[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2748-H2778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AFGHANISTAN FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT OF 2002

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 419 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 3994.

                              {time}  1432


                     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 consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 3994) to authorize economic and democratic development assistance 
for Afghanistan and to authorize military assistance for Afghanistan 
and certain other foreign countries, with Mrs. Biggert in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as having 
been read the first time.
  Under the rule, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3994, the Afghanistan 
Freedom Support Act of 2002.

[[Page H2749]]

  The gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking Democratic 
member of the committee, and I introduced this bipartisan bill in 
support of the President's agenda in Afghanistan. The bill authorizes a 
broad range of development, economic, and security assistance over a 4-
year period through fiscal year 2005.
  The United States is currently supporting peace and recovery in 
Afghanistan through its assistance efforts on the ground and through 
its leadership in international organizations and among the members of 
the coalition against terrorism. Since the beginning of fiscal year 
2002, the United States has provided more than $374 million in food, 
humanitarian, refugee and other nonmilitary assistance provided to 
support the relief and recovery of the Afghan people. In order to be 
fully successful, this recovery effort must be sustained in the months 
and years ahead. Legislation is required to provide the President with 
a framework to ensure our success in meeting U.S. objectives in 
Afghanistan and in the region.
  H.R. 3994 authorizes an additional $300 million in assistance for 
fiscal years 2002 through 2004, with $250 million authorized for fiscal 
year 2005. The additional $300 million authorized for fiscal year 2002 
is consistent with provisions included in the emergency appropriations 
bill currently under consideration by the Committee on Appropriations 
and represents a $50 million increase over the President's request of 
$250 million.
  H.R. 3994 will assist the administration in developing a strategic 
approach to the assistance needs of Afghanistan. By authorizing a 
significant 4-year fund for the purpose of dealing with the special 
situation we find in Afghanistan, this legislation will give the 
administration great flexibility to design and implement a 
comprehensive assistance strategy in line with U.S. priorities and 
objectives in that troubled country.
  Madam Chairman, H.R. 3994 was drafted in consultation with the 
administration and provides the President with great flexibility, 
taking into account the fluid situation in Afghanistan and the variety 
of economic, humanitarian, and security assistance needs. H.R. 3994 was 
reported out of the Committee on International Relations with broad 
bipartisan support.
  The President has asked Congress to make available funds to support 
the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan and has requested 
$250 million in emergency supplemental fiscal 2002 appropriations for 
Afghanistan. This supplemental assistance, if appropriated by Congress, 
will be in addition to the fiscal year 2002 funding already announced 
and allocated from existing accounts this fiscal year.
  H.R. 3994 will promote the reconstruction of an independent, 
prosperous, and democratic Afghanistan. The primary goal of this 
legislation is to provide for the national security of the United 
States and other nations by eliminating Afghanistan as a source of 
terrorism and instability in the region. By providing assistance to the 
people of Afghanistan, the United States will alleviate suffering, aid 
recovery, bolster stability, and promote democratic civil government. 
By reducing the amount of narcotics grown in or trafficked through 
Afghanistan, the U.S. will assist in Afghanistan's recovery, but will 
also provide for the security of the United States and other nations.
  This bill authorizes assistance to meet urgent humanitarian needs, 
such as the provision of food aid and disaster relief. It also 
emphasizes the need to assist refugees in returning to their home 
communities in Afghanistan when it is safe to do so.
  H.R. 3994 provides for aid in reconstruction and rehabilitation of 
basic infrastructure and assistance to the civil society and interim 
authority in Afghanistan. It underscores the importance of eradicating 
poppy cultivation in order to reduce supply and demand for illicit 
narcotics in Afghanistan and the region. The bill emphasizes the 
importance of supporting stability through employment programs and of 
improving food security, the health system, and the agricultural 
sector. This act will promote efforts already under way to improve the 
education system and support the transparency, accountability, and 
participatory nature of governmental institutions in Afghanistan.
  Madam Chairman, H.R. 3994 also supports the President's plan for 
equipping and training an indigenous Afghan force, as well as efforts 
by other countries, in providing security assistance for Kabul by 
authorizing the provision of security assistance to Afghanistan, as 
well as to countries and international organizations supporting efforts 
to control terrorism.
  H.R. 3994 exercises proper congressional oversight of U.S. foreign 
assistance programs by establishing 2 conditions for providing 
reconstruction development assistance to Afghanistan, exempting 
humanitarian, human rights and refugee assistance from conditionality. 
The first condition is that the government of Afghanistan must fully 
support counternarcotics efforts. The second is that the people of 
Afghanistan must follow through on commitments to peace made in Bonn, 
Germany in December 2001.
  The U.S. has an essential role to play in Afghanistan's recovery from 
the horrific conflict and devastation of the past 30 years, but the 
administration needs a coherent strategy and structure in place in 
order to achieve our objectives of eliminating terrorism, securing the 
peace, combating drugs, and safeguarding the human and civil rights of 
all, particularly women and children. I urge Members to support H.R. 
3994.
  Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to thank my good friend and distinguished colleague, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman of our committee, for 
his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. I also want to 
commend the bipartisan manner in which he and his staff have worked 
with us to draft this legislation.
  Our legislation includes many of the ideas and issues put forward in 
legislation which was introduced last December by myself and the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), my friend and colleague, and 
some 15 members of the Committee on International Relations of both 
political parties. I thank the chairman for working with us in 
including these provisions.
  Madam Chairman, the legislation we are considering today is essential 
for America's national security. We have a strong interest in ensuring 
the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the establishment of democratic 
governmental institutions. An economically viable and democratic 
Afghanistan will no longer serve as an incubator for home-grown 
extremists such as the Taliban. It will no longer be a base of 
operations for foreign terrorists such as al Qaeda. It will no longer 
be the source of a huge proportion of the heroin that destroys lives 
around the world.
  The United States, Madam Chairman, made a grave foreign policy 
mistake in 1991. After the implosion of the Soviet Union, the United 
States simply withdrew from Afghanistan. With the Soviet Union no 
longer a threat, the first Bush administration mistakenly assumed that 
there was no longer a threat to America. On September 11, our Nation 
suffered a horrendous blow for that misguided assumption.
  Madam Chairman, as we move into the next phase in the war against 
terrorism, we must finish the job that our military forces have begun 
in Afghanistan. The legislation we are considering today is a critical 
element in that effort.
  Our bill authorizes funding and makes statutory changes necessary for 
us to assist in establishing an economically viable, stable, and 
democratic Afghanistan. Our legislation authorizes $1.3 billion over a 
4-year period, a modest sum in relation to the amounts we are spending 
currently every single month for our military forces to continue this 
vital struggle. These funds and programs are essential to assure that 
our young men and women will not have to remain in Afghanistan to 
protect the security of Americans in New York and Washington and San 
Francisco, and everywhere throughout our Nation.
  Madam Chairman, this bill comes before the U.S. House of 
Representatives at a critical time. As soon as this week, our House 
will consider supplemental appropriations for the current fiscal year. 
The President has requested $250 million for Afghanistan in

[[Page H2750]]

this supplemental. However, only $40 million of these funds are 
requested for USAID to fund the humanitarian and development needs in 
Afghanistan. It is my understanding that the Committee on 
Appropriations will increase the amount of money for USAID in 
Afghanistan, and I strongly support such a move.
  Our bill emphasizes the development of Afghanistan's agricultural 
sector by promoting land mine removal, quick-impact public works 
programs to divert labor from narcotics production, and the development 
of water and sanitation systems in rural areas.

                              {time}  1445

  We expect that this aid will help stem further poppy cultivation.
  Our legislation also contains strong language on the provision of 
assistance to meet the educational, health, and vocational needs of 
Afghanistan's long-abused and discriminated-against women, and it will 
promote the participation of women in government and civil society.
  Finally, Madam Chairman, our bill underscores the need for security 
in Afghanistan, and provides military assistance to help establish a 
modern Aghan military and police force. It also provides support for 
those countries that are participating in the International Security 
Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and it authorizes military assistance 
to other countries helping in the war effort against al Qaeda.
  Madam Chairman, the lack of security is perhaps the single biggest 
challenge facing the government and people of Afghanistan as they try 
to rebuild their lives and reclaim their country from the grasp of 
terrorists. It is vital to the United States that we work for a 
security environment in Afghanistan in order to prevent the return to 
power of al Qaeda and the Taliban.
  Our bill makes a contribution to providing security in Afghanistan, 
but since the markup of this legislation in the Committee on 
International Relations, it has become clear that we must do more. 
Later in this debate, I will be offering an amendment to address this 
critical issue; and I hope all of my colleagues will support it. As the 
situation evolves, the needs in Afghanistan will change. Our 
legislation gives the administration the flexibility to adapt our 
assistance to the changing needs and priorities.
  Madam Chairman, I believe this legislation will help ensure that the 
United States remains engaged to provide a secure future for 
Afghanistan. We can and we must play a critical role in Afghanistan's 
transformation into a stable, prosperous, and pluralistic nation.
  Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3994. 
I thank the chairman for yielding me this time, and for crafting, along 
with the distinguished ranking member, very important bipartisan 
legislation.
  Specifically, I would also express my appreciation that the modest 
Bereuter amendment will be included in the en bloc manager's amendment. 
Specifically, this Member's amendment encourages the administration to 
maximize the use of the research capacity and technical expertise of 
U.S. land grant colleges and universities as it provides U.S. 
humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
  Madam Chairman, this legislation includes important provisions which 
would authorize assistance to help the people of Afghanistan rebuild 
the capability to feed themselves. Indeed, the long-term stability of 
Afghanistan greatly depends on the country's ability to at least 
restore the subsistence level of agriculture in the area of food 
production.
  Unfortunately, over 20 years of civil war and political unrest have 
destroyed nearly all of the indigenous tools and infrastructure for 
food production and rural development in Afghanistan. The people of 
this country have eaten their feedstocks, and most have slaughtered all 
of their livestock to meet their immediate food needs. Additionally, 
the country's limited basic irrigation systems largely have been 
destroyed.
  Until these very basic components are restored, the people of 
Afghanistan will turn to other endeavors to survive, including the 
cultivation of poppies for producing drugs.
  Madam Chairman, many land grant institutions have conducted very 
relevant world-class research in agricultural and rural development. 
Therefore, the following represents only a few of the areas in which 
the highly trained professions at these institutions could contribute 
to the assistance programs for Afghanistan: soil rehabilitation, water 
conservation, livestock breeding and herd maintenance, irrigation, and 
basic rural infrastructure constructions.
  Furthermore, these professionals will have strong incentives to find 
innovative solutions for the massive challenges facing Afghanistan, and 
to continue their research if these land grant institutions are given a 
substantial opportunity to contribute to the reconstruction efforts.
  Additionally, the use of land grant colleges and universities in 
assistance will serve, by experience, various similar projects in 
communities across our country. Too frequently, USAID grants are 
distributed among contractors based within the Beltway, or with those 
entities that have the best connections within the Beltway.
  Madam Chairman, this legislation makes a very important contribution 
in so many areas, but I think it also helps provide the basis for the 
people of Afghanistan to begin to feed themselves again and avoid drug 
production. I urge support of the legislation.
  Madam Chairman, it is clear that using U.S. land grant colleges and 
universities to implement U.S. assistance projects in Afghanistan would 
benefit the people of Afghanistan as they would be advised and trained 
by some of the world's leading experts in the fields of agriculture and 
rural development. In turn, land grant colleges and universities would 
benefit from participation in these projects, as they would have an 
opportunity to share their expertise and to encourage their professors 
and researchers to pursue creative projects. Finally, U.S. foreign 
policy certainly would benefit when U.S. land grant colleges and 
universities implementing assistance projects, as Americans from across 
the country would be contributing to the programs and subsequently feel 
a higher interest and satisfaction in the success of those programs.
  Madam Chairman, before concluding this statement, this Member would 
like to bring to the attention of his colleagues other provisions 
within H.R. 3994 which would authorize the use of overseas cooperatives 
and microenterprise systems as development mechanisms in Afghanistan. 
For several decades, United States cooperative development 
organizations which operate overseas as well as microenterprise 
institutions, have served as effective grassroots mechanisms to promote 
democratic development and build economies in underserved areas. 
Certainly, rural areas of Afghanistan would benefit from experience 
with Americans from community-owned, member-controlled cooperative and 
microenterprise programs, particularly those which focus on micro-
savings and credit, village infrastructure, and such community services 
as rural electrification and rural telecommunications. Indeed, these 
projects also would serve to complement the agriculture and other rural 
reconstruction activities which would involve America's land grant 
colleges and universities.
  Madam Chairman, in conclusion, this Member encourages his colleagues 
to vote for H.R. 3994.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to my 
distinguished friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Ackerman), who has played such a pivotal role in shaping intelligent, 
far-sighted foreign policy vis-a-vis Afghanistan.
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3994, 
the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act.
  At the outset, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman 
Hyde) and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos), for their tremendous efforts to craft a bipartisan bill 
supporting rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan.
  It is important for the Congress to speak loudly and clearly 
regarding a long-term commitment to Afghanistan, and I think the bill 
before us today does just that. In addition, the bill answers the 
President's call last October for the Congress to support 
reconstruction assistance for Afghanistan.
  As has been noted, the bill provides over $1 billion for humanitarian 
relief, refugee assistance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction in 
Afghanistan. This assistance is linked to adherence to the

[[Page H2751]]

