[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 100 (Thursday, July 27, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7812-S7813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            WHY FOREIGN AID?

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I often hear from members of the public who 
feel that the United States is spending too much on ``foreign aid.'' 
Why are we sending so much money abroad, they ask, when we have so many 
problems here at home?
  This concerns me a great deal, because it has been shown over and 
over again that most Americans mistakenly believe that 15 percent of 
our national budget goes to foreign aid. In fact it is about 1 percent. 
The other 99 percent goes for our national defense and to fund other 
domestic programs--to build roads, support farmers, protect the 
environment, build schools and hospitals, pay for law enforcement, and 
countless other things the governments does.

[[Page S7813]]

  The United States has by far the largest economy in the world. We are 
unquestionably the wealthiest country. The amount we spend on foreign 
aid totals only a few dollars per American per year.
  What does the rest of the world look like?
  Imagine, for a moment, if the world's population were shrunk to a 
population of 100 people, with the current ratios staying the same. Of 
those 100 people, 57 would be Asians. There would be 21 Europeans. 
Fourteen would be from North and South America. Eight would be 
Africans.
  Of those 100 people, 52 would be women, and 48 would be men. Seventy 
would be non-White, and 30 would be White. Seventy would be non-
Christian, and 30 would be Christian.
  Six people would possess 59 percent of the world's wealth, and all 6 
would be Americans. Think about that.
  Fifty people--one half of the population, would suffer from 
malnutrition. 80 out of 100 would live in substandard housing, often 
without safe water to drink.
  Seventy would be illiterate. Only 1 would have a college education. 
And only 1 would own a computer.
  Are we spending too much on foreign aid? These statistics put things 
in perspective. I would suggest that there are two reasons to conclude 
that not only are we not spending too much, we are not spending enough.
  First, we are a wealthy country--far wealthier than any other. Yes we 
have problems. Serious problems. But they pale in comparison to the 
deprivation endured by over a billion of the world's people who live in 
extreme poverty, with incomes of less than $1 per day. Like other 
industrialized countries, we have a moral responsibility to help.
  Second, it is often said, but worth repeating, that our economy and 
our security are closely linked to the global economy and to the 
security of other countries. Although we call it foreign aid, it isn't 
just about helping others. These programs help us.
  By raising incomes in poor countries we create new markets for 
American exports, the fastest growing sector of our economy.
  Raising incomes abroad also reduces pressure on people to flee their 
own countries in search of a better life. One example that is close to 
home is Mexico, where half the population survives on an income of $2 
per day. Every day, thousands of people cross illegally from Mexico 
into the United States, putting enormous strains on U.S. law 
enforcement.
  Foreign aid programs support our democratic allies. There are few 
examples in history of a democracy waging war against another 
democracy.
  These programs protect the environment and public health, by stopping 
air and water pollution, and combating the spread of infectious 
diseases that are only an airplane flight away from our shores.
  They help deter the proliferation of weapons, including nuclear, 
biological and chemical weapons.
  These are but a few examples of how ``foreign aid'' creates jobs here 
at home, and protects American interests abroad.
  The American people need to know what we do with our foreign aid, and 
why in an increasingly interdependent world the only superpower should 
be doing more to protect our interests around the world, not less.

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