 
     the use of quantitative estimates or indicators for budgeting 
     and planning purposes); (2) the project shall not include 
     payment of incentives, bribes, gratuities, or financial 
     reward to: (A) an individual in exchange for becoming a 
     family planning acceptor; or (B) program personnel for 
     achieving a numerical target or quota of total number of 
     births, number of family planning acceptors, or acceptors of 
     a particular method of family planning; (3) the project shall 
     not deny any right or benefit, including the right of access 
     to participate in any program of general welfare or the right 
     of access to health care, as a consequence of any 
     individual's decision not to accept family planning services; 
     (4) the project shall provide family planning acceptors 
     comprehensible information on the health benefits and risks 
     of the method chosen, including those conditions that might 
     render the use of the method inadvisable and those adverse 
     side effects known to be consequent to the use of the method; 
     and (5) the project shall ensure that experimental 
     contraceptive drugs and devices and medical procedures are 
     provided only in the context of a scientific study in which 
     participants are advised of potential risks and benefits; 
     and, not less than 60 days after the date on which the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development determines that there has been a violation of the 
     requirements contained in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (5) of 
     this proviso, or a pattern or practice of violations of the 
     requirements contained in paragraph (4) of this proviso, the 
     Administrator shall submit to the Committee on International 
     Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and to the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
     the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, a report 
     containing a description of such violation and the corrective 
     action taken by the Agency: Provided further, That in 
     awarding grants for natural family planning under section 104 
     of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 no applicant shall be 
     discriminated against because of such applicant's religious 
     or conscientious commitment to offer only natural family 
     planning; and, additionally, all such applicants shall comply 
     with the requirements of the previous proviso: Provided 
     further, That for purposes of this or any other Act 
     authorizing or appropriating funds for foreign operations, 
     export financing, and related programs, the term 
     ``motivate'', as it relates to family planning assistance, 
     shall not be construed to prohibit the provision, consistent 
     with local law, of information or counseling about all 
     pregnancy options: Provided further, That nothing in this 
     paragraph shall be construed to alter any existing statutory 
     prohibitions against abortion under section 104 of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961: Provided further, That none 
     of the funds appropriated under this heading may be made 
     available for any activity which is in contravention to the 
     Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of 
     Flora and Fauna (CITES): Provided further, That of the funds 
     appropriated under this heading that are made available for 
     assistance programs for displaced and orphaned children and 
     victims of war, not to exceed $25,000, in addition to funds 
     otherwise available for such purposes, may be used to monitor 
     and provide oversight of such programs: Provided further, 
     That, of the funds appropriated by this Act for the 
     Microenterprise Initiative (including any local currencies 
     made available for the purposes of the Initiative), not less 
     than one-half should be made available for programs providing 
     loans in the following amounts (in 1995 United States 
     dollars) to very poor people, particularly women, or for 
     institutional support of organizations primarily engaged in 
     making such loans: $1,000 or less in the Europe and Eurasia 
     region (including North Africa), $400 or less in the Latin 
     America region, and $300 or less in the rest of the world.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the 
language appearing in the bill beginning with ``Provided'' on page 11, 
line 23, through page 12, line 8, on the grounds that it violates 
clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does any Member wish to be heard on the point of order?
  If not, the Chair is prepared to rule.
  The Chair finds that the provision includes language imparting 
direction. The provision therefore constitutes legislation, in 
violation of clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The point of order is sustained and that provision is stricken from 
the bill.


                 Amendment No. 18 Offered by Mr. Roemer

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I offer amendment No. 18.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 18 offered by Mr. Roemer:
       In title II of the bill under the heading ``BILATERAL 
     ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE--Funds Appropriated to the President--
     development assistance'', after the first dollar amount 
     insert ``(increased by $15,000,000)''.

       In title II of the bill under the heading ``BILATERAL 
     ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE--Funds Appropriated to the President--
     operating expenses of the agency for international 
     development'', after the first dollar amount insert 
     ``(decreased by $2,100,000)''.

       In title IV of the bill under the heading ``MULTILATERAL 
     ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE--funds appropriated to the president--
     contribution to the multilateral investment guarantee 
     agency'', after the dollar amount insert ``(decreased by 
     $4,900,000)''.

       In title IV of the bill under the heading ``MULTILATERAL 
     ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE--funds appropriated to the president--
     contribution to the inter-american investment corporation'', 
     after the dollar amount insert ``(decreased by $8,000,000)''.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the order of earlier today, the gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) will be recognized for 10 minutes, and a 
Member opposed will be recognized for 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer).
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes.
  Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to say that this is a bipartisan 
amendment. I have the strong support of the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Houghton), the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), the gentleman from Minnesota 
(Mr. Luther), who has been so helpful, the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Smith), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall).
  This amendment is simple. It increases by $15 million the 
microenterprise loans for the poor, the poorest people in the world, to 
get loans that are repaid. And because of the budget rules, we take $15 
million that is offset from three different accounts to plus up the 
microenterprise loans for the poor account.
  Now, we have wide bipartisan support for this. And when we are 
talking about $15 million, Mr. Chairman, I want to talk about how 
simple this amendment is and talk about $1. One dollar is what the 
Secretary of the United Nations says that 20 percent of our population 
in the world lives on per day. Not that they eat on; that they live on. 
One dollar or less per day.
  Now, microenterprise loans for the poor loan $25, $50, $100 at a time 
to people in poverty in Bangladesh, in India, in Africa, mostly women, 
to start small businesses. Let me give my colleagues an example of why 
this program is so important and why we need to fund it with another 
$15 million.
  Sarah Doe, formerly of Liberia, fled to the Ivory Coast. She lost her 
husband in the war and she has 10 children. She gets a loan for $16 
from microenterprise loans for the poor and starts a small business 
selling donuts. Now, that does not sound like a lot to us, because so 
many people in the world live on less than a dollar a day, but to her 
she is now running a successful small business. She has been able to 
send four of her children to school and establish savings accounts. 
Sixteen dollars is the original loan helping to save her children, 
starting a small business.

                              {time}  2400

  This is some of the best money we can spend when we decide to do it 
efficiently in foreign aid, money that is loaned that is repaid at 95 
to 99 percent repayment. We need to do this, Mr. Chairman. It is right. 
It is efficient. It is bipartisan. And it is an investment in getting 
people out of poverty, helping them help their children, and eventually 
making them part of this world economy.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, and I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I tell the gentleman that we support the 
microenterprise fund. That is not the issue. The gentleman and I have 
discussed earlier and I have pledged to help him if indeed we get an 
additional allocation to meet his goal. But I do not know if the 
gentleman heard what the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) requested 
of the Chair just prior to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) 
rising; and that is, he, through a point of order, removed the section 
he is trying to put the money in. So all he is doing, instead of giving 
it to the microenterprise program, is giving it to the big pot of 
assistance that will be available.
  Now, if the gentleman will take my request and withdraw his 
amendment, I