Bonn process and to progress on eradicating poverty, but in neither 
case is the aid so closely linked that it deprives the President of the 
flexibility necessary to pursue U.S. objectives in that country.
  Throughout the bill, the importance of the role of women is 
emphasized, from the structure of the future government to health care 
and education programs specifically for women and girls. In addition, 
the assistance has a particular focus on the agricultural economy in 
Afghanistan. I think this is especially important given that the vast 
majority of Afghans live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for 
their livelihood.
  The emphasis also dovetails nicely with our efforts to eradicate 
poppy by giving farmers a viable alternative to the narcotics trade.
  Madam Chairman, the bill also authorizes military assistance to 
support the formation of an Afghan police force and a national army. In 
addition, this assistance is available to foreign countries or 
international organizations who are directly supporting our military 
activities in Afghanistan, or are participating in peacekeeping or 
policing operations there. I believe that the military assistance 
provisions are appropriate and are focused on the needs of U.S. policy.
  Madam Chairman, this bill is an excellent example of what can be 
accomplished through bipartisan efforts. I commend the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for 
their leadership on this issue, and I urge all of our colleagues to 
support the bill.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman 
emeritus of the Committee on International Relations.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding time to 
me.
  Madam Chairman, I want to thank our distinguished chairman, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and the ranking minority member, 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for bringing this measure 
so expeditiously to the floor.
  The Afghan Freedom Support Act is an important measure. Afghanistan 
and the Afghan people are at a critical crossroads today in their 
survival. Afghanistan has been torn apart by hostilities, by drought, 
by regional disputes. It has caused a humanitarian crisis that has left 
millions of Afghans with little hope and too much despair.
  The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act before us attempts to help 
Afghans help themselves. This bill authorizes $1.05 billion over a 4-
year period for a broad range of development, economic, anti-narcotics, 
and security assistance for Afghanistan that will assist its 
administration in its efforts to build a better future for their 
people.
  Madam Chairman, the former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, recently 
returned to Afghanistan to help lead a Loya Jirga, a grand assembly. 
The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act will help the former King and will 
help Chairman Karzai, Dr. Abdullah, the Afghan foreign minister, and 
other representatives of the Afghan community to start a long-needed 
process and a discussion of renewal on all of their issues.
  The Afghan Freedom Support Act will also help bring stability to 
Afghanistan and to the region. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to 
fully support this important legislation, H.R. 3994, the Afghanistan 
Freedom Support Act.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to my 
good friend and distinguished colleague, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Schiff).
  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time 
to me.
  Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3994, the 
Afghanistan Freedom Support Act, and the Lantos amendment addressing 
the immediate security concerns in Afghanistan.
  Last March I had the opportunity to accompany a delegation led by the 
gentleman from California (Chairman Rohrabacher) to Afghanistan and 
assess some of the desperate needs of that country.
  The challenges there were immediate and were very apparent. The day 
after our arrival, 300 people were arrested for attempting to overthrow 
the Karzai government. Three days after that, there was an effort to 
blow up the defense minister. Two weeks after that, a bumper opium crop 
was ready for harvest. As we drove through the country, rocks were 
painted red and painted white, one side that had been demined, another 
side that had not.
  The challenges before that country are immense, but none was pointed 
out I think more graphically than the reports we received while we were 
there that al Qaeda and Taliban were circulating pamphlets in some of 
the small villages that said, ``The Americans will leave. They will be 
here a few years and then they will leave. We are Muslims; we do not 
leave. If we find you working with the Americans, talking with the 
Americans, we will kill you and we will kill your family. We do not 
leave.''
  This, indeed, is the challenge for this country. The challenge for us 
is to support to rebuild the economy in Afghanistan, the infrastructure 
in Afghanistan, the educational system in Afghanistan, to make sure 
that this country never again becomes a haven for terrorists like al 
Qaeda and the Taliban.
  The rap on any democracy and the rap on the United States is that we 
have no staying power, and we must prove this wrong. We must 
demonstrate that we have the commitment; that we have seen history and 
we are determined not to repeat it. This act goes a long way to 
providing the building blocks to restore that nation to its people and 
to protect our country from any future September 11.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the Vice Chair of 
the Committee.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Chairman, I thank my good friend for 
yielding time to me and applaud him for this very, very important piece 
of legislation, H.R. 3994. The gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) 
and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) have crafted a very 
important piece of pro-democracy humanitarian legislation.
  Were Members here in 1989 when the Soviet Union withdrew its troops 
from Afghanistan, those who were, will remember that with the Soviet 
expansionist designs thwarted at the end of the Cold War, most 
Americans, including Congress, promptly forgot about Afghanistan. 
Foreign aid levels were slashed, and interest in the region plummeted.
  For over a decade, Madam Chairman, Afghanistan festered in a mire of 
factional in-fighting, international neglect, and drug trafficking. 
Untold thousands were killed and others were crippled by landmines and 
unexploded ordnance left over from the Soviet occupation. Women were 
systematically degraded and exploited and reduced to chattel.
  While Kabul was systematically reduced to rubble, the United States 
and the rest of the international community essentially stood by on the 
sidelines. While the West was trying to spend the peace dividend on 
other priorities, the vacuum of Afghanistan was filled with extremists 
who thrived on conditions of hopelessness.
  One of the lessons, and especially post-September 11, that America 
has learned is that we can no longer afford to sit by and watch as 
developing nations collapse into chaos and anarchy.
  This legislation, Madam Chairman, and the money that it will provide, 
will tangibly assist a suffering people. The Bush administration has it 
right and is doing a magnificent job in Afghanistan. They will help the 
people of Afghanistan to realize their hopes, their aspirations, and 
their dreams.

                              {time}  1500

  The people of Afghanistan deserve to be one of the nations among the 
democracies. Now they have the opportunity, this legislation will help 
to facilitate that.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Lee), my good friend and distinguished colleague.
  Ms. LEE. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

[[Page H2752]]

  I rise today in full support of the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act. 
This bill provides very important humanitarian, development and 
economic assistance. Afghanistan is a country that has been torn apart 
by war for decades. The seeds of terrorism grow where there is despair 
and poverty.
  Manmade disasters have been compounded by nature. Afghanistan has 
been suffering from a terrible drought, for example, for several years, 
adding to the already extreme misery in that country. So we must remain 
committed to Afghanistan's reconstruction. It is not only for 
humanitarian reasons, but it is also in the United States' security 
interests as well.
  We also must make sure that our assistance to Afghanistan recognizes 
the suffering of Afghan women in particular and in the importance of 
reintegrating women into the civic life of the country.
  I submitted an amendment in committee authored by my colleague, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) calling for 
resources to be sent to the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs to carry 
out its responsibilities for legal advocacy, education, vocational 
training and women's health programs. I want to thank the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) who is the vice chair of the 
Women's Caucus for her leadership and also for the bipartisan support 
of the committee's adoption.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and our 
ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for 
crafting this very common-sense, yet, I believe far-reaching 
legislation. I urge support for the bill. The United States must remain 
engaged in helping support the nation-building efforts in Afghanistan.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the bill. I commend 
the chairman of the committee and the ranking member for their work.
  Last March I traveled to Afghanistan to meet with our troops there 
and to meet with government officials. I think Americans are rightly 
proud over the efforts of our servicemen and women. But one thing was 
absolutely clear; the battle in Afghanistan is far from over. We met 
with Interim Chairman Hamed Karzai, and he has struck a delicate 
balance in heading up the multi-ethnic Afghan administration. A Loya 
Jirga will soon be held to appoint a transitional authority there. The 
United States must stand firmly behind Chairman Karzai and the interim 
government.
  This legislation that the chairman and the ranking member have 
directed to us, this will help us better do this. I had the opportunity 
to travel to Kabul and visit a local orphanage where I spoke with a 
little girl who told me she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up. Now 
with the liberation of her country from the Taliban regime, this dream 
has a chance.
  Madam Chairman, thanks to the work of our armed services and thanks 
to Chairman Karzai, there is a window of opportunity there. The 
battered Afghan people are desperate for a brighter future, for a 
unified country that they can believe in. But that window is closing. 
And suspicion, cynicism, and self-interest are filling the gap. There 
are too many characters looking to bring Afghanistan back into chaos. 
The other week our forces fired a missile from an unmanned Predator 
plane that just missed Hekmatyar. Hekmatyar has been plotting attacks 
against the interim government and against American troops.
  The U.S. training of an Afghan national army formally started this 
week. Although this is a welcome development, it will take some time to 
develop this force into one that can provide security nationwide. 
Turkey will be assuming command of the international security 
assistance force. Now that is confined to the Afghan capital. It is 
critical that we encourage Turkey to expand its force outside of Kabul 
to counter the regional warlords.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Crowley), our good friend and distinguished 
colleague.
  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Chairman, I am pleased to rise today in support of 
the Afghan Freedom Support Act. I thank the chairman and the ranking 
member for their work on this very, very important act.
  The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act is a critical step towards the 
reconstruction of Afghanistan. Among its notable provisions, the bill 
calls for a significant amount of humanitarian assistance to help 
deliver food, medical care and basic supplies to the people of 
Afghanistan; provisions to promote counternarcotics efforts; the need 
to develop the agricultural sector, both as a step towards economic 
development and self-sufficiency, but also as a means of stemming poppy 
cultivation; the furtherance of a bond process which provides a 
framework for Afghanistan's political factions to decide their 
country's political future; and strong language on the provision of 
assistance to meet the educational, health and vocational needs of 
women.
  I am also strongly supporting the measures required by the amendment 
introduced by my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos). While giving the President broad latitude to 
craft the most effective approach, this amendment would require the 
administration to develop a strategy to meet the immediate and long-
term security needs of Afghanistan in order to promote the delivery of 
humanitarian assistance, further the rule of law and support the 
formation of a representative government in Afghanistan.
  Improved security is a necessary precondition for achievement of the 
U.S. pledge to help build a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. Since the 
current government led by Hamed Karzai is not able to provide security 
throughout the country outside of Kabul, in fact, other parts of the 
country seem like the Wild Wild West, fighting between rival factions 
who are vying for regional control, human rights abuses and corruption, 
and the problems will continue to hinder the delivery of humanitarian 
aid, delay economic reconstruction and development, and undermine the 
delicate process by which factions are trying to create a stable, 
democratic, central government.
  Uncontrolled violence also puts U.S. and allied soldiers throughout 
Afghanistan at risk. It is, therefore, critical for the administration 
and Congress to work together to find ways to improve security in 
Afghanistan. I believe the Lantos amendment provides a reasonable and 
speedy method for addressing this important issue, but once again I 
rise in support of the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act and I thank the 
chairman and ranking member again for their work on this important 
piece of legislation.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul).
  (Mr. PAUL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PAUL. Madam Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.
  Madam Chairman, I rise in opposition to this bill. The President has 
not asked for this piece of legislation; he does not support it. We do 
not anticipate that it will be passed in the other body. But there is 
one good part of the bill, and that is the title, ``Freedom Support.'' 
We all support freedom. It is just that this bill does not support 
freedom. Really, it undermines the liberties and the taxes of many 
Americans in order to pump another in $1.2 billion into Afghanistan.
  One of the moral justifications, maybe, for rebuilding Afghanistan is 
that it was the American bombs that helped to destroy Afghanistan in 
our routing of the Taliban. But there is a lot of shortcomings in this 
method. Nation-building does not work. I think this will fail. I do not 
think it will help us.
  I do not think for a minute that this is much different than social 
engineering that we try here in the U.S. with a lot of duress and a lot 
of problems; and now we are going to do it over there where we really 
do not understand the social conditions that exist, and it is not like 
here. Some, especially those in that part of the world, will see this 
as neo-colonialism because we are over there for a lot of different 
reasons. And even in the bill it states one of the reasons. It says, 
``We are to design an

[[Page H2753]]

overall strategy to advance U.S. interests in Afghanistan.''
  Well, I wonder what that means? Over 10 years ago there was an 
explicit desire and a statement made by the administration that until 
we had a unified government in Afghanistan, we could not build a gas 
pipeline across northern Afghanistan. And that is in our interests. 
Does that mean this is one of the motivations?
  I imagine a lot of people here in the Congress might say no, but that 
might be the ultimate outcome. It is said that this bill may cut down 
on the drug trade. But the Taliban was stronger against drugs than the 
Northern Alliance. Drug production is up since we've been involved this 
past year in Afghanistan.
  Madam Chairman, I think it is important to state first off that while 
it is true that the administration has not actively opposed this 
legislation, it certainly has not asked for nor does it support the 
Afghanistan Freedom Support Act. It did not support the bill when we 
marked it up in the International Relations Committee, it did not 
support the bill after it was amended in Committee, and it does not 
support the bill today.
  Madam Chairman, perhaps the ``Afghanistan Freedom Support Act'' 
should more accurately be renamed the ``Afghanistan Territorial 
Expansion Act,'' because this legislation essentially treats that 
troubled nation like a new American territory. In fact, I wonder 
whether we give Guam, Puerto Rico, or other American territories 
anywhere near $1.2 billion every few years--so maybe we just should 
consider full statehood for Afghanistan. This new State of Afghanistan 
even comes complete with an American governor, which the bill 
charitably calls a ``coordinator.'' After all, we can't just give away 
such a huge sum without installing an American overseer to ensure we 
approve of all aspects of the fledgling Afghan government.
  Madam Chairman, when we fill a nation's empty treasury, when we fund 
and train its military, when we arm it with our weapons, when we try to 
impose foreign standards and values within it, indeed when we attempt 
to impose a government and civil society of our own making upon it, we 
are nation-building. There is no other term for it. Whether Congress 
wants to recognize it or not, this is neo-colonialism. Afghanistan will 
be unable to sustain itself economically for a very long time to come, 
and during that time American taxpayers will pay the bills. This sad 
reality was inevitable from the moment we decided to invade it and 
replace its government, rather than use covert forces to eliminate the 
individuals truly responsible for September 11th. Perhaps the saddest 
truth is that Bin Laden remains alive and free even as we begin to 
sweep up the rubble from our bombs.
  I am sure that supporters of this bill are well-intentioned, but 
judging from past experience this approach will fail to improve the 
lives of the average Afghan citizen. Though many will also attempt to 
claim that this bill is somehow about the attacks of 9/11, let's not 
fool ourselves: nation-building and social engineering are what this 
bill is about. Most of the problems it seeks to address predate the 9/
11 attacks and those it purports to assist had nothing to do with those 
attacks.
  If we are operating under the premise that global poverty itself 
poses a national security threat to the United States, then I am afraid 
we have an impossible task ahead of us.
  As is often the case, much of the money authorized by this bill will 
go toward lucrative contracts with well-connected private firms and 
individuals. In short, when you look past all the talk about building 
civil society in Afghanistan and defending against terrorism, this bill 
is laden with the usual corporate welfare and hand-outs to special 
interests.
  Among other harmful things, this legislation dramatically expands the 
drug war. Under the group we have installed in Afghanistan, opium 
production has skyrocketed. Now we are expected to go in and clean up 
the mess our allies have created. In addition, this bill will send some 
$60 million to the United Nations, to help fund its own drug 
eradication program. I am sure most Americans agree that we already 
send the United Nations too much of our tax money, yet this bill 
commits us to sending even more.
  The drug war has been a failure. Plan Colombia, an enormously 
expensive attempt to reduce drug production in that Andean nation, has 
actually resulted in a 25 percent increase in coca leaf and cocaine 
production. Does anyone still think our ``war on drugs'' there has been 
successful? Is it responsible to continue spending money on policies 
that do not work?
  The bill also reflects a disturbing effort by the Washington elite to 
conduct experiments in social engineering in Afghanistan. It demands at 
least five times that the Afghans create a government that is ``broad-
based, multi-ethnic, gender-sensitive, and fully representative.'' We 
are imposing race and gender quotas on a foreign government that have 
been found inappropriate and in some cases even illegal in the United 
States. Is this an appropriate activity to be carried out with taxpayer 
funds?
  Madam Chairman, the problem with nation-building and social-
engineering, as experience tells us time and time again is that it 
simply doesn't work. We cannot build multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, 
gender-sensitive civil society and good governance in Afghanistan on a 
top-down basis from afar. What this bill represents is a commitment to 
deepening involvement in Afghanistan and a determination to impose a 
political system on that country based on a blueprint drawn up 
thousands of miles away by Washington elites. Does anyone actually 
believe that we can buy Afghan democracy with even the staggering sum 
of 1.2 billion dollars? A real democracy is the product of shared 
values and the willingness of a population to demand and support it. 
None of these things can be purchased by a foreign power. What is 
needed in Afghanistan is not just democracy, but freedom--the two are 
not the same.
  Release of funds authorized by this legislation is dependent on the 
holding of a traditional Afghan assembly of tribal representatives--a 
``loya jirga''--as a first step toward democratization. It authorizes 
$10 million dollars to finance this meeting. That this traditional 
meeting will produce anything like a truly representative body is 
already in question, as we heard earlier this month that seven out of 
33 influential tribal leaders have already announced they will boycott 
the meeting. Additionally, press reports have indicated that the U.S. 
government itself was not too long ago involved in an attempted 
assassination of a non-Taliban regional leader who happened to be 
opposed to the rule of the American-installed Hamid Karzai. More 
likely, this ``loya jirga'' will be a stage-managed showpiece, 
primarily convened to please Western donors. Is this any way to teach 
democracy?
  Madam Chairman, some two decades ago the Soviet Union also invaded 
Afghanistan and attempted to impose upon the Afghan people a foreign 
political system. Some nine years and 15,000 Soviet lives later they 
retreated in disgrace, morally and financially bankrupt. During that 
time, we propped up the Afghan resistance with our weapons, money, and 
training, planting the seeds of the Taliban in the process. Now the 
former Soviet Union is gone, its armies long withdrawn from 
Afghanistan, and we're left cleaning up the mess--yet we won't be loved 
for it. No, we won't get respect or allegiance from the Afghans, 
especially now that our bombs have rained down upon them. We will pay 
the bills, however, Afghanistan will become a tragic ward of the 
American state, another example of an interventionist foreign policy 
that is supposed to serve our national interests and gain allies, yet 
which does neither.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Before yielding time, I would like to comment on the previous 
speaker's observations. It is very much in the U.S. national interests 
not to allow the Taliban and al Qaeda to reestablish their bases in 
Afghanistan. Unless I am mistaken, it is their activities that resulted 
in the deaths of 3,000 of our fellow citizens in New York and at the 
Pentagon. It is very much in the U.S. national interest to put an end 
to opium production in Afghanistan. It is very much in the U.S. 
national interest to have a stable, prosperous, and democratic society 
in that part of the world. And I believe the overwhelming majority of 
Members of this body and the American people see that as clearly as the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and I do.
  Madam Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good friend and 
colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Madam Chairman, I thank the ranking member for his 
kindness, I believe that is what it is when we are allowed to bring 
very important issues to this floor, as well as his leadership, and the 
chairman of the Committee on International Relations for leadership 
they have shown together in bringing us this legislation which is a 
combined work of both the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).
  The reason I say that is because echoing the words of the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Lantos), ``This legislation is both long overdue 
and essential.''
  Having visited Afghanistan in March and visited our troops who were 
doing a very able and needed job, even in speaking to our military 
personnel, they applauded the desire of America to help rebuild this 
nation.

