[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 40 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROMOTING SELF-RELIANCE FOR THE WORLD'S POOREST PEOPLE ACT OF 2002

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                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2002

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce, along with the 
distinguished gentleman from New York, Amo Houghton, the ``Promoting 
Self-Reliance for the World's Poorest People Act of 2002.'' This 
important legislation directs our limited foreign aid dollars to a 
proven and effective form of international development--
microenterprise.
  Microenterprise, the lending of very small loans to the world's 
poorest people that serve to start and expand small business, typically 
in amounts as low as $100, is founded upon the principle of promoting 
opportunity and free enterprise for individuals who are subjected to 
abject poverty and harsh economic conditions. Furthermore, 
microenterprise is a foreign aid issue that garners wide bipartisan 
support. Over thirty Members already support this legislation. This is 
truly an issue where Republicans and Democrats can agree.
  In a recent address at the United Nations' Financing for Development 
Conference in Monterrey, Mexico, President Bush called for a renewed 
commitment to promoting opportunity and free enterprise as tools 
necessary to alleviate global poverty. The President stated, ``Nations' 
most vital natural resources are found in the minds and skills and 
enterprise of their citizens. The greatness of a society is achieved by 
unleashing the greatness of its people. The poor of the world need 
resources to meet their needs, and like all people, they deserve 
institutions that encourage their dreams.''
  Now more than ever, Congress must rigorously support U.S. foreign aid 
programs that foster hope and opportunity to counter the fear and 
desperation that is exploited by terrorists among the masses of 
unemployed and impoverished people around the world. Because the war on 
terrorism will not be won by satellites and soldiers alone, our arsenal 
must also include humanitarian assistance that promotes freedom and 
opportunity for the world's poorest people. Microenterprise programs 
undeniably fulfill this role in the developing world.
  Mr. Speaker, take for example the story of Violet Mutoto of Uganda. 
Violet, a mother of four young children, lives and works out of her 
small house in the tiny hamlet of Mooni. Her mud dwelling contains no 
plumbing, yet she pays roughly eighteen dollars a month in rent. Out of 
the front of her home, Violet operates a rudimentary store. Since 
receiving her first loan of $43 from the international development 
organization, Freedom from Hunger, Violet has been able to pay her rent 
and expand her stock of supplies in her store. Now she sells cooking 
oils, cheese, salt, sugar, malaria pills, and other items. The 
diversified stock of supplies has increased her business and has 
afforded her the opportunity to send her older children to school. 
After repaying her first loan, Violet was able to take out second and 
third loans to begin accumulating a savings account.
  The Roemer/Houghton bipartisan legislation modestly increases funding 
for Microenterprise programs from $155 million to $200 million annually 
in the Foreign Operations budget. This four-year funding level would 
also ensure that our investment to the world's small business owners is 
well spent. Specifically, our bill calls for targeting at least half of 
all microenterprise resources to the world's poorest people. Our 
legislation defines the world's poorest people as those people in the 
poorest fifty percent of a country in relation to that country's 
official national poverty line and/or as those people who are living on 
the equivalent of less than one United States' dollar per day.
  The Roemer/Houghton bipartisan legislation also calls for greater 
accountability measures that will ensure effective poverty-targeting 
assistance. With the implementation of poverty assessment measurements, 
Congress and microenterprise donors can be sure that poverty targeted 
funding is meeting its intended goal of reaching the world's poorest 
people.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I strongly encourage my colleagues to 
review and cosponsor the ``Promoting Self-Reliance for the World's 
Poorest People Act of 2002.'' Congress must develop and support foreign 
aid programs that equip the world's poorest people with the tools to 
empower themselves. Microenterprise programs such as Freedom from 
Hunger provide these vital empowerment tools in the form of tiny 
microcredit loans. As the story of Violet Mutoto demonstrates, by 
devoting greater resources to effective humanitarian programs like 
micro enterprise, U.S. foreign aid can provide hope and empowerment to 
the world's poorest people and demonstrate that the United States is 
committed to spreading the rewards that can grow in a free-enterprise 
system.

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