[[Page H5944]]

will be happy to work in conference to try to get additional monies for 
the microenterprise program. That is not a problem. But if the 
gentleman prefers to try it this way, then I will just remove my 
commitment.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate, first of all, the offer and 
pledge of the gentleman. Secondly, I deeply appreciate his commitment 
to microenterprise loans for the poor. I know he is genuine. I know he 
is a fighter for programs that are efficient and work. I know he wants 
to do something to help bring the poorest of the poor into the world 
community and the world economy.
  Before I agree with the gentleman to withdraw the amendment and then 
get the $15 million, I want to remind him, which he already knows, that 
this $15 million would merely take us up to the authorized level of 
what the House has approved. So I appreciate his fight, his vigor, his 
support, his pledge.
  Before I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment, I have four 
or five cosponsors of the amendment that are still here past midnight 
that would like to speak on it and that would take probably another 8 
or 9 minutes.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I am sorry, we do not 
have another 8 or 9 amendments.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will continue to yield, 
no, I said 8 or 9 minutes.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, we do not have another 8 or 9 minutes in 
order to do that.
  Mr. ROEMER. I have more time, Mr. Chairman.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I thought the gentleman had yielded back 
his time.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I reserved the balance of my time.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished chairman for 
yielding me the time and for his commitment to do more in conference on 
this microenterprise issue.
  I want to commend the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) for his 
leadership and for his constant attention to this very important issue.
  As my colleagues know, Mr. Chairman, we have traveled many places in 
the developing world. The gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), a 
member of the committee, and I have visited many microlending sites, 
microenterprise activities.
  It is hard for us in the United States to understand how a little bit 
of money can go such a very long way and make such a very, very big 
difference. I could go into it chapter and verse over the map, but I 
would be abusing the good nature of my distinguished chairman so I will 
not do that, except to say that this is a program that has a tremendous 
base of support in our country at the grassroots level. It is 
effective. It works. And I commend the gentleman for pushing it even 
further because I know that it will reap tremendous benefits.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Houghton), a cosponsor of the amendment who has worked so 
hard on this.
  Mr. HOUGHTON. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Roemer) for his leadership here. I also want to thank the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan).
  Clearly the work is going to be done in conference, and that is the 
important thing. The fact that the gentleman is going to support this, 
is willing to work, that is good enough for me.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Luther), who has been very helpful and his staff has 
been extremely helpful.
  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Chairman, I certainly want to thank the gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) for his outstanding leadership as well as the 
other cosponsors and also the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), 
who has been a terrific supporter of this whole concept of microcredit.
  I will be very brief, Mr. Chairman. I merely want to say that 
currently more than one billion people, one-fifth of the world's 
population, live in extreme poverty. And that is what we are talking 
about here this evening. As long as poverty continues to plague the 
world, there will not be a lasting peace, there will not be the kind of 
stability that we all want, not to mention the pain and suffering in 
the lives of so many people and families.
  What is great about the microcredit program is that it is not a 
handout. It is in fact start-up loans that will be repaid by the 
people. It is basically using precious foreign aid dollars in the best 
possible way that we can spend them.
  Now, what this amendment would do and why I think it makes so much 
sense is it would bring the level of this particular category up to the 
authorized level, as already pointed out, that has been passed by this 
Congress. And I would submit that there is no more cost-effective way 
for us to provide for the self-sufficiency of the people of the world 
and to spread democracy around the world than to do this very thing 
that is being proposed here, all at the same time while we are 
improving the lives of our fellow inhabitants of the world. I think 
that that is something that we can be very, very proud of as we work on 
this this evening.
  So, Mr. Chairman, let me just conclude by saying that, in a time of 
budget constraint like the one that we are in, we have to prioritize. I 
believe we need to give priority to this particular activity. I thank 
the other Members. I appreciate the help that has been expressed on the 
floor.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), who has been an early and strong 
supporter.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Chairman, I also want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, 
the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), particularly for his 
promise, and he has always fulfilled it, in terms of expanding that $15 
million as he can for microenterprise. I want to thank the other 
cosponsors of this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, directly aiding the poorest of the poor, especially 
women in the developing world, has a positive effect not only on family 
incomes but on child nutrition, health, and education. As women in 
particular reinvest income in their families, the poor in the 
developing world, particularly women, turn to self-employment in order 
to generate a substantial portion of their livelihood.
  In Africa over 80 percent of employment is generated in this informal 
sector of the self-employed poor. These poor entrepreneurs are often 
trapped in poverty because they cannot obtain credit at a reasonable 
rate to build their asset base or expand their otherwise viable self-
employment activities.
  We know from experience that microcredit financing helps, that the 
poor are able to expand their incomes and their businesses dramatically 
when they can access loans at reasonable interest rates. Through the 
development of self-sustaining microfinance programs, poor people 
themselves can lead the fight against hunger and poverty. It also 
develops confidence, dignity and self-sufficiency.
  So, again, I thank the chairman in advance for putting this money 
into microenterprise.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Hastings), who has been a tireless supporter of these 
microenterprise loans, a friend from the Committee on Intelligence, as 
well.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank my distinguished 
colleague from Indiana for yielding me the time.
  I particularly rise on this measure for asking the House to support 
it. The Committee on Appropriations, each day that there is an 
appropriation measure, submits a report in explanation. The chairman of 
this subcommittee, my good friend, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Callahan), previously said that he had written the perfect bill.
  Certainly on economic growth and microenterprise, I wish to join in 
suggesting that he is absolutely correct about that part. Let the House 
hear what he said:

[[Page H5945]]

  ``Microenterprise has proven its effectiveness in promoting economic 
growth in many of the poorest countries and allowing poor people, 
especially women, to lift themselves out of poverty and to create and 
expand microbusinesses which raise living standards.

                              {time}  0010

  The committee recognizes that microenterprise cannot lift an entire 
Nation out of poverty. Broad policy reforms and responsible stewardship 
of resources at the national level are essential. But microenterprise 
programs can complement sound macroeconomic policies.
  I say to the gentleman from Alabama, he did write something perfect.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Lowey), who is not only concerned about this issue of 
poverty, but also a strong supporter of education.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for his hard 
work on this issue. He has really been a leader. I want to thank the 
ranking member; I want to thank the chairman, and I particularly want 
to thank the chairman, because we appreciate his commitment to work in 
conference to raise these numbers on this issue, and I know that the 
chairman will succeed, and we will all succeed as a result of his 
important work.
  For those of us who have been watching this process for a long time, 
the success is really extraordinary. To see a woman open a small 
restaurant or buy some chickens and sell their eggs or make bread to 
sell to her neighbors, the small amount of income and the small amount 
of savings that this loan makes possible will pay for a school uniform 
for a daughter who may not otherwise have gone to school in many parts 
of the world; it will pay for doctor visits for her family, nourishing 
food to keep everyone healthy and active. Most important of all, it 
makes her stand tall and be a person and help support her family.
  So I thank the chairman again for his commitment.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Payne), a friend on the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, let me just commend the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Roemer), and the number of cosponsors of this amendment.
  Microeconomics is very important. First of all, it puts women in 
charge because many of these loans go to women. Secondly, when we 
looked at the accounts, interestingly enough, the payment return rate 
is exceedingly high, between 90 and 95 percent of these microeconomic 
loans. It means a lot of empowerment, not only because it brings in 
extra revenue, but it gives women a position in many instances of 
working for women's rights and independence and self-reliance.
  So I think that the money that we are talking about will go a long, 
long way. It will also show as an example by what happens to the women.
  Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment, and I urge its adoption.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, with the 15 seconds I have remaining, I 
want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) for all of 
her hard work and dedication to these issues. I look forward to working 
with her in conference.
  Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), who 
is truly a gentleman, and we look forward to working with him to get 
this $15 million in conference.
  Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Indiana?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to objection, I just 
want to briefly respond to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), 
when he read a portion of my bill and he agreed that that section that 
he read was just like that song that I mentioned earlier in the evening 
that I have written the perfect country song, the same as David Allen 
Coe did when he wrote that song about ``You don't have to call me 
darlin', darlin'. You don't even have to call me by my name.''
  Well, I will tell the gentleman from Florida, he can call me by my 
name as long as he stands up and says those kind things about this 
perfect bill I think I have written.
  Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  The CHAIRMAN. The amendment offered by the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Roemer) is withdrawn.