[[Page H2754]]

  It is important to note that we have evidence that we can help build 
nations. Just a few days ago Sierra Leone had a democratically held 
election and we hope that that democracy will last.
  The Afghani people want democracy and they want to be able to have a 
strong nation. That was evident by our travels around the country. When 
we saw the children, a thousand of them in an orphanage, they desired 
an education and opportunity. When we saw the sick children and sick 
people in hospitals, they wanted resources to help them create a better 
health system. When I spoke to the women there, they wanted to make 
sure that they did have the opportunity for creating businesses so that 
microcredits would be an important concept for them.
  This legislation combines the fight against opium-growing along with 
an investment in humanitarian needs. That means education and health 
care. It means teaching the government and teaching the people how to 
govern themselves. We did the wrong thing some years ago when Russia 
was fighting there, and what happened was a terrible, oppressive 
leadership of the Taliban. Might I change that word, not leadership, 
oppressiveness. We must weed out the oppressiveness of the Taliban by 
continuing to fight against those terrorists, but at the same time we 
must strengthen Chairman Karzai's government and encourage the growth 
and development and enhancement for the people of Afghanistan so that 
the 3 million who are refugees can return home.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
learned gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney).
  Mr. NEY. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of this bill since I 
strongly support our continued engagement in Afghanistan. The people of 
Afghanistan have suffered for too long, and lawlessness and 
international neglect have caused their country to become a haven for 
terrorists, but not anymore.
  During my recent visit to Afghanistan, our delegation was often 
overwhelmed by the gratitude of the Afghani people to America for 
freeing them from the Taliban's chains of oppression and ignorance. It 
lies in America's interest to make sure that the darkness of those 
chains never returns to Afghanistan.
  Madam Chairman, we helped the Afghan interim government get formed, 
and it is important that we continue to support the Loya Jirga process 
and those chosen by that body to represent the Afghan people for the 
next 18 months. These are Afghanistan's first steps towards democracy, 
and America should stand shoulder to shoulder with the Afghan people as 
they strive for freedom, prosperity, and self-representation.
  Security, of course, is still an issue in Afghanistan. Without 
security, the terrorists can find a way back into Afghanistan. 
Peacekeepers are currently only located in the Kabul area; and outside 
the capital rogue elements, as we know, continue to challenge the 
central government. Our troops should be there to fight the al Qaeda 
for everyone's interest. However, the overall security of Afghanistan, 
and indirectly the United States, would all significantly be enhanced 
if non-American peacekeepers were stationed in other areas of the 
country. Countries such as Turkey, Bahrain, Jordan, Sweden, and Britain 
have already shown interest in providing peacekeeping to those areas of 
our vast interest.
  Madam Chairman, prosperity and stability go hand in hand. Hopefully, 
one day the U.S. private sector will return.
  America has helped bring a new beginning to the people of 
Afghanistan. This bill reconfirms our determination to not let this new 
beginning slip out of our hands and represents the best of American 
ideals.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey), my friend and distinguished 
colleague.
  Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Chairman, I wish to express my appreciation to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), our chairman, and to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Lantos), our ranking member, for fabricating this 
bill and bringing it to the floor here so that we all have an 
opportunity to support authorizing $1 billion of support for 
humanitarian and reconstruction aid for Afghanistan.
  I was in Afghanistan in January of this year. At that time I had an 
opportunity to meet with Hamid Karzai and members of his cabinet, also 
with many of the people in that country, our new charge d'affaires 
there, the men and women of the 10th Mountain Division who are 
stationed there in that country and on its perimeter.
  In our conversations with Hamid Karzai, I asked him what was most 
important to him. Without hesitation or equivocation he said security. 
He then said we need to rebuild our educational system; we need to 
refashion our transportation system; we need to rebuild our 
agriculture, which is the foundation of their economy. But none of that 
will be done unless we are able to maintain security.
  The authorization that is contained in this bill provides the means 
for us to begin to do that in a meaningful way. We are going to have to 
stay involved in Afghanistan and committed and helpful to those people 
for some time in the future. I hope we have the staying power to do it, 
and I hope that this legislation which is here before us this afternoon 
will provide for us the solid foundation from which we can proceed on 
into the future.
  The security of Afghanistan is critical to the people of that 
country, to the establishment of a new democratic government, as well 
as to the security of ourselves and other freedom-loving peoples in 
other parts of the world.
  We need to do this today. We need to remain involved with this new 
government that is developing there, and we need to continue to carry 
the people of Afghanistan in our hearts and in our purses.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3994, the 
Afghanistan Freedom Support Act.
  I do want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for his 
leadership in crafting this bill and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) for his commitment to helping the Afghan people. I rise to 
thank them both for working with me and the gentlewoman from New York 
(Mrs. Maloney) to incorporate much of H.R. 3342, the Access for Afghan 
Women Act, into this bill. Their cooperation enables this body to 
continue our support for improving the lives of Afghan women and 
children.
  H.R. 3994 will provide over $1 billion in United States assistance to 
Afghanistan for humanitarian and reconstruction projects, as well as 
Afghan military and police assistance, and funds to stem poppy 
production. While the bill provides the President with broad 
flexibility, key aspects of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance 
are targeted toward Afghan women.
  The bill reflects that it is the United States' policy that the 
United States and international community should support a broad-based, 
multi-ethnic, gender-sensitive and fully representative government in 
Afghanistan. In order to meet this goal of improving the human rights 
of all Afghans, particularly women, emphasis must remain on meeting the 
educational, health and sustenance needs of women and children to 
better enable their full participation in Afghan society.
  Assistance should increase the participation of women at the 
national, regional and local levels in Afghanistan, wherever feasible, 
by enhancing the role of women in decision-making processes, as well as 
by providing support programs that aim to expand economic educational 
opportunities and health programs for women and girls. In addition, an 
amendment was added for resources to be sent to the Afghan ministry of 
women's affairs to carry out its responsibilities for legal, advocacy, 
education, vocational training and women's health programs.
  H.R. 3994 prioritizes maternal and child health services as an urgent 
humanitarian need, especially programs to reduce child mortality. 
Assistance is authorized to recruit and train teachers in order to meet 
the desperate need in Afghanistan to make up for the lost time in the 
classroom. Thousands of children returned to school in March, some for 
the first time in many years,

[[Page H2755]]

and some had never been to school. By September, all Afghan children 
will have access to education.
  Also authorized in this bill are programs establishing financial 
institutions capable of providing microenterprise credits and other 
income-generating programs for the poor with emphasis on women. 
Microenterprise loans have proven successful throughout the developed 
and developing world by providing an opportunity for self-sufficiency.
  I support the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act and the conditioning of 
U.S. aid on presidential certification that Loya Jirga has convened and 
decided on a broad-based, multi-ethnic, gender-sensitive, fully 
represented transitional government.
  I thank all my colleagues for this bill. I urge support.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), my good friend 
and good neighbor.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Madam Chairman, let me thank the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman; and my good friend and 
neighbor, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking 
member, for their leadership in bringing this very important issue, 
along with the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, which the 
chairwoman and I co-chair that caucus, and to bring this piece of 
legislation to the floor. We thank our colleagues so much.
  Today, we bring to conclusion an unrivaled bipartisan process in 
support of war-weary Afghanistan. We are about to vote on this 
important measure that will provide material resources to support the 
rebuilding and reconstruction of a country that has touched the popular 
imagination over the past years.
  As democratic chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, I 
am proud to add my voice in support of this defining bill. It cannot 
come too soon to help the interim administration as it moves forward to 
the next stage of instilling a spirit of sound governance in 
Afghanistan.
  When the Loya Jirga assembly meets in June, the provisional 
government will begin setting out the key principles of the rule of law 
that will help bring about stability and security where even now 
disorder and ethnic conflict too often prevail.
  At least 160 women will be instrumental in playing a central role in 
this assembly. It may not be enough, but it is a start. As I stated on 
the House floor in December, the future of women in Afghanistan and 
ultimately the stability of any provisional settlement will rest upon a 
foundation of inclusion, not exclusion.
  Madam Chairman, the comprehensive package of assistance before us 
today for final passage affirms the important aspirations being sought 
by Afghanis, both inside and outside of that country. Helping Afghan 
women to regain their rightful place in national life is one of the 
best ways I know to combat terrorism in Afghanistan and to lessen the 
sense of peril of the global community everywhere.
  This historic bill also specifically calls for providing resources to 
the ministry of women's affairs to ensure that the ministry can carry 
out its responsibilities for legal, advocacy, educational and 
vocational training. I am pleased to have authored this provision and 
to have had the cooperation of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lee), my distinguished colleague, my fellow Californian and friend, and 
the successful effort at the House Committee on International Relations 
markup last month.
  Afghan women must be assured of their basic human rights once more to 
gain access to safe drinking water and sufficient food, to receive 
decent health and maternal care, and foremost, to again move freely in 
their society without being subjected to harassment and abuse.
  The role of the women's ministry in realizing these objectives will 
be critical in building a new sense of nationhood and in helping to 
secure peace and democratic order. Restoring women's level of 
participation in the rebirth of Afghanistan after 22 years of warfare 
is a noteworthy contribution towards shaping a meaningful future for 
that country.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), a member of the committee.
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of this 
legislation. In January, on January 2, with my colleagues, the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Hall), I traveled to Afghanistan, met with Chairman Karzai and leaders. 
And let me offer my observations.
  Despite the fact that the Taliban are out of power, the people of 
Afghanistan continue to suffer. Many people still do not have enough to 
eat. Food aid is needed. Medical, educational assistance is needed. 
However, the Afghan people do not want to subsist on handouts. Instead, 
they desire the opportunity to work, to use their skills to provide for 
their families.
  Prior to the 1979 Soviet invasion, Afghanistan was self-sufficient 
and exported agriculture products to its neighbors. Before 1979, 80 
percent of the society farmed the land. The skills are there, but 
development is needed in animal husbandry, irrigation system repair, 
drought assistance, and alternative crops to replace narcotics 
production.
  As we continue to help the people of Afghanistan in rebuilding their 
nation, our development assistance should focus on providing employment 
opportunities; helping with demining so that families can return to 
their homes and plant their fields; investing in rebuilding 
infrastructure so that people can get their goods to market; and 
supporting education, for children's needs are great.
  Predictions were that 5,000 refugees would return to their homes this 
year. Over 500,000 refugees have already returned, and the year is not 
even half over. Most refugees are returning to homes in rural areas and 
will need help to get back on their feet. In addition, our government 
should continue to clearly express its support for the interim 
government led by Chairman Karzai and the June Loya Jirga.
  As Chairman Karzai said in January during our meeting regarding our 
Nation's partnership, he said, ``Think of the help as help to our 
children. The families will do well if the children do well.''
  Madam Chairman, in order to avoid another environment in which 
warlords and terrorists flourish, we must help the Afghan people as 
they rebuild their society. If the Afghan people do well, then our 
Nation will do well, their nation will do well; and we will avoid the 
situation that will produce more Taliban and terrorists.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Chairman, I am honored to rise as an original 
cosponsor of H.R. 3994, the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act; and I 
would be remiss if I do not express my deepest appreciation to the 
chairman of our committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and 
our own ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), 
also, the chairman of our subcommittee on the Middle East and South 
Asia, and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the ranking 
member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman).

