[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

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                               speech of

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union 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.

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4811, the 
FY 2001 foreign operations appropriations bill. This bill is more than 
$300 million below current funding levels and almost $2 billion less 
than the Administration's request.
  The allocation of resources in this bill will not enable our nation 
to carry out an effective foreign policy to meet our vital national 
security needs. The low levels of funding in key areas of this bill 
will hinder our ability to respond to and confront ongoing development 
around the world. Many countries around the world are undergoing rapid 
change; our nation now has an unique and unprecedented opportunity--and 
indeed, a responsibility--to provide global stability through the 
spread of democracy and the promise of economic growth.
  Mr. Chairman, in addition to failing our vital foreign policy and 
national security objectives, this bill fails in responsibly allocating 
resources towards other critical priorities. While the overall request 
has been reduced by 10 percent, the amounts requested to address the 
problems of infectious disease, poverty alleviation, access to family 
planning, and debt relief in the world's poorest countries have been 
cut in a disproportionate manner:
  The bill underfunds, by $390 million, our commitment to provide debt 
relief to the world's poorest countries. The Jubilee 2000 campaign for 
debt relief, which received bipartisan support throughout the United 
States and with a broad spectrum of religious leaders and 
organizations.
  The bill also reduces, by $42 million, funds to combat worldwide HIV/
AIDS.
  The bill hinders developing nations' ability to grow by drastically 
cutting funds for the International Development Association, the 
African Development Bank and Fund and the Asian Development Fund by 32 
percent.
  This bill also cuts nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, de-mining, and 
related programs by 32 percent.
  Finally, this bill cuts, by $385 million, international family 
planning programs; and imposes restrictions on foreign organizations 
which are contrary to our long-held constitutional principles of free 
speech.
  There are, however, provisions in this bill that I strongly support. 
This bill includes increases for the Child Survival and Disease account 
and the Peace Corps, for example. The most important priority that this 
bill funds well, however, is the maintenance of our commitment to the 
state of Israel and the peace process in the Middle East.
  Mr. Chairman, foreign aid should not be immune from scrutiny and 
budget cuts; however, it should not be the victim of skewed priorities. 
Indeed, robust and well-directed foreign assistance programs are 
essential for our national security. The process of building stability 
around the globe my combating infectious disease and poverty, working 
for conflict resolution, enhancing democratization,and fostering the 
conditions for economic growth ultimately benefits us all.
  Unfortunately, the allocation of resources in this bill fails to 
recognize this fundamental fact, shortchanges our foreign policy goals, 
and undermines our national security. I will vote against this 
misguided bill today and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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