               Amendment Offered by Mr. Smith of Michigan

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:
  Amendment offered by Mr. Smith of Michigan:

       Page 12, line 8, before the period insert the following: 
     ``: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under 
     this heading, $30,000,000 shall be made available for plant 
     biotechnology research and development''.

  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith) is recognized 
for 5 minutes on his amendment and a Member opposed will be recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that I think is 
tremendously exciting in terms of the potential to help developing 
nations of the world in two areas: food production and health.
  This amendment sets aside $30 million for plant biotechnology 
research and development. Its language reflects language put in the 
Senate bill by Senator Bond of Missouri. It is technology aimed at 
solving the health and humanitarian and environmental challenges, 
particularly in the developing world. Indeed, the fruits of this 
research promise to address some of the most serious challenges faced 
there: hunger, malnutrition, drought, pestilence, and disease. Can we 
imagine if we develop a kind of plant that can now grow in those arid 
soils where food cannot be grown at the present time.
  Since we first cultivated about 10,000 years ago, mankind has 
searched for ways to improve them. Traditional selection and cross-
breeding has been very useful in improving crop plants, but this is a 
time-consuming process that commonly produces unwanted traits that must 
be eliminated. We now have over 1,000 biotech products on the market.
  With the development of biotechnology, plant breeders are now able to 
develop new varieties of plants in a level of precision and range 
unheard of just 2 decades ago. The potential benefits to mankind are 
limited only by the resourcefulness of our scientists. Just today, it 
was announced that genes are the major cause of cancer, breast cancer 
and colon cancer.
  U.S. farmers, of course, have been quick to adopt the plants modified 
by biotechnology, and it is also spreading around the world. But as 
great as the potential of biotechnology here in the United States is, 
it holds even greater promise to solve many intractable problems facing 
farmers and hungry people, consumers in the developing world. Improved 
crop plants promise to mitigate common agricultural problems in much of 
the developing world through weather, pest and drought resistance, 
improved nutrition, and higher yields.
  On April 13, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Basic Research, I 
issued a report on the benefits of safety and oversight of regulation, 
Seeds of Opportunity, a large section of which is devoted to a 
discussion of the potential benefits of this technology in improving 
nutrition, health, and feeding a growing worldwide population.
  A white paper issued just yesterday, a white paper was issued by the 
National Academy of Sciences, joined by the Royal Society of London, 
the Brazilian, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, and Third World Academies of 
Science put the situation plainly, and I quote: ``Today there are some 
800 million people who do not have access to sufficient food to meet 
their needs. Malnutrition plays a significant role in half of the 
nearly 12 million deaths each year of children under 5 in developing 
countries.''

[[Page H5946]]

  Still quoting, ``In addition to lack of food, deficiencies in micro-
nutrients, especially vitamin A, iodine and iron, are widespread.''
  They conclude that agricultural biotechnology research and 
development should be aggressively pursued, and I quote again, ``to 
increase the production of main food staples, improve the efficiency of 
production, reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, and provide 
access to food for people and farmers around the world.''
  Mr. Chairman, let me just conclude. I am excited about this. I think 
agricultural biotechnology and gene technology offer tremendous 
opportunities, only limited by the creativity and funding for research 
dollars.

                              {time}  0020

  It can play a major role in helping developing countries become self-
sufficient in food production.
  One example of its promise is the development of a new strain of 
rice. It is called golden rice. It contains both beta carotene and 
iron, and work is underway to get this new variety to the field.
  The merging of medical and agricultural biotechnology has opened up 
new ways to develop plant varieties with characteristics to enhance 
health.
  It was announced today that this kind of gene research has huge 
potential in the developing world. Researchers are now working on 
developing plants that will develop medicines and edible vaccines 
through common foods that could be used to immunize the kids around the 
world. This is significantly important.


                             Point of Order

  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) insist 
on his point of order?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the 
amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes 
legislation in an appropriation bill, and therefore violates clause 2 
of rule XXI.
  The rule states in pertinent part, ``An amendment to a general 
appropriation bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.''
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. I am excited about this, Mr. Chairman. I would 
ask the chairman if he would consider looking at the Senate language in 
this amendment and consider the potential and the appropriateness of 
moving ahead in this area of doing something in the area of 
biotechnology.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, as the gentleman is aware, the language 
is already in the Senate version of our bill, so we will have to 
address it. We will certainly take the gentleman's views into 
consideration.
  If the gentleman would like to withdraw his amendment, then I will 
withdraw my point of order.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to 
withdraw my amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The CHAIRMAN. The amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Smith) is withdrawn.


                Amendment No. 20 Offered by Mr. Sanders

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:
       Amendment No. 20 offered by Mr. Sanders:
       Page 8, line 10, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $2,500,000)''.
       Page 33, line 6, after the first dollar amount insert 
     ``(decreased by $2,500,000)''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Under the previous order of the House, the gentleman 
from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) will be recognized for 5 minutes and a 
Member opposed will be recognized for 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders).
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.
  Mr. Chairman, this amendment is cosponsored by the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith), the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), and 
the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).
  What this amendment does is increase U.S. AID's development 
assistance account by $2.5 million to provide assistance to indigenous 
and locally-based nongovernmental organizations for the protection and 
reintegration of women and children who are victims of international 
trafficking.
  The committee's bill provides, unfortunately, no funds, zero fund, to 
assist the millions of people, primarily women and children, who are 
trafficked across international borders each year and forced into 
prostitution, sweatshop labor, and domestic servitude.
  The fastest-growing international trafficking business is the trade 
of women, trailing only behind trafficking in drugs and arms.
  According to the U.S. State Department, between 1 and 2 million women 
and girls seeking a better life abroad unexpectedly find themselves in 
brothels, the sweatshop labor industry, or exploitative domestic 
servitude. This tragedy continues to grow as economic globalization 
expands, increasing the movement of people across borders.
  In a world of rich nations and poor nations, these exploitative and 
inhumane practices feed on the poverty and despair of poor women, 
children, and families in the developing world, particularly in 
Southeast Asia and the former Soviet Union.
  Earlier this year, the House passed legislation sponsored by my 
colleague and cosponsor of this amendment, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) highlighting the problem of trafficking in persons 
and authorizing funds to assist victims. These initiatives have 
bipartisan support in the House and Senate and the support of the 
administration, which requested $10 million in assistance for 
trafficking victims.
  Unfortunately, this legislation does not provide any funds to deal 
with this tragedy. The $2.5 million for this vitally important 
assistance comes from the international military education and training 
IMET account by reducing the amount in the bill for this program by 
$2.5 million which level-funds IMET.
  I should add that IMET has seen a 100 percent increase in the last 5 
years. In other words, Mr. Chairman, we are level-funding a program 
that has increased by 100 percent in 5 years in order to provide a 
small amount of funding to an area which is in dire need of these 
funds.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) seek to 
control time in opposition?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Alabama is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment, but not with the 
intent of the amendment. I agree, first of all, with the intent of the 
amendment, but in our bill already we provide significant resources to 
help prevent trafficking in women and children.
  In recent years we have supported AID programs designed to end 
trafficking. In Asia, for example, funds are already contained in this 
bill. We will continue to support the following programs with anti-
trafficking components: One, AID's South Asia Regional Initiative; two, 
AID's Regional Women's Initiative; three, AID's South Asian Democracy 
Program. AID is undertaking similar programs in Africa and Latin 
America to fight trafficking of women.
  I assure the gentleman that the Committee on Appropriations will 
continue to support these anti-trafficking programs. I had hoped that 
we would be able to resolve this issue with a colloquy, since we have 
already increased development assistance by $30 million over the fiscal 
year 2000 appropriation.
  There are sufficient funds, I believe, to address the concerns the 
gentleman has raised. I see really no reason for the amendment, because 
I think we are taking care of the gentleman's concerns anyway. I would 
like him not to try to reconstruct the bill to make a point, which is 
exactly what he would be doing, when we have already agreed.
  I would also, even though I will not be chairman next year, I would 
have appreciated this year if the gentleman had contacted me a little 
earlier, like probably 300 Members of the House did, and we tried to 
facilitate everyone who contacted us earlier with their concerns. I am 
sure we could have had sufficient language in here to do what the 
gentleman is doing by reconstructing our bill.
  Mr. Chairman, I would appreciate the gentleman withdrawing his 
amendment if he possibly could consider that, and we will be happy to 
work to further