                              {time}  1530

  They have made such a tremendous contribution and leadership in 
bringing this vital legislation to the floor.
  Madam Chairman, now that the people of Afghanistan have been released 
from the repressive regimes of al Qaeda and the Taliban, they face a 
daunting task and desperately need the international community's 
support to rebuild their government, their society and their nation.
  While I support the body of the legislation, Madam Chairman, it 
glaringly fails to address the deteriorating security environment 
throughout Afghanistan which has become a crisis. Once outside Kabul, 
no one is safe, as humanitarian relief workers have been threatened, 
Loya Jirga election delegates murdered, and Afghan women and girls 
assaulted.
  I deeply commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for 
focusing on this urgent problem and offering an amendment at a later 
point in time that requires the administration to

[[Page H2756]]

submit a plan of action to address the immediate security crisis in 
Afghanistan, in addition to long-term security concerns. We cannot 
afford any longer to ignore this cancer that significantly threatens to 
derail Afghanistan's recovery.
  If we are truly serious about aiding the people of Afghanistan and 
that nation's development as a democracy, I urge my colleagues to adopt 
the Lantos amendment as well as this legislation, as amended, for final 
passage.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the distinguished chairman 
of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights of the 
Committee on International Relations.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Chairman, the bill that we are debating today 
serves as a symbol, a measure of the commitment and guarantees by the 
United States and, indeed, the international community to support the 
Afghan people so that they can quickly stand on their own. As the bill 
title reflects, it is intended to create the necessary conditions and 
environment for stability and peace to take root in Afghanistan. With 
the Loya Jirga, the seeds of freedom were planted. However, without the 
targeted assistance described in this legislation, democracy and 
respect for human rights cannot fully develop and flourish in this 
nation which has been devastated by decades of war and oppression.
  Of foremost importance is the support for security during the 
transitional period in Afghanistan. This country has undergone great 
internal turmoil and tremendous brutality in recent history, resulting 
in deeply embedded scars in the psyche of its people, a people worried 
about the recurrence of violence. Sporadic incidents throughout the 
course of the last several months underscore the potential for such a 
negative outcome.
  In providing for such security assistance, we are responding to and 
reflecting the demands of the Afghan people who want, as Chairman 
Karzai stated earlier this year, to ensure that ``people will not have 
an opportunity any more to try to meddle in Afghan affairs or to cause 
trouble or civil strife.'' The Lantos amendment will expand later upon 
this.
  In further addressing the internal situation, this bill also provides 
a multi-year authorization to finance a variety of necessary programs 
to meet urgent humanitarian needs, to assist in the development of 
civil society, and guaranteeing the full participation and 
reintegration of women in all sectors of Afghan life.
  My dear colleagues, if we do not want a return to the grim past when 
Afghans were tortured and beaten, when they were repressed, when 
Afghanistan was a safe harbor and training ground for international 
terrorists, then we must render our support to this important 
legislation.
  Let us not abandon the Afghan people. Vote ``yes'' on the Afghan 
Freedom Support Act.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Chairman, I thank my dear friend and 
colleague for yielding time and I thank Chairman Hyde and Ranking 
Member Lantos for their leadership on this important legislation.
  This bill authorizes over $1 billion over the next 4 years for 
humanitarian and reconstruction projects as well as military and police 
assistance to help rebuild this nation. I am very pleased that the bill 
incorporates language from H.R. 3342, the Access for Afghan Women Act, 
a bill I authored along with my good friend and colleague the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  As a result, H.R. 3994 recognizes and now supports Afghan women and 
children by placing an emphasis on meeting the educational, health and 
sustenance needs of women and children so that they can participate 
fully in Afghan society. It also states that U.S. assistance should 
increase the participation of women and girls at all levels in 
decision-making areas.
  Finally, this bill requires that resources be sent to the Afghan 
Ministry of Women's Affairs. Each of these provisions are extremely 
important because they recognize the importance of including women's 
participation in all areas of Afghan life.
  Unfortunately, the underlying bill does not provide adequately for 
the safety and security of women living in Afghanistan, particularly in 
the areas outside of Kabul. That is why I support strongly the Lantos 
amendment which I understand Chairman Hyde likewise supports, which 
will help meet the immediate security needs of Afghanistan by calling 
upon the administration to come forward with a security plan for the 
entire country within 45 days.
  In order to achieve participation in all aspects of life, women must 
feel safe when leaving their homes and their daughters must feel safe 
when they go to school, something they have been waiting for for 8 long 
years under the Taliban rule. And women must not be intimidated by 
troops and local warlords when they are finally on their way to gaining 
and getting their lives back.
  We must continue to support Afghanistan and the women in Afghanistan. 
I urge a strong vote for the bill and for the Lantos amendment.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I am pleased to yield the balance of my 
time to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher).
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Chairman, I would like to thank the chairman 
for all the hard work that he has put in on this over not just this 
time since September 11 but the time before as well, as well as Ranking 
Member Lantos. This has been an issue of importance to us all even 
before 9/11. And the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) Chairman 
Gilman has been heart and soul behind the efforts to free the Afghan 
people even before it became clear that it was a threat to the United 
States.
  There has been a great deal of discussion as of late as to how much 
President Bush knew about the terrorist threat that took the lives of 
3,000 Americans on September 11. What is most pertinent, however, is 
how the terrorist monsters in Afghanistan came to power and how they 
held power, and, more urgently, how can we prevent this from happening 
again.
  The legislation we vote on today is vital not only to the Afghans but 
to the peace and stability of the world. We are committing ourselves to 
this generous aid package in cooperation with other donor countries 
and, in doing so, sending a message to the Afghan people, and that is, 
put down your guns and pick up your tools and this time America and the 
decent people of the world will be with you and will help you rebuild 
your country and rebuild the lives of your people.
  This message and the assistance that we are giving is long overdue. 
It repays a debt to the Afghan people which I am sorry that my friend 
from Texas does not recognize. The people of Afghanistan bled and died 
by the hundreds of thousands in the war against the Soviet Union, and 
in doing so helped us win the Cold War, bring peace to the world, and 
afterwards we walked away from them, owing them this vast debt.
  This new package should provide the resources necessary to repay that 
debt, or at least begin repaying that debt, and the resources necessary 
to begin the process of uplifting the Afghan people and bringing them 
into the family of nations. Their well-being and a humane quality of 
life is the surest way to prevent a repeat of the tragedy of 9/11, a 
tragedy that not only affected them, of course, but has affected the 
entire world.
  This aid package comes at a pivotal moment, because Afghanistan's 
course is now being determined. The aid program from the western 
countries must be implemented in a way to ensure that the brutal 
sectarian forces that are still present and still threaten the peace 
and stability of that area understand our strength of purpose. Our 
message again should be we will help you rebuild your country but only 
if the new Afghanistan is a responsible member of the family of 
nations, and we expect the rights of the Afghan people, men and women, 
to be respected by their leaders.
  This bill addresses specific humanitarian needs, such as my amendment

[[Page H2757]]

to the original bill encouraged by the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) and his efforts to direct extra resources towards land mine 
clearance. The gentleman from California and I have been deeply 
concerned for a number of years about the enormous number of land mines 
in Afghanistan. We, at the end of that war, after they had fought for 
us, not only left them to sleep in the rubble, these poor Afghan people 
who had lost so many members of their family, but we left them in a 
country that was inundated with land mines. We did not even help them 
clear the land mines that we had given them to help defeat the Soviets. 
That was immoral and it is a totally moral basis for our insistence now 
that we help the Afghan people and help them rebuild their country.
  We also in this bill have directed money to women and to other local 
programs and we have expressed our desire to make sure that the 
resources are necessary to make sure that the national security and 
humanitarian relief efforts that are going on in Afghanistan are well 
funded, not only by us, but by our allies who are also contributing a 
great sum.
  Let me just say there has been some discussion as to whether or not 
we should be helping those people who were caught in the crossfire, and 
we will have a colloquy on this later, supposedly that we are making 
compensation to those people whom we accidentally hurt in trying to 
free Afghanistan. This is not a controversial position. This goes to 
the heart and soul of America. If we did not intend to hurt people and 
they were caught in the crossfire, of course, we are going to help 
these poor innocent people, and in doing so we are going to send a 
message to the people of the world: Yes, we are for freedom and we are 
going to stand by you, and if war is necessary, or conflict is 
necessary, we are not coming in like the 800-pound gorilla in caring 
less about the rights of others. We care about people. That is why we 
are engaged in this. That is what this aid package is all about, 
repaying a debt and telling the people of the world we care about their 
freedom and we care about their human condition. In doing so, we will 
have peace and our country will be secure.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I want to commend my friend from California for his powerful and 
thoughtful statement. The Congress is always at its best when it speaks 
in a bipartisan fashion. We have done so today. I again want to commend 
Chairman Hyde for his leadership on this issue. I want to commend my 
colleagues across the political spectrum who have spoken on behalf of 
this legislation. It embodies the finest values of the United States 
and it represents hardheaded, rational, farsighted foreign policy.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support the legislation.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3994, the 
Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002.
  The people of Afghanistan have not known freedom or peace for quiet 
some time. They are not our enemies, and I commend the sponsors of this 
bill for reaching across the oceans to them with a hand of assistance 
in rebuilding not only the physical but also the educational, social 
and economic fabric of their nation.
  Madam Chairman, I want to call particular attention to the portions 
of the Act that promote the inclusion of women in the decisionmaking 
and nation building processes.
  I want to add the voice of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands as 
expressed in the attached resolution introduced by Senator Lorraine 
Berry, and passed by the 24th Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
which expresses the sense of the legislature that women be a part of 
the total resolution in the ongoing process of normalization that the 
country of Afghanistan will be going through for a very long time.
  And so on behalf of all of the people of my district, I urge my 
colleagues to pass H.R. 3994.

                          RESOLUTION NO. 1630

                            BILL NO. 24-0200

  TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES


                         regular session, 2002

       To petition the United States Congress and the White House 
     to enact appropriate legislation, that would require future 
     international aide to Afghanistan and other foreign 
     countries, be conditioned, in part, upon the countries' 
     elimination of discrimination against women.
       Whereas, the history of Afghanistan is replete with women 
     aiding the development of that country in the authorship of 
     its constitution, serving in governmental positions, 
     providing leadership in the academic world and serving as 
     professionals; and
       Whereas, the world has witnessed the gradual oppression of 
     women in Afghanistan by varied male-dominated warring groups; 
     and
       Whereas, the eradicated Taliban Government had 
     institutionalized total oppression of women as evident by 
     edicts prohibiting women from working or being educated, by 
     public flogging, stoning and killing; and
       Whereas, some allies of the United States in the Middle 
     East and elsewhere who receive aide continue to turn a blind 
     eye to those who would oppress women in one form or the 
     other, even to the extent of mutilation of sexual organs; and
       Whereas, Tahmeena Faryal, Representative of the 
     Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), 
     graphically described the past horror visited upon the people 
     of Afghanistan as ``bullets instead of food and graves 
     instead of houses''; and
       Whereas, the International Covenant on Civil and Political 
     Rights states, in part, that ``no one shall be subject to 
     cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment''; and
       Whereas, we have observed the fact that women of 
     Afghanistan had been virtually imprisoned in their homes; 
     they were required to wear burquas, which cover the entire 
     head and body, with a mesh-like covering over the eyes, 
     thereby creating certain health problems, and optical 
     problems, and we have witnessed in the media credible news 
     coverage of public flogging of women by so-called religious 
     police when women walked too quickly, laughed loudly or, 
     accidentally or otherwise, showed their face in public; and
       Whereas, such cruel inhumane and degrading treatment of 
     women has no rational nor credible sanction in any religious 
     teaching or holy book; and
       Whereas, the violation of human rights cannot be cloaked, 
     rationalized or condoned as a cultural difference; and
       Whereas, the harsh punishment reserved for women is more 
     about control than religion; and
       Whereas, the above-noted oppressive practices have left 
     their mark on most women who remain fearful of availing 
     themselves of even small concessions, especially since 
     members of the former Taliban have been permitted to join the 
     governing factions; and
       Whereas, in outlining areas, away from western scrutiny, 
     women continue to be oppressed and abide under intolerable 
     restrictions; and
       Whereas, there can be no true democracy without the 
     participation of women; Now, Therefore,
       Be it resolved by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands:
       Section 1. The Legislature of the Virgin Islands, on behalf 
     of the people of the Virgin Islands, hereby resolves to 
     petition the United States Congress and the White House to 
     enact appropriate legislation that would henceforth require 
     that future foreign aide to Afghanistan and other foreign 
     countries be conditioned, in significant part, upon the 
     recipient's active commitment to eliminate discrimination 
     against women.
       Thus passed by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands on 
     January 30, 2002.
       Witness our Hands and the Seal of the Legislature of the 
     Virgin Islands this ______ Day of February, A.D., 2002.
     Almando ``Rocky'' Liburd,
       President.
     Donald G. Cole,
       Legislative Secretary.

  Mr. SHADEGG. Madam Chairman, I rise to address the inclusion of my 
amendment in the Manager's Amendment to H.R. 3994, the Afghanistan 
Freedom Support Act of 2002. The gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Hyde, has 
drafted an important piece of legislation that will help significantly 
in efforts to rebuild Afghanistan's economic infrastructure, create 
durable institutions of government that are representative and 
accountable to the people of Afghanistan, and reduce the production of 
narcotics. The bill helps the people of Afghanistan, and reduce the 
production of narcotics. The bill helps the people of Afghanistan to 
help themselves by providing the seed money needed to establish the 
necessary base of physical infrastructure and stable government upon 
which they can build a modern economy and thus a peaceful and 
prosperous society.
  I believe that this legislation offers an excellent opportunity to 
allow the natural generosity of the American people and businesses in 
America to play a role in this effort. That is why I proposed an 
amendment, which the gentleman from Illinois has included in the 
Manager's Amendment, that states that the President should encourage 
donations from U.S. corporations and small business of manufacturing 
and other types of excess or obsolete, but usable, equipment to help 
rebuild the infrastructure of Afghanistan. Currently, the Federal 
Government does not solicit donations of usable equipment from U.S. 
corporations and small businesses. My amendment rectifies this problem 
and asks the Federal Government to look to all sources to provide the 
needed machinery and equipment to begin the rebuilding process.