[[Page H5947]]

complement the language and instructions we already have in the bill 
where a sufficient amount of money is already designated.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding that the amendment 
being offered by the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) specifically 
addresses a program which funds local indigenous nongovernmental 
organizations to engage in this protection for women.
  Can the chairman tell me specifically, and please forgive me for not 
knowing this, if what U.S. AID is doing has that component to its 
initiative to stop trafficking of women?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, in the amendment that the gentleman 
offered, or as we have, I do not see that.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. I yield to the gentleman from Vermont.
  Mr. SANDERS. The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) is correct 
in interpreting the intent of the amendment, Mr. Chairman.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. I will be happy to work with the gentleman, but I do 
not think we ought to restructure the bill for any reason. I have 
opposed it all night long and I oppose it now.
  I find it strange that we are debating an issue that we have already 
expressed our total support of in the bill, and provided sufficient 
amounts of monies.
  Let me just once again say that we are talking about amendment No. 
20. Are we talking about amendment No. 20?
  Mr. SANDERS. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. There is no indication in the language I have here that 
it does what the gentleman says it does.
  Mr. SANDERS. It increases U.S. AID's development assistance account 
by $2.5 million to provide assistance to indigenous and locally-based 
NGOs.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. It does not say that. The amendment I have just simply 
says it increases it by $2.5 million and decreases an account by $2.5 
million. It is not specific in the amendment that I have here.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith).

                              {time}  0030

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend, the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) for yielding to me, and just let 
me say I am very much supportive of this language and the intent. The 
$2.5 million is really a small amount of money, and it does highlight 
an often neglected part of this whole trafficking problem and tragedy 
that we face, and that is, that the locally based indigenous 
organizations like Miramad in Russia or LaStrada in the Ukraine do not 
get much funding if they get funding at all, and they are in the front 
line when women are either trafficked out of the country and they are 
intercepted in some way, often through some good law enforcement, or 
when they are returned after being abused.
  In order to break the cycle, these NGOs are right there providing 
treatment, providing psychological counseling and rescuing women.
  The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) 
has now expired.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word and ask 
the Clerk to read the amendment, because the amendment as I understand 
it, it says on page 8, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert 
increase by $2.5 million. Then it says on line 6, after the first 
dollar insert decrease by $2.5 million. Technically, the money that we 
transfer could be used by anything. It could be used for population. It 
could be used for anything.
  The amendment does not specifically say what the gentleman is 
expressing, and I would ask the Clerk to read the amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the Clerk will report the amendment.
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment No. 20 offered by Mr. Sanders:
       Page 8, line 10, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $2,500,000)''.
       Page 33, line 6, after the first dollar amount insert 
     ``(decreased by $2,500,000)''.

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I would say to the 
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) I think that the amendment says 
what I am telling the gentleman. It does not transfer the money to the 
program of trafficking that the gentleman is concerned about.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. I yield to the gentleman from Vermont.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is technically correct, what 
it does do is take $2.5 million from IMET and transfer it and increases 
funds for USAID's development assistance account. Clearly the intent of 
everything that I am speaking about is to use that $2.5 million to go 
to NGOs to combat the trafficking crisis which exists, but the 
gentleman is technically correct.
  Is the gentleman supportive of what we are trying to do?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Reclaiming my time, yes, I am, and that is why I was 
trying to express, I will be happy to work with the gentleman to try to 
get the money. I would not like to reconstruct my bill at this time in 
order to give an additional $2.5 million to the agency, but I will be 
happy to work with the gentleman to try to get that, if the gentleman 
reads the language we already have it in the report or in the bill.
  It is a very lengthy report, which says almost what the gentleman is 
saying, whereby we are instructing them to do that. So I would think 
that there would be no need for this. But to answer the gentleman's 
question, yes, I will be happy to work with the gentleman to try to 
facilitate your goal.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, I concur with the gentleman from Alabama 
(Chairman Callahan) and ask the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) to 
withdraw the amendment and work with the Committee on Appropriations. 
We certainly feel that the gentleman's goal is meritorious, and we will 
try to resolve this matter and come to some agreement on its merits. So 
I would urge the gentleman if he would consider withdrawing the 
amendment at this time.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. I yield to the gentleman from Vermont.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, the issue here is I know that we all agree 
on the crisis and we all want to do something about it. My concern is 
that at least $2.5 million go to indigenous NGOs.
  Mr. Chairman, is the gentleman saying that he is prepared to try to 
find money to do that?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Reclaiming my time, I will be happy to attempt to 
ensure to the gentleman that that language will be put in during the 
process, but it shall not be taken out of the IMET training money that 
he has suggested.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. I yield to the gentleman from Vermont, unless the 
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) wants to respond to mine or the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) can use the 2 minutes, I will 
be happy to yield.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, if what I am hearing the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Callahan) say is that he is prepared to put $2.5 million 
from a source that he will determine into indigenous NGOs to combat 
trafficking.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Reclaiming my time, that is correct that we will do it. 
We will readjust the figures of the existing appropriation levels to 
spell out what the gentleman is seeking to do. Whether or not we get 
additional allocations or not, we can still do it, but I do not agree 
that we should take it out of the IMET training program.
  Mr. SANDERS. If the gentleman will continue to yield, at the end of 
the day there will be $2.5 million going to local NGOs to combat that?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. That would be my serious attempt if I can get the 
Senate to agree.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Vermont has 2\3/4\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Pelosi).

[[Page H5948]]