[[Page H2758]]

  U.S. corporations continually replace old but reusable equipment and 
are faced with relatively few choices for disposing of it. My amendment 
expands their choices and helps them contribute directly to a people 
who are in dire need. This equipment can be used to help start small 
businesses and begin entrepreneurship in Afghanistan that will lead to 
the creation of jobs and start the country on the long path to 
recovery.
  I thank the gentleman from Illinois and look forward to working with 
the Chairman and the Administration to see that this important 
provision is enacted into law and fully implemented. With that I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DICKS. Madam Chairman, I am pleased to come to the floor today in 
support of H.R. 3994, the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act. I believe it 
is critical that we fulfill the commitment made by the President and by 
the Congress to provide significant resources to help the nation of 
Afghanistan rebuild after more than 20 years of war.
  After winning World War II, President Truman and the Congress took a 
bold step, committing enormous U.S. resources to help the nations of 
Europe rebuild after the devastation of total war. The Marshall Plan, 
as it is known, was not politically popular at the time--it languished 
in Congress for several months and passed through the other body with 
just a one-vote margin. But I believe nearly everyone today would argue 
that it was the right thing to do--for Europe, for the United States 
and the entire world.
  Many of my colleagues decry Federal spending on foreign aid, arguing 
that it is a misappropriation of money that could be better spend 
domestically. But foreign aid was the genius of the Marshall plan--
targeted investments to rebuild the economies of nations devastated by 
war, poverty, famine, and disease.
  The continuing importance of foreign aid is underscored by the 
extreme need for such help now in Afghanistan. Afghan rebels, with 
significant financial and military support from the United States, 
succeeded in throwing off the yoke of Soviet occupation. Once finished, 
however, U.S. support evaporated. Perhaps we thought our work was done 
or that Afghanistan was too far away from the U.S. to be of any real 
concern once the Soviets had limped home. But we learned last September 
that our work had not been completed. And we learned that Afghanistan, 
despite its perceived isolation, could certainly cause us harm.
  Clearly, there is a need for a continued U.S. presence to help 
Afghanistan rebuild its economy, establish a stable government, and 
encourage participation in the international community. Such spending 
is an important investment we can make to try to prevent a repeat of 
September 11. But is this need exclusive to Afghanistan?
  Even if we are completely successful in Afghanistan, reconstructing 
that nation and eliminating the terrorist presence, we can be sure that 
these terrorist organizations will reappear somewhere. How can we best 
deal with this threat?
  Strengthening and re-equipping our military, shoring up our borders 
and improving domestic security are certainly parts of the solution, 
but an equally important component is foreign aid. By helping other 
nations establish stable democratic governments and market economies, 
they will join us in the fight against terrorism.
  I think most would agree that it would have been far cheaper to have 
appropriated the financial and technical assistance to Afghanistan 15 
years ago to help them create a free nation than it has been to deal 
with the attacks on September 11 and their aftermath. I also believe 
that it is in our best financial interest to increase our foreign aid 
commitments and help struggling nations today rather than wait for them 
to deteriorate to the point where we are forced into military 
intervention.
  The CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill 
for the purpose of amendment under the 5-minute rule by title, and each 
title shall be considered read.
  During consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chair may accord 
priority in recognition to a Member offering an amendment that he has 
printed in the designated place in the Congressional Record. Those 
amendments will be considered read.
  The Clerk will designate section 1.
  The text of section 1 is as follows:
       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; DEFINITION.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the 
     ``Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; definition.

TITLE I--ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN

Sec. 101. Declaration of policy.
Sec. 102. Purposes of assistance.
Sec. 103. Principles of assistance.
Sec. 104. Authorization of assistance.
Sec. 105. Promoting cooperation in major opium producing regions of 
              Afghanistan.
Sec. 106. Coordination of assistance.
Sec. 107. Administrative provisions.
Sec. 108. Authorization of appropriations.

TITLE II--MILITARY ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN AND CERTAIN OTHER FOREIGN 
               COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Sec. 201. Support for security during transition in Afghanistan.
Sec. 202. Authorization of assistance.
Sec. 203. Eligible foreign countries and eligible international 
              organizations.
Sec. 204. Reimbursement for assistance.
Sec. 205. Authority to provide assistance.
Sec. 206. Sunset.
       (c) Definition.--In this Act, the term ``Government of 
     Afghanistan'' includes the government of any political 
     subdivision of Afghanistan, and any agency or instrumentality 
     of the Government of Afghanistan.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 1?
  If not, the Clerk will designate title 1.
  The text of title 1 is as follows:

TITLE I--ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN

     SEC. 101. DECLARATION OF POLICY.

       Congress makes the following declarations:
       (1) The United States and the international community 
     should support efforts that advance the development of 
     democratic civil authorities and institutions in Afghanistan 
     and the establishment of a new broad-based, multi-ethnic, 
     gender-sensitive, and fully representative government in 
     Afghanistan.
       (2) The United States, in particular, should provide its 
     expertise to meet immediate humanitarian and refugee needs, 
     fight the production and flow of illicit narcotics, and aid 
     in the reconstruction of Afghanistan's agriculture, health 
     care, and educational systems.
       (3) By promoting peace and security in Afghanistan and 
     preventing a return to conflict, the United States and the 
     international community can help ensure that Afghanistan does 
     not again become a source for international terrorism.
       (4) The United States should support the objectives agreed 
     to on December 5, 2001, in Bonn, Germany, regarding the 
     provisional arrangement for Afghanistan as it moves toward 
     the establishment of permanent institutions and, in 
     particular, should work intensively toward ensuring the 
     future neutrality of Afghanistan, establishing the principle 
     that neighboring countries and other countries in the region 
     do not threaten or interfere in one another's sovereignty, 
     territorial integrity, or political independence, including 
     supporting diplomatic initiatives to support this goal.
       (5) The special emergency situation in Afghanistan, which 
     from the perspective of the American people combines 
     security, humanitarian, political, law enforcement, and 
     development imperatives, requires that the President should 
     receive maximum flexibility in designing, coordinating, and 
     administering efforts with respect to assistance for 
     Afghanistan and that a temporary special program of such 
     assistance should be established for this purpose.
       (6) To foster stability and democratization and to 
     effectively eliminate the causes of terrorism, the United 
     States and the international community should also support 
     efforts that advance the development of democratic civil 
     authorities and institutions in the broader Central Asia 
     region.

     SEC. 102. PURPOSES OF ASSISTANCE.

       The purposes of assistance authorized by this title are--
       (1) to help assure the security of the United States and 
     the world by reducing or eliminating the likelihood of 
     violence against United States or allied forces in 
     Afghanistan and to reduce the chance that Afghanistan will 
     again be a source of international terrorism;
       (2) to support the continued efforts of the United States 
     and the international community to address the humanitarian 
     crisis in Afghanistan and among Afghan refugees in 
     neighboring countries;
       (3) to fight the production and flow of illicit narcotics, 
     to control the flow of precursor chemicals used in the 
     production of heroin, and to enhance and bolster the 
     capacities of Afghan governmental authorities to control 
     poppy cultivation and related activities;
       (4) to help achieve a broad-based, multi-ethnic, gender-
     sensitive, and fully representative government in Afghanistan 
     that is freely chosen by the people of Afghanistan and that 
     respects the human rights of all Afghans, particularly women, 
     including authorizing assistance for the rehabilitation and 
     reconstruction of Afghanistan with a particular emphasis on 
     meeting the educational, health, and sustenance needs of 
     women and children to better enable their full participation 
     in Afghan society;
       (5) to support the Government of Afghanistan in its 
     development of the capacity to facilitate, organize, develop, 
     and implement projects and activities that meet the needs 
     of the Afghan people;
       (6) to foster the participation of civil society in the 
     establishment of the new Afghan government in order to 
     achieve a broad-based, multiethnic, gender-sensitive, fully 
     representative

[[Page H2759]]

     government freely chosen by the Afghan people, without 
     prejudice to any decisions which may be freely taken by the 
     Afghan people about the precise form in which their 
     government is to be organized in the future, as may be 
     decided through the convening of a traditional Afghan 
     assembly or ``Loya Jirga'' as agreed to on December 5, 2001, 
     in Bonn, Germany;
       (7) to support the reconstruction of Afghanistan through, 
     among other things, programs that create jobs, facilitate 
     clearance of landmines, and rebuild the agriculture sector, 
     the health care system, and the educational system of 
     Afghanistan; and
       (8) to include specific resources to the Ministry for 
     Women's Affairs of Afghanistan to carry out its 
     responsibilities for legal advocacy, education, vocational 
     training, and women's health programs.

     SEC. 103. PRINCIPLES OF ASSISTANCE.

       The following principles should guide the provision of 
     assistance authorized by this title:
       (1) Terrorism and narcotics control.--Assistance should be 
     designed to reduce the likelihood of harm to United States 
     and other allied forces in Afghanistan and the region, the 
     likelihood of additional acts of international terrorism 
     emanating from Afghanistan, and the cultivation, production, 
     trafficking, and use of illicit narcotics in Afghanistan.
       (2) Role of women.--Assistance should increase the 
     participation of women at the national, regional, and local 
     levels in Afghanistan, wherever feasible, by enhancing the 
     role of women in decisionmaking processes, as well as by 
     providing support for programs that aim to expand economic 
     and educational opportunities and health programs for women 
     and educational and health programs for girls.
       (3) Afghan ownership.--Assistance should build upon Afghan 
     traditions and practices. The strong tradition of community 
     responsibility and self-reliance in Afghanistan should be 
     built upon to increase the capacity of the Afghan people and 
     institutions to participate in the reconstruction of 
     Afghanistan.
       (4) Stability.--Assistance should encourage the restoration 
     of security in Afghanistan, including, among other things, 
     the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of 
     combatants, and the establishment of the rule of law, 
     including the establishment of a police force and an 
     effective, independent judiciary.
       (5) Coordination.--Assistance should be part of a larger 
     donor effort for Afghanistan. The magnitude of the 
     devastation--natural and man-made--to institutions and 
     infrastructure make it imperative that there be close 
     coordination and collaboration among donors. The United 
     States should endeavor to assert its leadership to have the 
     efforts of international donors help achieve the purposes 
     established by this title.

     SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--The President is authorized to provide 
     assistance for Afghanistan for the following activities:
       (1) Urgent humanitarian needs.--To assist in meeting the 
     urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Afghanistan, 
     including assistance such as--
       (A) emergency food, shelter, and medical assistance;
       (B) clean drinking water and sanitation;
       (C) preventative health care, including childhood 
     vaccination, therapeutic feeding, maternal child health 
     services, and infectious diseases surveillance and treatment;
       (D) family tracing and reunification services; and
       (E) clearance of landmines.
       (2) Repatriation and resettlement of refugees and 
     internally displaced persons.--To assist refugees and 
     internally displaced persons as they return to their home 
     communities in Afghanistan and to support their reintegration 
     into those communities, including assistance such as--
       (A) assistance identified in paragraph (1);
       (B) assistance to communities, including those in 
     neighboring countries, that have taken in large numbers of 
     refugees in order to rehabilitate or expand social, health, 
     and educational services that may have suffered as a result 
     of the influx of large numbers of refugees;
       (C) assistance to international organizations and host 
     governments in maintaining security by screening refugees to 
     ensure the exclusion of armed combatants, members of foreign 
     terrorist organizations, and other individuals not eligible 
     for economic assistance from the United States; and
       (D) assistance for voluntary refugee repatriation and 
     reintegration inside Afghanistan and continued assistance to 
     those refugees who are unable or unwilling to return.
       (3) Counternarcotics efforts.--(A) To assist in the 
     eradication of poppy cultivation, the disruption of heroin 
     production, and the reduction of the overall supply and 
     demand for illicit narcotics in Afghanistan and the region, 
     with particular emphasis on assistance to--
       (i) eradicate opium poppy, establish crop substitution 
     programs, purchase nonopium products from farmers in opium-
     growing areas, quick-impact public works programs to divert 
     labor from narcotics production, develop projects directed 
     specifically at narcotics production, processing, or 
     trafficking areas to provide incentives to cooperation in 
     narcotics suppression activities, and related programs;
       (ii) establish or provide assistance to one or more 
     entities within the Government of Afghanistan, including the 
     Afghan State High Commission for Drug Control, and to provide 
     training and equipment for the entities, to help enforce 
     counternarcotics laws in Afghanistan and limit illicit 
     narcotics growth, production, and trafficking in 
     Afghanistan;
       (iii) train and provide equipment for customs, police, and 
     other border control entities in Afghanistan and the region 
     relating to illicit narcotics interdiction and relating to 
     precursor chemical controls and interdiction to help disrupt 
     heroin production in Afghanistan and the region;
       (iv) continue the annual opium crop survey and strategic 
     studies on opium crop planting and farming in Afghanistan; 
     and
       (v) reduce demand for illicit narcotics among the people of 
     Afghanistan, including refugees returning to Afghanistan.
       (B) For each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2005, not 
     less than $15,000,000 of the amount made available to carry 
     out this title should be made available for a contribution to 
     the United Nations Drug Control Program for the purpose of 
     carrying out activities described in clauses (i) through (v) 
     of subparagraph (A). Amounts made available under the 
     preceding sentence are in addition to amounts otherwise 
     available for such purposes.
       (4) Reestablishment of food security, rehabilitation of the 
     agriculture sector, improvement in health conditions, and the 
     reconstruction of basic infrastructure.--To assist in 
     expanding access to markets in Afghanistan, to increase the 
     availability of food in markets in Afghanistan, to 
     rehabilitate the agriculture sector in Afghanistan by 
     creating jobs for former combatants, returning refugees, and 
     internally displaced persons, to improve health conditions, 
     and assist in the rebuilding of basic infrastructure in 
     Afghanistan, including assistance such as--
       (A) rehabilitation of the agricultural infrastructure, 
     including irrigation systems and rural roads;
       (B) extension of credit;
       (C) provision of critical agricultural inputs, such as 
     seeds, tools, and fertilizer, and strengthening of seed 
     multiplication, certification, and distribution systems;
       (D) improvement in the quantity and quality of water 
     available through, among other things, rehabilitation of 
     existing irrigation systems and the development of local 
     capacity to manage irrigation systems;
       (E) livestock rehabilitation through market development and 
     other mechanisms to distribute stocks to replace those stocks 
     lost as a result of conflict or drought;
       (F) mine awareness and demining programs and programs to 
     assist mine victims, war orphans, and widows;
       (G) programs relating to infant and young child feeding, 
     immunizations, vitamin A supplementation, and prevention and 
     treatment of diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections;
       (H) programs to improve maternal and child health and 
     reduce maternal and child mortality;
       (I) programs to improve hygienic and sanitation practices 
     and for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, 
     such as tuberculosis and malaria;
       (J) programs to reconstitute the delivery of health care, 
     including the reconstruction of health clinics or other basic 
     health infrastructure; and
       (K) disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of armed 
     combatants into society, particularly child soldiers.
       (5) Reestablishment of afghanistan as a viable nation-
     state.--(A) To assist in the development of the capacity of 
     the Government of Afghanistan to meet the needs of the people 
     of Afghanistan through, among other things, support for the 
     development and expansion of democratic and market-based 
     institutions, including assistance such as--
       (i) support for international organizations that provide 
     civil advisers to the Government of Afghanistan;
       (ii) support for an educated citizenry through improved 
     access to basic education;
       (iii) programs to enable the Government of Afghanistan to 
     recruit and train teachers, with special focus on the 
     recruitment and training of female teachers;
       (iv) programs to enable the Government of Afghanistan to 
     develop school curriculum that incorporates relevant 
     information such as landmine awareness, food security and 
     agricultural education, human rights awareness, and civic 
     education;
       (v) support for the activities of the Government of 
     Afghanistan to draft a new constitution, other legal 
     frameworks, and other initiatives to promote the rule of 
     law in Afghanistan;
       (vi) support to increase the transparency, accountability, 
     and participatory nature of governmental institutions, 
     including programs designed to combat corruption and other 
     programs for the promotion of good governance;
       (vii) support for an independent media;
       (viii) programs that support the expanded participation of 
     women and members of all ethnic groups in government at 
     national, regional, and local levels;
       (ix) programs to strengthen civil society organizations 
     that promote human rights and support human rights 
     monitoring;
       (x) support for national, regional, and local elections and 
     political party development; and
       (xi) support for the effective administration of justice at 
     the national, regional, and local levels, including the 
     establishment of a responsible and community-based police 
     force.
       (B) For each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2005, not 
     less than $10,000,000 of the amount made available to carry 
     out this title should be made available for the purposes of 
     carrying out a traditional Afghan assembly or ``Loya Jirga'' 
     and for support for national, regional, and local elections 
     and political party development under subparagraph (A)(x).
       (6) Market economy.--To support the establishment of a 
     market economy, the establishment of private financial 
     institutions, the adoption of policies to promote foreign 
     direct investment, the development of a basic 
     telecommunication infrastructure, and the development of 
     trade and other commercial links with countries in the region 
     and with the United States, including policies to--

[[Page H2760]]

       (A) encourage the return of Afghanistan citizens or 
     nationals living abroad who have marketable and business-
     related skills;
       (B) establish financial institutions, including credit 
     unions, cooperatives, and other entities providing 
     microenterprise credits and other income-generation programs 
     for the poor, with particular emphasis on women;
       (C) facilitate expanded trade with countries in the region;
       (D) promote and foster respect for basic workers' rights 
     and protections against exploitation of child labor;
       (E) develop handicraft and other small-scale industries; 
     and
       (F) provide financing programs for the reconstruction of 
     Kabul and other major cities in Afghanistan.
       (b) Limitation.--
       (1) In general.--Amounts made available to carry out this 
     title (except amounts made available for assistance under 
     paragraphs (1) through (3) and subparagraphs (F) through (I) 
     of paragraph (4) of subsection (a)) may be provided only if--
       (A) with respect to assistance for fiscal year 2003, the 
     President first determines and certifies to Congress that a 
     traditional Afghan assembly or ``Loya Jirga'' has been 
     convened and has decided on a broad-based, multiethnic, 
     gender-sensitive, fully representative transitional authority 
     for Afghanistan; and
       (B) with respect to assistance for fiscal years 2004 and 
     2005, the President first determines and certifies to 
     Congress with respect to the fiscal year involved that 
     substantial progress has been made toward adopting a 
     constitution and establishing a democratically elected 
     government for Afghanistan.
       (2) Waiver.--
       (A) In general.--The President may waive the application of 
     subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) if the President 
     first determines and certifies to Congress that it is in the 
     vital national interest of the United States to do so.
       (B) Contents of certification.--A certification transmitted 
     to Congress under subparagraph (A) shall include--
       (i) a full and complete description of the vital national 
     interest of the United States that is placed at risk by 
     reason the application of subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
     paragraph (1), as the case may be; and
       (ii) an analysis of the risk described in clause (i) versus 
     the risk to the vital national interest of the United States 
     by reason of the failure to exercise the waiver authority of 
     subparagraph (A).

     SEC. 105. PROMOTING COOPERATION IN MAJOR OPIUM PRODUCING 
                   REGIONS OF AFGHANISTAN.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a 
     portion of the amount made available to carry out this title 
     for a fiscal year shall be available for assistance in the 
     major opium producing regions of Afghanistan, including 
     areas within the Badakshan, Helmand, and Qandahar 
     provinces with the goal of assisting in the elimination of 
     poppy cultivation. Assistance under the preceding sentence 
     shall be provided in coordination with the Government of 
     Afghanistan, in consultation with the local leaders of 
     such regions, and in coordination with the counter-
     narcotics efforts of other donors, particularly the United 
     Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), and the European 
     Union and its member states.
       (b) Limitation.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), amounts made 
     available to carry out this title for a fiscal year (except 
     amounts made available for assistance under paragraphs (1) 
     through (3) and subparagraphs (F) through (I) of paragraph 
     (4) of section 104(a)) may not be provided to an opium 
     producing region if, with respect to such region, the 
     Government of Afghanistan does not actively, effectively, and 
     vigorously participate in illicit narcotics suppression 
     activities or if, beginning on September 30, 2003, opium is 
     produced (other than in a de minimis amount, as measured by 
     surveys conducted by the United States Government, the United 
     Nations Drug Control Program, or other reliable sources) in 
     such region. Amounts withheld from an opium producing region 
     by reason of the application of the preceding sentence shall 
     be redistributed to qualifying opium producing regions.
       (2) Waiver.--
       (A) In general.--The President may waive the restriction on 
     assistance under the first sentence of paragraph (1) with 
     respect to an opium producing region if the President first 
     determines and certifies to Congress that it is in the vital 
     national interest of the United States to do so.
       (B) Contents of certification.--A certification transmitted 
     to Congress under subparagraph (A) shall include--
       (i) a full and complete description of the vital national 
     interest of the United States that is placed at risk if 
     assistance to the opium producing region involved is not 
     provided under this section; and
       (ii) an analysis of the risk described in clause (i) versus 
     the risk to the vital national interest of the United States 
     by reason of the failure to exercise the waiver authority of 
     subparagraph (A).
       (c) Additional Requirement.--The coordinator designated by 
     the President pursuant to section 106(a) and other 
     appropriate officers of the Department of State and the 
     United States Agency for International Development shall 
     ensure that assistance under this title is provided, in 
     appropriate amounts, to opium producing regions of 
     Afghanistan consistent with the requirements of subsections 
     (a) and (b).

     SEC. 106. COORDINATION OF ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Designation of Coordinator.--The President is strongly 
     urged to designate, within the Department of State, a 
     coordinator who shall be responsible for--
       (1) designing an overall strategy to advance United States 
     interests in Afghanistan;
       (2) ensuring program and policy coordination among agencies 
     of the United States Government in carrying out the policies 
     set forth in this title;
       (3) pursuing coordination with other countries and 
     international organizations with respect to assistance to 
     Afghanistan;
       (4) ensuring that United States assistance programs for 
     Afghanistan are consistent with this title;
       (5) ensuring proper management, implementation, and 
     oversight by agencies responsible for assistance programs for 
     Afghanistan; and
       (6) resolving policy and program disputes among United 
     States Government agencies with respect to United States 
     assistance for Afghanistan.
       (b) Additional Requirement.--An individual designated by 
     the President as coordinator pursuant to subsection (a) may 
     only be an individual who is appointed by the President by 
     and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

     SEC. 107. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

       (a) Applicable Administrative Authorities.--Except to the 
     extent inconsistent with the provisions of this title, the 
     administrative authorities under chapters 1 and 2 of part III 
     of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall apply to the 
     provision of assistance under this title to the same extent 
     and in the same manner as such authorities apply to the 
     provision of economic assistance under part I of such Act.
       (b) Use of the Expertise of Afghan-Americans.--In providing 
     assistance authorized by this title, the President should--
       (1) maximize the use, to the extent feasible, of the 
     services of Afghan-Americans who have expertise in the areas 
     for which assistance is authorized by this title; and
       (2) in the awarding of contracts and grants to implement 
     activities authorized under this title, encourage the 
     participation of such Afghan-Americans (including 
     organizations employing a significant number of such Afghan-
     Americans).
       (c) Administrative Expenses.--Not more than 5 percent of 
     the amount made available to a Federal department or agency 
     to carry out this title for a fiscal year may be used by the 
     department or agency for administrative expenses in 
     connection with such assistance.
       (d) Monitoring.--
       (1) Comptroller general.--The Comptroller General shall 
     monitor the provision of assistance under this title.
       (2) Inspector general of usaid.--
       (A) In general.--The Inspector General of the United States 
     Agency for International Development shall conduct audits, 
     inspections, and other activities, as appropriate, associated 
     with the expenditure of the funds to carry out this title.
       (B) Funding.--Not more than $1,500,000 of the amount made 
     available to carry out this title for a fiscal year shall be 
     made available to carry out subparagraph (A).
       (e) Congressional Notification Procedures.--Funds made 
     available to carry out this title may not be obligated until 
     15 days after notification of the proposed obligation of the 
     funds has been provided to the congressional committees 
     specified in section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961 in accordance with the procedures applicable to 
     reprogramming notifications under that section.
       (f) Authority To Provide Assistance.--Assistance under this 
     title may be provided notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law.

     SEC. 108. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the President to carry out this title $200,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 2002, $300,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 and 
     2004, and $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2005. Amounts 
     authorized to be appropriated pursuant to the preceding 
     sentence for fiscal year 2002 are in addition to amounts 
     otherwise available for assistance for Afghanistan.
       (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are--
       (1) authorized to remain available until expended; and
       (2) in addition to funds otherwise available for such 
     purposes, including, with respect to food assistance under 
     section 104(a)(1), funds available under title II of the 
     Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, 
     the Food for Progress Act of 1985, and section 416(b) of the 
     Agricultural Act of 1949.

  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the remainder 
of the bill be printed in the Record and open to amendment at any 
point.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the remainder of the bill is as follows:

TITLE II--MILITARY ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN AND CERTAIN OTHER FOREIGN 
               COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

     SEC. 201. SUPPORT FOR SECURITY DURING TRANSITION IN 
                   AFGHANISTAN.

       It is the sense of Congress that, during the transition to 
     a broad-based, multi-ethnic, gender-sensitive, fully 
     representative government in Afghanistan, the United States 
     should support--
       (1) the development of a civilian-controlled and centrally-
     governed standing Afghanistan army that respects human 
     rights;
       (2) the creation and training of a professional civilian 
     police force that respects human rights; and

[[Page H2761]]

       (3) a multinational security force in Afghanistan.

     SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Types of Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--(A) To the extent that funds are 
     appropriated in any fiscal year for the purposes of this Act, 
     the President may provide, on such terms and conditions as he 
     may determine, defense articles, defense services, counter-
     narcotics, crime control and police training services, and 
     other support (including training) to the Government of 
     Afghanistan.
       (B) To the extent that funds are appropriated in any fiscal 
     year for these purposes, the President may provide, on such 
     terms and conditions as he may determine, defense articles, 
     defense services, and other support (including training) to 
     eligible foreign countries and eligible international 
     organizations.
       (C) The assistance authorized under subparagraph (B) shall 
     be used for directly supporting the activities described in 
     section 203.
       (2) Drawdown authority.--The President is authorized to 
     direct the drawdown of defense articles, defense services, 
     and military education and training for the Government of 
     Afghanistan, eligible foreign countries, and eligible 
     international organizations.
       (3) Authority to acquire by contract or otherwise.--The 
     assistance authorized under paragraphs (1) and (2) and under 
     Public Law 105-338 may include the supply of defense 
     articles, defense services, counter-narcotics, crime control 
     and police training services, other support, and military 
     education and training that are acquired by contract or 
     otherwise.
       (b) Amount of Assistance.--The aggregate value (as defined 
     in section 644(m) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961) of 
     assistance provided under subsection (a)(2) may not exceed 
     $300,000,000, provided that such limitation shall be 
     increased by any amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations in section 204(b)(1).

     SEC. 203. ELIGIBLE FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND ELIGIBLE 
                   INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

       A foreign country or international organization shall be 
     eligible to receive assistance under section 202 if such 
     foreign country or international organization is 
     participating in or directly supporting United States 
     military activities authorized under Public Law 107-40 or is 
     participating in military, peacekeeping, or policing 
     operations in Afghanistan aimed at restoring or maintaining 
     peace and security in that country, except that no country 
     the government of which has been determined by the Secretary 
     of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of 
     international terrorism under section 620A of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371), section 6(j)(1) of 
     the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 
     2405(j)(1)), or section 40(d) of the Arms Export Control Act 
     (22 U.S.C. 2780(d)) shall be eligible to receive assistance 
     under section 202.

     SEC. 204. REIMBURSEMENT FOR ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Defense articles, defense services, and 
     military education and training provided under section 
     202(a)(2) shall be made available without reimbursement to 
     the Department of Defense except to the extent that funds are 
     appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations 
     under subsection (b)(1).
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the President such sums as may be necessary to reimburse the 
     applicable appropriation, fund, or account for the value (as 
     defined in section 644(m) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961) of defense articles, defense services, or military 
     education and training provided under section 202(a)(2).
       (2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) are 
     authorized to remain available until expended, and are in 
     addition to amounts otherwise available for the purposes 
     described in this title.

     SEC. 205. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Government of Afghanistan.--Assistance to the 
     Government of Afghanistan under this title may be provided 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law.
       (b) Eligible Foreign Countries and Eligible International 
     Organizations.--
       (1) Authority.--The President may provide assistance under 
     this title to any eligible foreign country or eligible 
     international organization notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law (other than provisions of this title) if the 
     President determines that such assistance is important to the 
     national security interest of the United States and notifies 
     the Committee on International Relations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate of such determination at least 15 days in advance of 
     providing such assistance.
       (2) Notification.--The report described in paragraph (1) 
     shall include information relating to the type and amount of 
     assistance proposed to be provided and the actions that the 
     proposed recipient of such assistance has taken or has 
     committed to take.

     SEC. 206. SUNSET.

       The authority of this title shall expire on December 31, 
     2004.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Hyde

  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Hyde:
       Page 3, line 16, insert ``civil service, financial,'' after 
     ``health care,''.
       Page 10, line 9, insert before the period the following: 
     ``, and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced 
     persons, including those persons who need assistance to 
     return to their homes, through the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees and other organizations charged 
     with providing such assistance''.
       Page 11, line 23, strike ``not less than''.
       Page 11, line 24, strike ``should'' and insert ``is 
     authorized to''.
       Page 14, line 2, strike ``and''.
       Page 14, after line 2, insert the following:
       (K) programs for housing, rebuilding urban infrastructure, 
     and supporting basic urban services; and
       Page 14, line 3, strike ``(K)'' and insert ``(L)''.
       Page 15, line 21, strike ``and'' the second place it 
     appears.
       Page 15, line 25, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
       Page 15, after line 25, insert the following:
       (xii) support for establishment of a central bank and 
     central budgeting authority.
       Page 18, strike line 4 and all that follows through line 23 
     and insert the following:
       (2) Waiver.--
       (A) In general.--The President may waive the application of 
     subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) if the President 
     first determines and certifies to Congress that it is 
     important to the national interest of the United States to do 
     so.
       (B) Contents of certification.--A certification transmitted 
     to Congress under subparagraph (A) shall include a memorandum 
     of justification that explains the basis for the 
     determination of the President to waive the application of 
     subparagraph (A) or (B) or paragraph (1).
       Page 19, strike line 1 and all that follows through line 13 
     on page 21 and insert the following:

     SEC. 105. PROMOTING COOPERATION IN MAJOR OPIUM PRODUCING 
                   REGIONS OF AFGHANISTAN.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     (except as provided in subsection (c)), subsections (a) 
     through (g) of section 490 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291j), as in effect on January 9, 2002, 
     shall apply with respect to United States bilateral and 
     multilateral assistance to Afghanistan for each of fiscal 
     years 2003 through 2005.
       (b) Authority To Apply Section 490 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961.--
       (1) In general.--The President is authorized and 
     encouraged, to the maximum extent practicable, to apply the 
     provisions of subsections (a), (b), (c), and (e) of section 
     490 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to United States 
     bilateral and multilateral assistance to major opium 
     producing regions of Afghanistan, including regions within 
     the Badakshan, Helmand, and Qandahar provinces.
       (2) Redistribution.--The President is authorized and 
     encouraged to redistribute any United States assistance 
     withheld from an opium producing region pursuant to this 
     subsection to other major opium producing regions of 
     Afghanistan with respect to which United States assistance 
     has not been withheld pursuant to this subsection.
       (3) Major opium producing regions.--The President may 
     define or redefine the boundaries of major opium producing 
     regions of Afghanistan for purposes of this subsection.
       (c) Requirement to Supersede.--The provisions of this 
     section shall not be superseded except by a provision of law 
     enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act which 
     specifically repeals, modifies, or otherwise supersedes the 
     provision of this section.
       Page 21, line 15, strike ``(a) Designation of 
     Coordinator.--''.
       Page 22, strike line 9 and all that follows through line 
     13.
       Page 23, after line 9, insert the following (and 
     redesignate subsequent subsections accordingly):
       (c) Donations of Manufacturing Equipment; Use of Land Grant 
     Colleges and Universities.--In providing assistance 
     authorized by this title, the President, to the maximum 
     extent practicable, should--
       (1) encourage the donation of appropriate excess or 
     obsolete manufacturing and related equipment by United States 
     businesses (including small businesses) for the 
     reconstruction of Afghanistan; and
       (2) utilize research conducted by United States land grant 
     colleges and universities and the technical expertise of 
     professionals within those institutions, particularly in the 
     areas of agriculture and rural development.
       Page 24, beginning on line 18, strike ``$200,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2002, $300,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2003 and 2004,'' and insert ``$300,000,000 for each of the 
     fiscal years 2002 through 2004''.