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I say to the gentleman from Vermont, no, I 
will just get time.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Vermont should use the balance of 
his time.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I want to exercise the same privilege as 
the distinguished chairman did as is spelled out in the unanimous 
consent request.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentlewoman is correct; although, the Chair would 
tell the gentlewoman that if she would like to at this point, the Chair 
will permit her, although it is really inappropriate to do so while an 
amendment is pending.
  The Chair was attempting to facilitate a conversation, and the Chair 
will not make that mistake again.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thought it was in keeping with the 
unanimous consent request, but I will tell you what, Mr. Chairman, 
heeding what the gentleman is saying there, I will not use the full 5 
minutes.
  Mr. Chairman, I just want a clarification because I do not know what 
options are available to us. Certainly if this bill goes to conference, 
and one never knows around here, if the bill goes to conference, I 
would certainly and I know the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), 
the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick) and others Members of 
the subcommittee would have this as a very high priority, and I know 
the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) can get her own time to 
speak on this, but I just wanted to know what options were available. 
Can we be specific in conference? Are we talking about very specific 
report language?
  I think this conversation is very important on the floor to talk 
about the legislative intent, because this is a very important issue, 
and I really do not have enough time, even if I use my full 5 minutes 
to tell you how much it means to women.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. PELOSI. I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, it is my intention to assure the 
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) that I am going to make every 
effort I can to ensure that the money is spelled out in the bill. I 
think the intent is clearly spelled out sufficiently for them to spend 
the money anyway, but if the gentleman is concerned that it is not, 
well then we will insert the figure $2.5 million or whatever the number 
is.
  Ms. PELOSI. Reclaiming my time, I look forward to supporting the 
gentleman in that effort.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey).
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, just briefly the hour is late, I want to 
thank again my ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Pelosi), my colleague, the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) and our 
chairman, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) for the commitment 
to put money into this effort.
  Having recently returned from India, visiting a school where we spoke 
with the young girls who had been trafficked, the tragedy of this 
throughout the world is so immense and I know the gentleman from 
Alabama is aware of it and I appreciate the gentleman's commitment to 
invest the money in this effort, and I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. If the gentlewoman would further yield, I do not know 
how many times I can say yes, maybe if I talked a little slower.
  Mr. SANDERS. I am hearing a yes, Y-E-S; is that correct?
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I will be very brief since I 
think we have come to the conclusion, but just to remind the body and I 
think it is important that this House on May 9th did pass the 
comprehensive legislation that would impose very, very tough new 
criminal penalties, up to life in imprisonment on those who traffic 
people into the United States or any part of that process and also to 
prevent automatic deportation, a protection for the women so that they 
can be helped while they are here. Eventually many of these women will 
get back to their country or at least some of them, I will not say 
many, and they will need protection when they get back, and that is 
what I think the gentleman's amendment and my amendment seeks to do.
  We had authorized in that legislation $10 million for victims, and 
this is a modest down payment on that authorization. So I thank the 
gentleman from Alabama (Chairman Callahan) and I think his word is his 
bond and I think we are off to a good start here.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would just conclude by thanking the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Callahan) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) and the gentlewoman from New 
York (Mrs. Lowey) and everybody else.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. SANDERS. I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I thought the purpose of this discussion 
was to withdraw the amendment.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, if that is the purpose 
of it, then I will withdraw the amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment. As 
long as the gentleman says yes, I will withdraw the amendment.

                              {time}  0040

  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) is withdrawn.
  There was no objection.
  The CHAIRMAN. Are there further amendments to this section of the 
bill?


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Payne

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Payne:
       Page 12, line 8, insert before the period the following: 
     ``: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under 
     this heading, not less than $720,000,000 shall be made 
     available to carry out chapter 10 of part I of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Under the previous order of the House, the gentleman 
from New Jersey and a Member opposed each will control 15 minutes.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the 
gentleman's amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Alabama reserves a point of order on 
the amendment.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise to request that the important Development 
Assistance Fund, which is a fund that much of the appropriations for 
development assistance around the world is a very important instrument 
for development in Africa.
  The House has taken a step backwards by eliminating the earmark for 
the Development Fund for Africa which was in legislation up until 1994. 
But we are not asking for the earmark to be replaced since it was 
removed. But we are asking that $220 million be added into the 
Development Assistance Fund, which would fall under the Development 
Assistance Fund for Africa, the DFA, although we are not asking for the 
earmark.
  Now, what I am saying is simply that, during the 1990s, 1993 and 
1994, when the development from the DFA was designated, we actually 
appropriated $850 million in 1994, $804 million in 1993. So we had a 
continued increase in the Development Fund for Africa.
  The 1998 level was $700 million. In 1999, it was approximately $700 
million. This year, it has dropped to approximately $500 million. So we 
are asking that $220 million be allocated within the Development 
Assistance to be earmarked for Africa.
  It seems, as we have been talking about all of the problems in 
Africa, we have been talking about the AIDS pandemic, we have been 
talking about the need for loan forgiveness, it seems like it is a move 
in the wrong direction to reduce the Development Fund for Africa, the 
monies that are designated, although not earmarked, because these funds 
go to assist in famine prevention. They go in to helping dialogue in 
countries to ward off ethnic strife. They go into many very, very 
important issues that help to make stable countries in Africa.

[[Page H5949]]

  I might mention that, during the last decade, about 85 to 90 percent 
of the nations in Africa have gone under democratization. We have had 
elections in practically every country. Many people have the 
misconception that there are dictators still in Africa, but that was in 
the past. We have had elections in Mozambique and in South Africa. We 
have had elections in Namibia and Kenya. We have had elections in 
Senegal. We can go on and on and on. So there is no longer these 
dictators who speak with the one voice.
  I have talked earlier about the fact that we did have that problem in 
the past during the Cold War where we created Mobutu, when we went and 
destabilized Patrice Lumumba and took him out of office with our United 
States intelligence operation, and put in Mobutu, who of course 
supported the South African apartheid government of P.W. Botha. He 
supported Ian Smith in Rhodesia who had the same sort of government. He 
supported the Southwest Africa, which did the same thing.
  This was a Mobutu that we put in because of the fact that it was 
during the Cold War. We can go on and on in Africa. But there have been 
elections in most countries. We are looking for elections in the former 
Zaire, the Democrat Republic of Congo in the future. We have seen 
elections in most other countries.
  So it seems to me that, in order to alleviate poverty, which is of 
course one of the great problems in Africa, in order to look at the 
amount of funds that go into Africa, the population of Africa is about 
700 million people, we are talking about 500 million, less than a 
dollar a person in Africa where we have seen other places around the 
world with much smaller populations getting billions of dollars.
  So it seems to me that, in order for us to look at Africa, 16 of the 
18 of the poorest countries in the world are there. While we are 
reducing the amount of funds available, as I have indicated, it is 
going against what we should been doing in this new millennium. It is 
really not supporting new presidents who have been elected and are 
going through structural adjustments like in Mozambique where they have 
had a growth in their GDP of about 10 percent annually.
  As a matter of fact, these countries, different from what people 
believe, that in the SADC countries, which are 14 countries in South 
Africa, each of these countries has had an increase in their GDP from 4 
to 12 percent. Even the country of Botswana has had a balanced budget 
and has put more money in at the end of the day than it has spent.
  So my appeal is that we increase the Development Fund for Africa to 
put it to the levels that it was 5, 6 and 7 years ago rather than to 
remove and have the money used for other parts of the world.
  So, Mr. Chairman, I urge that this amendment be accepted.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) wish to 
make his point of order?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Not at this point, Mr. Chairman. I reserve the point of 
order.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) claim 
the time in opposition to the amendment?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, as I have indicated, the Development Fund for Africa, 
which is the prime fund, USAID, elections, funds for democracy, 
building, funds for IRI, International Republican Institute, NDI, the 
National Democratic Institute, organizations which promote the various 
types of democratic building programs in the world, in Africa, are the 
main part of the main ingredients of why this development fund is so 
important. It goes to stability.
  We have gone in and said democracy is what we should be doing. Most 
of the countries have actually said we want to try democracy. There has 
been elections also in Tanzania and elections in Uganda and elections 
in Kenya. All of them improved over their previous elections. So they 
are striving to a more perfect election process.
  At this time, for us to reduce the amount of funds that are available 
in the DFA I think is a step backwards.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Meeks).