  Mr. HYDE (during the reading). Madam Chairman, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Illinois?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I have a bipartisan amendment that I am 
very pleased to present. It was worked out with the cooperation, and 
that word describes the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
perfectly, the ranking minority member.
  This is primarily technical, but it does make several substantive 
changes in the bill. For example, it deletes language which would 
require that $15

[[Page H2762]]

million of the amount authorized in the bill for counternarcotics be 
made available for use by the United Nations Drug Control Program. The 
amount of $15 million remains authorized, but it would not be 
earmarked. This was the only earmark in the bill. We fully expect that 
at least that much money will go to the United Nations Drug Control 
Program, which has been very helpful in our counternarcotics effort.
  This amendment also modifies language in the committee-reported bill 
to conform the amount of assistance authorized to be appropriated for 
Afghanistan for fiscal year 2002 to the amount proposed to be 
appropriated in the House version of the Supplemental Appropriations 
Act. That is $300 million, instead of $200 million, which was 
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2002 in the version of 
H.R. 3994 reported by the Committee on International Relations.
  In addition, this amendment deletes language which requires that if 
the President designates a coordinator of assistance for Afghanistan, 
that individual shall be appointed with the advice and consent of the 
Senate. This amendment was requested by the administration, which has 
already named a coordinator, who is now in place. The administration 
does not want to pull that individual off his job to wait the many 
months a Senate confirmation may well require.
  Finally, Madam Chairman, we included in this en bloc amendment 
several recommendations made by Members. At the suggestion of the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), we included language that would 
assure, to the maximum extent practicable, that our President utilize 
research conducted by U.S. Land Grant Colleges and Universities in the 
area of agriculture and rural development.
  A similar amendment was included at the suggestion of the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg) that our President encourage the donation of 
appropriate excess manufacturing equipment by United States businesses 
for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
  Also at the suggestion of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), 
we expanded the assistance for voluntary refugee repatriation to 
include humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons.
  Finally, at the suggestion of the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Blumenauer), we made it clear by adding a new subsection that money 
should be used for programs for housing, rebuilding urban 
infrastructure and supporting basic urban services.
  I again would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) and other Members for their significant contributions. I urge 
Members to vote in favor of this amendment.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment.
  Madam Chairman, I first want to commend my good friend, the chairman 
of the committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for his 
amendment. As the gentleman from Illinois knows, our staffs have worked 
closely together on the text of this amendment, which I believe 
addresses all of the various concerns expressed by the administration 
on H.R. 3994; and it conforms this legislation to recent developments.
  I do not believe there are any objections on our side to the Hyde 
amendment, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  Madam Chairman, I deeply appreciate the work that has been done on 
behalf of the majority and minority, the Chair, the ranking member, and 
their staffs.
  Part of the reason we are in Afghanistan today is because the world 
turned its back on Afghanistan after the collapse of the former Soviet 
Union. The Taliban and other thugs and warlords and misfits filled the 
power vacuum left after the country was devastated. The lesson from 
past efforts is that you cannot leave a shattered country to its own 
devices and the tender mercies of the most corrupt and violent.
  We have a good start before us today, and it is made better by the 
elements of the manager's amendment. The Afghanistan Freedom Support 
Act of 2002 will provide $1.05 billion of reconstruction aid to 
Afghanistan over 4 years. The bill focuses on creating a stable 
environment for Afghanistan, addressing a wide variety of issues we 
have already heard related to on the floor.
  It is, however, only a start. The United Nations and the World Bank 
estimate that reconstruction of Afghanistan will require at least $1.7 
billion in the first year, $10 billion over the next 5 years, and $15 
billion in the next decade. Given that the world is still reeling, and, 
indeed, shots are still being fired, others argue that these numbers 
are far too low and put the overall cost at closer to $30 billion over 
the next decade. But whatever the amount, we must be sensitive to a 
critical issue in the long-term political and social economic stability 
of Afghanistan, and that is the viability of its urban areas.
  This is something, Madam Chairman, that really does not get the 
attention of people in this Chamber, in fact by the Federal Government, 
as we deal with issues of international security; but the CIA has 
ranked the problems of urbanization in the developing world as one of 
the seven top security concerns, suggesting that cities will be sources 
of crime and instability as ethnic and religious differences exacerbate 
the competition over scarcer jobs and resources.
  The problems of poverty, unsafe drinking water, inadequate access to 
medical care and sanitation, too often we ignore these as we look at 
what happens in the rural areas of these developing countries. While we 
all recognize the importance that agriculture plays in Afghanistan's 
redevelopment, the role of its cities are critical. It is an important 
component of rebuilding this war-torn country. It is necessary that the 
appropriate balance be reached between urban and rural development.
  Through many years of civil war and the war on terrorism, the cities 
of Afghanistan have been devastated. With the real possibility of an 
influx of people into cities looking for work, especially if the 
drought continues to damage the agricultural sector, extraordinary 
challenges will be facing the cities, and these will only be 
compounded.
  Yes, Afghanistan is largely rural. Only 22 percent of the country is 
urbanized. But with an annual growth rate of 5.3 percent projected over 
the next 12 years, this problem is going to compound. I had offered up 
an amendment, which I deeply appreciate having been made a part of the 
manager's amendment, that seeks an appropriate level of foreign aid to 
be targeted to restoring the urban infrastructure.
  Any attempt to provide assistance to help foster political 
stabilization and economic development must recognize the critical role 
that these cities are going to play. This is the area that is the 
cultural center, of governmental interests, where the politics are 
going to be played out and where things that in the countryside are 
difficult, when you are talking about disease, sanitation, lack of 
potable water, in a city, these become devastating.
  In addition, Afghanistan faces a series of challenges that are unique 
to its history of conflict and war that has devastated the country, the 
relocation of refugees and the environmental challenges linked to 2 
decades of war-like land mines. It is important to recognize the 
capital city of Kabul is going to be critical to foster the support for 
the newly restored political regime and help build its new economy.
  Today's bill is an important step, and I applaud the work of our 
committee leadership, the chairman and ranking member, in ensuring 
Afghanistan's urban areas are included in our aid to this country. It 
is vital to our long-term political interest and to the economic 
success of the people of Afghanistan to rebuild their war-torn country 
and to become an important ally of the United States in years to come.
  When we are approaching a period in the next year or two when half of 
the world's population is going to move to cities, this is a model for 
the rest of our aid as well.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Lantos

  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Lantos:
       Insert after section 205 of the bill the following (and 
     make such conforming amendments as may be necessary):


[[Page H2763]]



     SEC. 206. PROMOTING SECURE DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN AND OTHER 
                   ASSISTANCE IN AFGHANISTAN.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The President has declared his view that the United 
     States should provide significant assistance to Afghanistan 
     so that it never again becomes a haven for terrorism.
       (2) The delivery of humanitarian and reconstruction 
     assistance from the international community is necessary for 
     the safe return of refugees and is critical to the future 
     stability of Afghanistan.
       (3) Enhanced stability in Afghanistan through an improved 
     security environment is critical to the fostering of the 
     Afghan Interim Authority and the traditional Afghan assembly 
     or ``Loya Jirga'' process, which is intended to lead to a 
     permanent national government in Afghanistan, and also is 
     essential for the participation of women in Afghan society.
       (4) Incidents of violence between armed factions and local 
     and regional commanders, and serious abuses of human rights, 
     including attacks on women and ethnic minorities throughout 
     Afghanistan, create an insecure, volatile, and unsafe 
     environment in parts of Afghanistan, displacing thousands of 
     Afghan civilians from their local communities.
       (5) The violence and lawlessness may jeopardize the ``Loya 
     Jirga'' process, undermine efforts to build a strong central 
     government, severely impede reconstruction and the delivery 
     of humanitarian assistance, and increase the likelihood that 
     parts of Afghanistan will once again become safe havens for 
     Al-Qaeda, Taliban forces, and drug traffickers.
       (6) The lack of security and lawlessness may also 
     perpetuate the need for United States Armed Forces in 
     Afghanistan and threaten the ability of the United States to 
     meet its military objectives.
       (7) The International Security Assistance Force in 
     Afghanistan, currently led by Turkey, and composed of forces 
     from other willing countries without the participation of 
     United States Armed Forces, is deployed only in Kabul and 
     currently does not have the mandate or the capacity to 
     provide security to other parts of Afghanistan.
       (8) Due to the ongoing military campaign in Afghanistan, 
     the United States does not contribute troops to the 
     International Security Assistance Force but has provided 
     support to other countries that are doing so.
       (9) The United States is providing political, financial, 
     training, and other assistance to the Afghan Interim 
     Authority as it begins to build a national army and police 
     force to help provide security throughout Afghanistan, but 
     this effort is not meeting the immediate security needs of 
     Afghanistan.
       (10) Because of these immediate security needs, the Afghan 
     Interim Authority, its Chairman, Hamid Karzai, and many 
     Afghan regional leaders have called for the International 
     Security Assistance Force, which has successfully brought 
     stability to Kabul, to be expanded and deployed throughout 
     the country, and this request has been strongly supported by 
     a wide range of international humanitarian organizations, 
     including the International Committee of the Red Cross, 
     Catholic Relief Services, and Refugees International.
       (11)(A) On January 29, 2002, the President stated that 
     ``[w]e will help the new Afghan government provide the 
     security that is the foundation of peace''.
       (B) On March 25, 2002, the Secretary of Defense stated, 
     with respect to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, that ``the 
     first thing . . . you need for anything else to happen, for 
     hospitals to happen, for roads to happen, for refugees to 
     come back, for people to be fed and humanitarian workers to 
     move on the country . . . [y]ou've got to have security''.
       (b) Statement of Policy.--It should be the policy of the 
     United States to support measures to help meet the immediate 
     security needs of Afghanistan in order to promote safe and 
     effective delivery of humanitarian and other assistance 
     throughout Afghanistan, further the rule of law and civil 
     order, and support the formation of a functioning, 
     representative Afghan national government.
       (c) Preparation of Strategy.--Not later than 45 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
     transmit to the Committee on International Relations and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate a strategy for meeting the 
     immediate and long-term security needs of Afghanistan in 
     order to promote safe and effective delivery of humanitarian 
     and other assistance throughout Afghanistan, further the rule 
     of law and civil order, and support the formation of a 
     functioning, representative Afghan national government.

  Mr. LANTOS (during the reading). Madam Chairman, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, my amendment declares that it should be 
the policy of the United States to support measures to meet the 
immediate security needs of Afghanistan and requires the President to 
submit a strategy for meeting the immediate security needs in 
Afghanistan.
  I want to put my amendment in its proper context, Madam Chairman. 
There has been no one on either side of the aisle more in support of 
the President's global war on terrorism than this Member, and that 
support continues. But I think it is important that while we support 
the President in this major global bipartisan effort we do not suspend 
our critical qualities. Our amendment deals with one such issue.
  The United States and its coalition partners have freed Afghanistan 
from the chokehold of all the al Qaeda terrorists and the repressive 
regime of the Taliban. With the support of the international community, 
a new interim authority is now in place and the country is now on a 
path uncertainly towards peace and stability.
  That very peace and stability is being threatened as the new 
government of Afghanistan under Chairman Karzai is being undermined by 
lawlessness and insecurity. Afghanistan is in grave danger of relapsing 
to the very conditions of violence and warlordism that created the 
Taliban and attracted al Qaeda to operate in Afghanistan.
  Virtually the only safe place in Afghanistan where people can move 
freely, where humanitarian organizations and government ministries can 
deliver much-needed relief assistance and services, is Kabul, the 
capital, which is under the protection of the International Security 
Assistance Force known as ISAF. ISAF, soon to be under the leadership 
of the government of Turkey, has demonstrated how effectively an 
international security presence contributes to stability and safety.
  But Kabul itself is in danger of being overrun as refugees and 
displaced people continue to flood the capital in search of security. 
Nearly half of all the returning refugees are going to Kabul, and the 
city is already struggling to cope with this horrendous influx.
  Outside of Kabul, Madam Chairman, Afghanistan continues to be a land 
of lawlessness, a land where every thug with a rifle can set up an 
illegal checkpoint to extort money from travelers, while the unarmed 
and outnumbered police cower in their makeshift headquarters. It is a 
land where women are still too fearful to remove their burqas and where 
relief workers risk their lives or have to offer hefty bribes to 
warlords and drug barons just to provide food and medicine to those in 
desperate need of assistance.
  This is not the vision we had for Afghanistan as we sought to help to 
liberate it from the grasp of the terrorists and the Taliban. President 
Bush has pledged to help restore security and rebuild Afghanistan, and 
Secretary Rumsfeld himself noted on numerous occasions that security is 
fundamental to all other issues and objectives in Afghanistan. This is 
certainly not the Afghanistan that Chairman Karzai promised to his 
people when he asked them to rally behind him and behind the 
international war on terrorism.