                              {time}  0050

  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Chairman, in this day and age, when we 
look at the global economy and we look at how this Nation has developed 
and other nations, and yet we look at the continent of Africa and see 
how underdeveloped they are; and also in this day and age, when we 
realize how much smaller the world has become, I think it becomes that 
much more urgent that we increase the Development Fund for Africa by 
the $220 million that is requested by the Payne amendment.
  Once upon a time there was a line item initiative for the Africa 
development fund. That no longer exists. And when we look at how the 
cost of things are ever escalating, this request is actually very 
little. We talk about democracy and helping to democratize various 
countries in the continent of Africa. That is what this money is for, 
helping people have a form of government where they can grow and 
develop as we did.
  We should be able to have others benefit from our history and 
understand the mistakes that we made in the past so that they will not 
have to go through some of the same growing pains that we did. In fact, 
in this great country, with the prosperity that we now have, I think it 
is just the very little that we could do, this $220 million. That is 
not a lot of money when I think about some of the individual wealth of 
some people in this country. Some CEOs in this country have $220 
million to use at their disposal. We are talking about $220 million for 
an entire continent of people. That is just pennies. Pennies. Yet what 
good, what human good it will do for the people of the continent of 
Africa.
  USAID is the money that is entitled here. Democratic initiatives. A 
lot of the things that I hear sometimes sound like excuses not to do 
something. When we were talking earlier in regards to debt relief, 
there was the excuse that was constantly being made that we cannot do 
it because this was wrong with this country or this was wrong with that 
country. And many of the things they talked about that was wrong with 
them, well, that is what we fix in this bill.
  So it is about us being serious about making a difference. It is 
about our wanting to reach out a helping hand in a world that is ever 
shrinking. I do believe we are our brothers' keepers. We are our 
brothers' keepers. And I think if we want peace and prosperity, that by 
doing this we will not have to worry about spending $60 billion for a 
bubble sometime in the future because we are afraid of suffering some 
kind of attack. I think we need to begin to do the kinds of things that 
will make us accepted by others and others accepted by us because we 
are working collectively together for humanitarian concerns and 
reasons.
  I think that we can do this. I think that it is a reasonable thing, 
and I support the gentleman's amendment.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and wish to close by indicating that we feel that we have seen recent 
success with elections in Senegal; we have seen elections in Nigeria; 
we have seen current elections in Mozambique. We have seen successes.
  As I indicated, we had $800 million in 1993, and 1994 $850 million, 
and now we have reduced the allocations of DFA down to $500 million. It 
is really a step backwards. It is unconscionable. It really does not 
keep up with what is going on. It is unbelievable to try to understand 
why this is.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I want to thank him for his great leadership when it comes to 
the continent of Africa. He is a tremendous resource to this Congress 
on this subject. He knows of what he speaks. And he is correct, we do 
not do enough in the African Development Fund. We must do more, and I 
am pleased to support his amendment.
  We need more money in the bill, though, in order to do this so that 
we

[[Page H5950]]

do not damage other initiatives that we want for Africa as well. So in 
that spirit I am pleased to support the amendment and commend the 
gentleman for his leadership.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time and 
simply say that I would hope that that last statement from the 
gentlewoman from California, in a time when we have escalating profits, 
when we have people who are making billions and millions of dollars, 
the number of millionaires they do not even keep any more, I hope her 
statement would indicate for my colleagues that it is the wrong time 
for us to turn our backs when we take 100 million here and 200 million 
there. We can afford it. We can do better. God has blessed this Nation, 
we should not turn our back on him.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I still reserve my point of order, and will insist on 
it in just a moment, but just in response to the gentleman, every year 
the President requests a separate fund for the development of Africa 
and every year this committee combines Africa into the development 
assistance and child survival accounts.
  It is not that we are neglecting Africa. Indeed, if we total up 
overall everything that we have included this year, we recommend $1.6 
billion for Africa. So this is not any omission of recognition of the 
needs of Africa. We do it. We do not, nor did my predecessor on this 
subcommittee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), earmark funds 
for countries or regions. We do not have a special regional account for 
Latin America or for Asia either.
  I think that we have made it fairly clear to the administration that 
it is our intent that a minimum amount of $1.6 billion be spent.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a point of order 
that this is an unauthorized earmark. I make that point of order 
against the amendment, and I ask for a ruling of the Chair.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) wish to 
be heard on the point of order?
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I understand what the gentleman has said, 
although it appears I was not asking for a line item.
  I am just simply indicating that we are not asking to specifically 
earmark by line item, but in the allocation of the funds that were in 
the development assistance fund it was always understood that we would 
have a floor of $700 million to $800 million. It is my understanding 
that, with the way the funds are being allocated now, the floor has 
dropped.
  So I have not asked for a specific line item for DFA. I am simply 
asking that in the development fund, that funds for Africa that will be 
allocated and that we attempt to stay at least where we were in the 
past. That is all I am requesting.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Chair is prepared to rule. The amendment proposes 
to earmark certain funds in the bill. Under clause 2(a) of rule XXI, 
such an earmarking must be specifically authorized by law. The burden 
of establishing the authorization in law rests with the proponent of 
the amendment.
  Finding that this burden has not been carried, the Chair must sustain 
the point of order.
  Are there further amendments to this section of the bill?

                              {time}  0100


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Payne

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Payne:
       Page 12, line 8, insert before the period the following: 
     ``: Provided further, That of the amounts appropriated under 
     this heading, $500,000 shall be made available for a grant to 
     the Office of the Facilitator of the National Dialogue for 
     the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo''.
       Strike section 567 of the bill (page 109, strike line 7 and 
     all that follows through line 11).

  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) seek 
unanimous consent for that portion of the amendment which seeks to move 
ahead and strike section 567 of the bill?
  Mr. PAYNE. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
New Jersey?
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman may reserve a point of order. Is there 
objection to that portion of the amendment that reaches ahead to the 
point where the Clerk has not yet read?
  There was no objection.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) reserves a 
point of order on the amendment.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, the amendment that I have offered is an amendment that 
would provide assistance to the people of southern Sudan. At this time 
we have seen in Sudan a government from Khartoum that is a pariah 
government, the government of al-Bahsir and Mr. Tarrabi, a government 
that had wreaked havoc on the people to the south. And the group of the 
South Sudanese Liberation Movement have been struggling for years 
attempting to protect the people in the south.
  The people in the south are taken into slavery and they are sold. It 
is unconscionable what is going on there. We have seen old Russian 
planes used to bomb stable communities in the south. And so we are 
asking that the administration give authority to provide non-lethal and 
non-food assistance to the National Democratic Alliance, which is a 
group of organizations in the south of Sudan in order to provide 
protection to the civilians who are targeted by government soldiers and 
by their militias, their allies, the persons who are doing aerial 
bombing and forcing displacement of people and taking people into 
slavery.
  We are finally starting to see a groundswell in the country of people 
talking about the fact that we can no longer look the other way at what 
is happening in Sudan. It is disgraceful. It is something that we can 
no longer tolerate. We have to give assistance to folks in that 
particular area so that they can at least move forward in attempting to 
provide protection to the people.
  As I have indicated, we are talking about non-lethal, non-food but 
ways that the folks in that area can be assisted by the National 
Democratic Alliance.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, point of inquiry.
  The gentleman, as I understand it, read one amendment, and he is 
talking about another amendment.
  Mr. PAYNE. Yes, Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is absolutely right. The 
gentleman is correct.
  We will ask the Chairman if we could, then, move to the one that is 
in this section. Mr. Chairman, if we could ask the Clerk to read the 
amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the Clerk will report the amendment 
which is pending.
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment Offered by Mr. Payne:
       Page 12, line 8, insert before the period the following: 
     ``: Provided further, That of the amounts appropriated under 
     this heading, $500,000 shall be made available for a grant to 
     the Office of the Facilitator of the National Dialogue for 
     the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo''.
       Strike section 567 of the bill (page 109, strike line 7 and 
     all that follows through line 11).

  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) continues to 
reserve a point of order.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, this also is an amendment dealing with the problems on 
the Continent. This is asking for $500,000 to be allocated to the 
assistance for the national dialogue, which is the Lusaka Accords. The 
Lusaka Accords are the accords that will end the strife in the Congo.
  As my colleagues know, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, under the 
leadership of President Kabila, there has been an armed conflict 
bringing in five foreign countries to the soil of the Congo: President 
Mugabi in Zimbabwe, President Sam Nujoma from Namibia. We have the 
country of Rwanda, the country of Uganda, Mr. Museveni, Mr. Mugambi 
from Rwanda and from Angola, Mr. De Santos, are all in a conflict in 
the Congo.
  What this request is that the former president of the country of 
Botswana,

[[Page H5951]]

who has been designated by the OAU, the Organization of African Unity, 
to have a dialogue with the people of the Congo to come up with a 
mechanism for elections so that the people there could have elections 
and that it would facilitate the removal of foreign troops from the 
Congo, the troops from Rwanda and Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Angola.
  And so this $500,000 is very key because it will give the funds that 
they need to do the dialogue with the Lasaca Accords.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I insist on my point of order. This is an 
unauthorized earmark.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman wish to be heard on the point of 
order?
  Mr. PAYNE. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
  Although the importance of this matter in this dialogue I believe 
sort of ought to be considered, the fact that we are making the request 
I assume would be considered an earmark. I think that the importance of 
it is so great I would hope that there would be some opportunity within 
the committee for some discussion on this matter. Because with six 
countries at war and we are talking $500,000 that could possibly have 
the withdraw of these countries because of the dialogue within the 
country I think would, hopefully, be able to work it in some way in 
some language so that it does not violate the question of being an 
earmark.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does any other Member wish to speak on the point of 
order?
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak on the point of order.
  Mr. Chairman, this will not take long. I think it has been said that 
this was an unauthorized expenditure. And I am not sure exactly what is 
meant by that except to say that the request that has been made by the 
gentleman is formally before this House without it having to be 
designated as authorized as such.
  This is extremely important that he is given the opportunity to have 
this considered simply because he has spoken and others have spoken 
about what is going on on the Continent, the need to have more 
democracy, the need not to have dictatorships, the need to make sure 
that the dollars that we are trying to get in debt relief is spent in a 
wise fashion.
  Well, this would help that process. We have countries that have so 
much potential, but they need to be assisted in their efforts to 
maintain the peace.

                              {time}  0110

  We have Angola that has been involved for many years and we have done 
nothing to assist them. We have supported Zabimbi who is up in the bush 
rather than giving support to someone who is trying to carry out 
democracy in Angola. We have new leadership in the Congo with no 
assistance to Kabila about how to resolve the differences between the 
Hutus and the Tutsis.
  So I would ask that this be made in order and that the gentleman be 
allowed to offer this amendment.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I might say once again, I support what 
the gentleman wants to do. His amendment earmarks funds within the 
development assistance account.
  Earlier this year, USAID asked me to agree to provide $1 million to 
support the problem in the Congo. I agreed to support this program, 
which is also supported by the Catholic Church. So USAID has already 
indicated and pledged $1 million towards this anyway. What the 
gentleman's amendment would do is earmark $50 million.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Chair is prepared to rule on the point of order.
  The amendment proposes to earmark certain funds in the bill.
  Under clause 2(a) of Rule XXI, such an earmarking must be 
specifically authorized by law. The burden of establishing the 
authorization in law rests with the proponent of the amendment. No 
provision of law has been cited.
  Finding that this burden has not been carried, the Chair must sustain 
the point of order against the amendment.
  Are there further amendments to this section of the bill?
  If not, the Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:


                                lebanon

       Of the funds appropriated under the headings ``Development 
     Assistance'' and ``Economic Support Fund'', not less than 
     $18,000,000 should be made available for Lebanon to be used, 
     among other programs, for scholarships and direct support of 
     the American educational institutions in Lebanon.


                  private and voluntary organizations

       None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
     by this Act for development assistance may be made available 
     to any United States private and voluntary organization, 
     except any cooperative development organization, which 
     obtains less than 20 percent of its total annual funding for 
     international activities from sources other than the United 
     States Government: Provided, That the Administrator of the 
     Agency for International Development, after notification to 
     the Committees on Appropriations, may, on a case-by-case 
     basis, waive the restriction contained in this paragraph, 
     after taking into account the effectiveness of the overseas 
     development activities of the organization, its level of 
     volunteer support, its financial viability and stability, and 
     the degree of its dependence for its financial support on the 
     agency.
       Funds appropriated or otherwise made available under title 
     II of this Act should be made available to private and 
     voluntary organizations at a level which is at least 
     equivalent to the level provided in fiscal year 1995.


                   international disaster assistance

       For necessary expenses for international disaster relief, 
     rehabilitation, and reconstruction assistance pursuant to 
     section 491 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as 
     amended, $165,000,000, to remain available until expended.


             Amendment Offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas

  Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas:
       In title II of the bill under the heading ``BILATERAL 
     ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE-Funds Appropriated to the President-
     international disaster assistance'', after the first dollar 
     amount insert ``(decreased by $10,000,000)''.
       In title III of the bill under the heading ``MILITARY 
     ASSISTANCE-Funds Appropriated to the President-peacekeeping 
     operations'', after the first dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Under the previous order of the House, the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) will be recognized for 5 minutes and a 
Member opposed will be recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) reserves a 
point of order against the amendment.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, my first order of business is to thank the ranking 
member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) and the gentleman 
from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) for their generosity and kindness in 
recognizing how vital these issues are to so many of us.
  Just about a couple of weeks ago on the Commerce, State, Justice 
Appropriations bill, I tried there to reconcile, if you will, what I 
thought was a terrible direction in limiting the President's 
opportunity to join in peacekeeping efforts and to fund peacekeeping 
efforts around the world by way of the restriction on the funding 
requiring congressional intervention.
  This amendment would restore monies that have been taken from the 
peacekeeping efforts. The bill appropriates $118 million for voluntary 
contributions for international peacekeeping operations, including 
those in the Sinai and Cyprus, $16 million, 12 percent less than the 
request; and $35 million, 12 percent less than the current level.
  What my amendment does is add $10 million to this very vital effort.
  Mr. Chairman, let me speak to this whole idea of peacekeeping. As we 
stand here in the early morning hours of July 13, 2000, all of us are 
prayerful and grateful that there are peace negotiations going on 
regarding the Middle East. Well, then, I would say, Mr. Chairman, that 
our responsibilities on peace, as I have indicated on coming to the 
floor of the House, is a burden that America accepts as one of the most 
powerful or the most powerful democratic Nation in the world; in fact, 
the most powerful Nation in the world.
  As we look to the continent of Africa with such promise, having 
passed the African Growth and Opportunity Act,

[[Page H5952]]

fighting for survival for those who are infected with HIV/AIDS, we 
cannot avoid looking at the need for peace. In fact, we find in the 
passage of the legislation, and the foreign policy has specifically 
limited the funding for peacekeeping missions in Ethiopia, Eritrea, 
Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and the 
Western Saharan region.
  Mr. Chairman, this is a tragedy. Just coming back from the United 
Nations last week, and we joined with several Members of this body, 
along with a number of ambassadors, many of them from the continent of 
Africa, where we joined together that we would stop the abuse and use 
of children in war, stop using children in prostitution and 
pornography. That was a great step of collaboration, but yet, America 
cannot join its allies in fighting for peace. In Sierra Leone as a very 
prime example, Mr. Chairman, let me cite for my colleagues, ``the line 
of youth swelled with other abductees as the rebels took the boys, told 
the boys their hands would be cut off and sent back to the democratic 
president of Sierra Leone.''
  Another story, Mr. Chairman, talking about the Jordanian soldiers who 
arrived in Sierra Leone fresh in this beleaguered peacekeeping effort, 
and I realize that we have not had good things to say about those 
peacekeeping efforts, but yet that president is trying. As he paid 
homage to 19 people killed during the recent demonstration, he was 
still trying to encourage the 10,000 people who, without fear, gathered 
to rally around to support him that we can have peace in Sierra Leone.
  The only way we are going to have peace is if we have the kind of 
resources in America to be able to give our fair share to the United 
Nations peacekeeping efforts. We did it in Kosovo, and many people came 
on this floor and laughed about Kosovo. They believed we could not have 
peace there, and yes, it is a shaky peace. But with the United Nations 
and our air war effort, we have a stabilized peace in Kosovo and in the 
Bosnian area.
  Can we do less on the continent of Africa? Can we do less for the 
Congo? Can we do less for Angola? Can we do less in Eritrea and 
Ethiopia? The chairman knows that he worked with me just a few years 
ago to challenge Ethiopia to improve its human rights situation, and 
yet, here we are today causing the effort to be diminished by not 
providing them with peacekeeping funds.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 4811, the 
Foreign Appropriations bill. We must re-establish our nation's 
unwavering commitment to the world's International Peacekeeping 
efforts, which are designed to bring peace and order in times of strife 
and chaos.
  This amendment that would increase funding an amount of $10 million 
for peacekeeping activities in H.R. 4811, the Foreign Operations 
appropriation measure.
  The bill appropriates $118 million for voluntary contributions for 
international peacekeeping operations, including those in the Sinai and 
Cyprus, $16 million (12%) less than requested and $35 million (12%) 
less than the current level.
  As the world's sole super power we must not concede that any part of 
it is outside of our interest as a nation. What happens in other 
countries does affect our nation. If only one lesson can be gained by 
our nation's experience during World War II, it is that ignoring an 
international problem does not make it go away.
  Prior to the Congressional recess for the Fourth of July Break this 
body made an attempt to negate our nations full range of options in 
implementing foreign policy by specifically limiting the provision of 
funding for peacekeeping missions in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sierra Leone, 
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and the Western Saharan 
region.
  Should that kind of thinking become standard foreign policy for our 
nation the foes of the United States can just wait until we declare 
some territory off limits and then relocate their operation to that 
location and then they could freely use that territory to project their 
terror to our shoes at will.
  It has been said often enough by those who are more versed in 
national security than most of this body because of their positions on 
National Security related committees that the one thing no nation 
should do is say what they will not do. It is better to keep opponents 
guessing about what we will or will not do regarding the protection of 
our people and national interest abroad.
  Specifically, the amendment increases the President-Peacekeeping 
Operations funding amount currently in this bill by $10 million. This 
represents critical funding for United Nations peacekeepers that we 
must take seriously.

  As we all know, a serious issue facing the United Nations, the United 
States, and Congress concerning United Nations peacekeeping is the 
extent to which the United Nations has the capacity to restore or keep 
the peace in the changing world environment. We need a reliable source 
of funding and other resources for peacekeeping and improved 
efficiencies of operation.
  We need peacekeeping funds in order to promote our own best interest 
globally. These are not peripheral concerns for countries trying to 
establish the rule of law. The instability and fragile peace in 
countries like Bosnia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Sudan, and Haiti cannot 
be ignored. United Nations peacekeeping operations carry out vital 
functions. They are historically known for their impartiality, 
integrity, and courageousness.
  We need to support democratic institutions in a consistent and 
meaningful manner. Proposals for strengthening U.N. peacekeeping and 
other aspects of U.N. peace and security capacities have been adopted 
in the United Nations, by the Clinton Administration, and by the 
Congress. Moreover, most authorities have agreed that if the United 
Nations is to be responsive to post-Cold War challenges, both U.N. 
members and the appropriate U.N. organs will have to continue to 
improve U.N. structures and procedures in the peace and security area.
  Peacekeeping forces are also critical to ensure that ports remain 
easily assessable for relief operations, that peaceful operations of 
civil authority is allowed to re-establish rule by law, and provide 
order and stability during times of crisis. Some say that there may not 
be a famine in the Horn of Africa. But we really do not know. We do 
know that the situation of food insecurity is so bad that conditions 
are approaching the desperate situation that occurred in 1984, when the 
people of that nation did experience a famine.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment so that 
we can restore peace and security in Africa. These problems are 
intertwined and the peacekeeping missions in Africa deserve our strong 
support.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), 
the distinguished ranking member of the Subcommittee on International 
Relations on Africa.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentlewoman from Texas for 
this amendment.
  Peacekeeping is where it is. We have seen that by delaying the number 
of peacekeepers that go into a country because of the lack of funds, we 
find that they go in unprepared. I think in Sierra Leone we saw that 
happen. We cannot send people in that are not prepared.
  Mr. Chairman, I support the gentlewoman's amendment.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the 
amendment because it would increase the level of outlays in the bill in 
violation of clause 2(f) of Rule XXI. This rule states that ``it shall 
be in order to consider en bloc amendments proposing only to transfer 
appropriations among objects in the bill without increasing the levels 
of budget authority or outlays in the bill. The amendment would 
increase the level of outlays in the bill.''
  It increases the outlays by $4 million.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentlewoman from Texas wish to be heard 
briefly on the point of order?
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I certainly do. I appreciate 
the procedural reference that has been made by the distinguished 
chairperson of this committee. But as was indicated in earlier 
discussions, might I say that the context of this appropriations bill 
deals with our foreign policy.
  My understanding is that my amendment is germane to the point that it 
deals with increasing funding levels for peacekeeping that is denoted 
in this appropriations bill. I am understanding of the reference that 
the chairman is making, but I believe that because it deals with what 
this appropriations bill deals with, which is foreign policy and 
peacekeeping, that I am germane and within the context of such.
  Mr. Chairman, I would care to, if I am able to yield to the chairman, 
who I understand is coming back to the floor, but let me just say this, 
that we are suffering in our standing as a world power, being able to 
carry the kind of leverage to encourage others to promote peace.

[[Page H5953]]

                              {time}  0120

  We cannot do it if we diminish the funding and if we hold these 
various amendments nongermane or out of order when we are suffering all 
over this world. I would ask that the amendment be considered as in 
order.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) seek to 
be heard briefly on the point of order?
  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. I do, Mr. Chairman.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, let me just say that when we say this is 
nongermane, it makes it appear as though the question of peacekeeping 
has never been raised. We have been talking about peacekeeping. We even 
had $2.7 billion removed from the bill about peacekeeping, so we are 
simply saying that it seems to me that the ruling of the Chair that 
this is not germane when peacekeeping has actually been part of the 
appropriations process, it is to a large degree what we have been 
talking about.
  We have been talking about it for Ethiopia and Eritrea, for the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are talking about peacekeepers 
possibly in Angola. We are talking about peacekeepers now, after the 
diplomats have made the Lome accord that says this is the outline for 
peace in the region, when we had the Lusaka accord that says, this is 
what the diplomats have done for the Congo, now we need to bring the 
peacekeepers in to preserve the peace; the Lome accords for the peace 
in Sierra Leone.
  So for them to be called nongermane when this has been the center of 
much of the discussion here, especially in Africa for the past 3 or 4 
weeks, I just would urge that the Speaker reconsider the narrow 
interpretation, the strict construction that he has done in the 
interpretation, and look at it not in the specificity but in the 
fundamental of the general position of peacekeeping, which has been 
something that has been germane.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Chair is prepared to rule.
  To be considered pursuant to clause 2(f) of rule XXI, an amendment 
must not propose to increase the level of budget authority or outlays 
in the bill. Because the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) proposes a net increase in the level of outlays 
in the bill, it may not avail itself of clause 2(f) to address portions 
of the bill not yet read.
  Therefore, the point of order made by the gentleman from Alabama is 
sustained against the amendment.
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Callahan) having assumed the chair, Mr. Thornberry, Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that 
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4811) 
making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for 
other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

                          ____________________