                              {time}  1600

  In fact, Chairman Karzai has repeatedly pleaded with the United 
States and the international community to expand the mandate of the 
International Security Assistance Force beyond Kabul, and to help 
address the security situation.
  Madam Chair, the purpose of the Afghanistan Freedom and 
Reconstruction Act is to help transform Afghanistan from a land of 
repression and chaos into a safe and secure environment where freedom, 
human rights and democracy can grow and terrorism and opium production 
will disappear.
  The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
has expired.
  (By unanimous consent, Mr. Lantos was allowed to proceed for 3 
additional minutes.)
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, none of this can be accomplished without 
security. The United States is providing critical assistance to create 
a new professional, multi-ethnic Afghan army that will address 
Afghanistan's long-term security needs. I support this assistance, and 
the bill before the House today authorizes military assistance to 
contribute to this effort.
  However, building Afghan security forces to the point where they can 
meet the security needs of Afghanistan will take at least a year-and-a-
half and

[[Page H2764]]

probably considerably longer. The period between now and the time that 
the Afghan military force can assume its duties is the critical period 
to assure the future of a secure Afghanistan. Something must be done 
now, Madam Chairman, whether it is the expansion of a multinational 
force or through some other mechanism to stabilize the countryside. 
Neither we nor our Afghan friends have the luxury to wait until a 
future security force, as yet only dreamed of, becomes fully trained 
and deployed.
  My amendment requires the administration to address this issue in a 
constructive manner. It requires the administration to formulate a 
strategy to increase security in the country during the transition to a 
fully functioning national army and police force.
  I fear that a failure to do so may lead to a failed Afghanistan. It 
will reduce international assistance. It will delay the accomplishment 
of our military objectives far longer. It will compel our military to 
stay in the region.
  Madam Chairman, it is for all of these reasons that I offer my 
amendment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it, in 
supporting the people of Afghanistan. Without security, our courageous 
military's effort will be in vain. We must provide security throughout 
the whole of the country, not just in the capital city of Kabul. This 
makes common sense. It makes military sense. It will advance and 
promote U.S. national security.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment.
  (Mr. HYDE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I want to enthusiastically accept the 
amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos). It 
improves the bill greatly. It emphasizes the importance of creating a 
secure environment in Afghanistan to ensure that humanitarian agencies 
will have access to meet the emergency needs of the Afghanistan people, 
and it calls on the President to develop a plan to address security 
concerns in Afghanistan.
  To those people who might think this is too prescriptive, too 
interventionist, I think otherwise. I think it is only prudent to 
suggest to the President that we are authorizing a lot of money and we 
have a lot of things to be done, and we are expressing our hope and our 
request really that he come up with a strategy for employing the funds 
and the resources we are authorizing, because it is vitally important 
that we not flounder over there, that we know what we are doing, and 
that people think about an orderly way to bring security and stability 
to that part of the country. This is prudent, it is wise, and I hope my 
colleagues will accept it.
  Madam Chairman, I congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) for adding it to our bill.
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number 
of words, and I rise in support of the Lantos amendment.
  Madam Chairman, I congratulate the gentleman from California for 
offering his amendment, because it highlights a particularly important 
aspect of our current efforts in Afghanistan. Everything we have 
achieved to the present time is dependent on the security situation in 
Afghanistan. No level of assistance will be effective if aid workers 
cannot reach those in need.
  Indeed, the Committee on International Relations received testimony 
from AID administrator Andrew Natsios that the current security 
situation on the ground is unsuitable for rapid or sustainable change. 
The Secretary of Defense has also said that before anything else can 
happen in Afghanistan, there must be security.
  Yet, humanitarian aid organizations have reported threats to their 
workers and attempts at extortion by local commanders. These conditions 
will not only threaten the delivery of humanitarian assistance, but 
they will make it impossible to establish an effective program of 
reconstruction.
  Recent events such as the assassination attempt on Defense Minister 
Fahim, the foiled plot to kill Afghanistan's King Zahir Shah, which 
delayed his return to his country, and the tragic killing of a United 
Nations aid worker are all part of a disturbing pattern of rising 
violence, a pattern that threatens to undermine the Loya Jirga process. 
In fact, Human Rights Watch reports that insecurity in certain 
provinces has caused the cancellation of Loya Jirga elections in 
portions of those provinces.
  Madam Chairman, there are immediate security needs that as of now are 
going unmet. If we do not address the situation now, U.S. troops who 
are on the ground will have to stay in Afghanistan even longer. Such 
insecurity aspects put our troops at greater risk and threaten our 
ability to meet our military objectives in Afghanistan.
  I know that the administration is opposed to expanding the 
International Security Force beyond the boundaries of Kabul, and I know 
the President supports the training of an Afghan police force and a 
national army. I support the President in the rebuilding of these 
institutions. Afghanistan should ultimately be responsible for their 
own security. But these are long-term solutions. Even the Department of 
Defense acknowledges that it will be at least 18 months before a 
national army is ready. What are the citizens of Afghanistan to do in 
the meantime?
  We need a strategy to bridge the gap between now and the time when 
the Afghans can truly provide their own security across the country and 
that, Madam Chairman, that is what the amendment asks for.
  Since the President has already foreclosed the option of expanding 
the International Security Assistance Force, I believe that it is 
incumbent upon him and the administration to provide an alternative 
solution. Without U.S. leadership on this question, nothing will be 
done to address it. The President has said, and I agree, that 
Afghanistan's persistent poverty, war, and chaos laid the groundwork 
for the Taliban to seize power. If nothing is done now to address the 
security situation in Afghanistan, we risk plunging that nation back 
into the conflict from which it has so recently emerged.
  Madam Chairman, the Lantos amendment can help us to avoid that fate, 
and I urge all of our colleagues to support it.
  Mr. PAUL. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of 
words.
  Madam Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. The President 
has not been interested in this legislation. I do not see a good reason 
to give him the burden of reporting back to us in 45 days to explain 
how he is going to provide for Afghan security for the long term. How 
long is long term? We have been in Korea now for 50 years. Are we 
planning to send troops that provide national security for Afghanistan? 
I think we should be more concerned about the security of this country 
and not wondering how we are going to provide the troops for long-term 
security in Afghanistan. We should be more concerned about the security 
of our ports.
  Madam Chairman, over the last several days and almost continuously, 
as a matter of fact, many Members get up and talk about any expenditure 
or any tax cut as an attack on Social Security, but we do not hear this 
today because there is a coalition, well built, to support this 
intervention and presumed occupation of Afghanistan. But the truth is, 
there are monetary and budget consequences for this.
  After this bill is passed, if this bill is to pass, we will be close 
to $2 billion in aid to Afghanistan, not counting the military. Now, 
that is an astounding amount of money, but it seems like it is 
irrelevant here. Twelve months ago, the national debt was $365 billion 
less than it is today, and people say we are just getting away from 
having surpluses. Well, $365 billion is a huge deficit, and the 
national debt is going up at that rate. April revenues were down 30 
percent from 1 year ago. The only way we pay for programs like this is 
either we rob Social Security or we print the money, but both are very 
harmful to poor people and people living on a limited income. Our funds 
are not unlimited.
  I know there is a lot of good intention; nobody in this body is 
saying we are going over there to cause mischief, but let me tell my 
colleagues, there is a lot of reasons not to be all that optimistic 
about these wonderful results and what we are going to accomplish over 
there.
  Madam Chairman, earlier the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Rohrabacher) came up with an astounding reason for us to do this. He 
said that

[[Page H2765]]

we owe this to Afghanistan. Now, I have heard all kinds of arguments 
for foreign aid and foreign intervention, but the fact that we owe this 
to Afghanistan? Do we know what we owe? We owe responsibility to the 
American taxpayer. We owe responsibility to the security of this 
country.
  One provision of this bill takes a $300 million line of credit from 
our DOD and just gives the President the authority to take $300 million 
of weapons away from us and give it to somebody in Afghanistan. Well, 
that dilutes our defense, that does not help our defense. This is not 
beneficial. We do not need to have an occupation of Afghanistan for 
security of this country. There is no evidence for that.
  The occupation of Afghanistan is unnecessary. It is going to be very 
costly, and it is very dangerous.
  My colleagues might say, well, this is all for democracy. For 
democracy? Well, did we care about democracy in Venezuela? It seemed 
like we tried to undermine that just recently. Do we care about the 
democracy in Pakistan? A military dictator takes over and he becomes 
our best ally, and we use his land, and yet he has been a friend to the 
Taliban, and who knows, bin Laden may even be in Pakistan. Here we are 
saying we are doing it all for democracy. Now, that is just pulling our 
leg a little bit too much. This is not the reason that we are over 
there. We are over there for a lot of other reasons and, hopefully, 
things will be improved.
  But I am terribly concerned that we will spend a lot of money, we 
will become deeply mired in Afghanistan, and we will not do a lot 
better than the Soviets did.
  Now, that is a real possibility that we should not ignore. We say, 
oh, no, everything sounds rosy and we are going to do this, we are 
going to do it differently, and this time it is going to be okay. Well, 
if we look at the history of that land and that country, I would think 
that we should have second thoughts.
  It has been said that one of the reasons why we need this legislation 
is to help pay for drug eradication. Now, that is a good idea. That 
would be nice if we could do that. But the drug production has exploded 
since we have been there. In the last year, it is just going wild. 
Well, that is even more reason we have to spend money because we 
contributed to the explosion of the drug production. There is money in 
this bill, and maybe some good will come of this; there is money in 
this bill that is going to be used to teach the Afghan citizens not to 
use drugs.
  The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul) has 
expired.
  (By unanimous consent, Mr. Paul was allowed to proceed for 2 
additional minutes.)

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, if this is successful, if we teach the Afghan 
people not to use drugs, that would be wonderful. Maybe then we can do 
something about the ravenous appetite of our people for drugs which is 
the basic cause of so much drug production.
  So to spend money on these kinds of programs I think is just a little 
bit of a stretch. Already there have been 33 tribal leaders that have 
said they will not attend this Loya Jirga, that they are not going to 
attend. The fact that we are going to spend millions of dollars trying 
to gather these people together and tell them what to do with their 
country, I think the odds of producing a secure country are slim.
  Already in the papers just a few weeks ago it was reported in The 
Washington Post that our CIA made an attempt to assassinate a former 
prime minister of Afghanistan. He may have been a bum for all I know, 
but do Members think that sits well? He was not an ally of bin Laden, 
he was not a Taliban member, yet our CIA is over there getting 
involved. As a matter of fact, that is against our law, if that report 
is true. Yet, that is what the papers have reported.
  So I would say that we should move cautiously. I think this is very 
dangerous. I know nobody else has spoken out against this bill, but I 
do not see much benefit coming from this. I know it is well motivated, 
but it is going to cost a lot of money, we are going to get further 
engaged, more troops are going to go over there; and now that we are a 
close ally of Pakistan, we do know that Pakistan and India both have 
nuclear weapons, and we are sitting right next to them. So I would 
hardly think this is advantageous for our security, nor advantageous 
for the American people, nor advantageous to the American taxpayer.
  I see this as a threat to our security. It does not reassure me one 
bit. This is what scares me. It scares me when we send troops into 
places like Vietnam and Korea and other places, because it ultimately 
comes back to haunt us.
  Mr. SAWYER. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of 
words.
  Madam Chairman, it is a privilege here today to rise on behalf of the 
Lantos amendment and to express my gratitude, both to him and to the 
chairman of the Committee, for their bipartisan work on this overall 
bill, and to rise in support of this amendment.
  I think it is very clear that if we are to accomplish the worthwhile 
goals that have been expressed in the body of this bill and in the 
previous Hyde amendment, that the substance embodied in the Lantos 
amendment is a requisite to achieve that.
  In an interesting kind of way, I have to say that I find something to 
agree with in the previous speaker's remarks. We do not have to look 
much further than our own hemisphere, south to Colombia, to see the 
consequences of failing to address the importance of stabilizing 
conditions before we attempt to achieve real reform.
  All we have to do is to look at what is going on with refugees and 
internally displaced populations there to understand the enormously 
destabilizing effect that those populations have in a country where we 
have not achieved the kind of security that is contemplated in the 
Lantos amendment.
  In Afghanistan, the U.N. High Council on Refugees estimates that 
there are some 1 million internally displaced persons. There are some 
3.7 million refugees in Iran and Pakistan that may well return. Of 
those displaced persons, some 1.5 million children have lost a parent, 
and over half a million of those have lost both parents. The strain 
that that places on a society attempting to stabilize itself is 
extraordinary.
  We need to understand, though, that for those who would argue that 
dealing with that kind of problem is addressing the symptom rather than 
the cause, we need to understand that when it comes to instability, 
those kinds of displaced persons and populations straining at the 
infrastructure of a nation are not only a symptom of instability, but 
are in themselves a cause and exacerbator of that kind of instability.
  We will not be able to address those kinds of problems until we have 
the kind of stability that is anticipated in the Lantos amendment.
  So in conclusion, I would suggest that the lessons that we have 
learned over a difficult time in this hemisphere give us guidance as to 
the kinds of problems that we are capable of avoiding with the kind of 
wisdom, careful analysis, insight, and action that is contemplated in 
the Lantos amendment. I rise in support of that amendment.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of 
words.
  Madam Chairman, I also rise in strong support of the Lantos 
amendment. The Lantos amendment encourages the President of our country 
to improve security in Afghanistan and to support that effort. With 
women's security being most at risk, this amendment is especially 
critical for their quality of life and for their future.
  A secure and stable Afghanistan is important for all the 
international community and for all Americans who value human rights 
and value democracy. Taliban rule in Afghanistan has illustrated how 
systematic violations against women, sanctioned by the governing 
authorities, can lead to danger and instability in those areas. 
Clearly, a country is not stable and/or democratic if half of its 
population remains oppressed.
  Recent events have opened the door to a restoration of the rights of 
Afghan women, and today a fledgling government is forming; yet 
unacceptable violations against women continue. Afghanistan may soon 
enjoy its new democratic legislature; yet Afghan women are daily 
threatened with sexual violence and public intimidation.

[[Page H2766]]

  The Lantos amendment seeks to improve the lives of Afghan women, and 
that is why I urge all of my colleagues to support it. I thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for providing this amendment.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite 
number of words.
  Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Lantos amendment.
  Just to mention a few of the points that have been made here that 
might need a little bit of clarification, when we talk about the money 
that is being spent here, yes, it does cost us money to do something. I 
think the American people need to consider exactly how much money we 
are talking about. They also need to consider how much money we have 
already spent because we were not responsible in the years past.
  I think the $2 billion that this project will cost us, $2 or $3 
billion, I am not sure at the end exactly how much it is going to cost, 
but I am sure that it is far less expensive than what it has cost us in 
rebuilding lower Manhattan and the Trade Center, and I am sure it cost 
us a lot more for not being responsible in the years past. If we would 
have spent this money 10 years ago or 5 years ago, perhaps we would 
have saved hundreds of billions of dollars, which is what this will 
cost us in the end.
  When we left, yes, it is very difficult for one to imagine that we 
would owe a people who fought for our freedom a debt. Yes, it is very 
difficult for us to imagine that a group of people like the people of 
Afghanistan, who lost a huge percentage of their population in fighting 
the Soviet Army, in alliance with the United States, that we owe them a 
debt, because after what they did with their courage, their blood, the 
sacrifices of their families and homes, it made the world safer because 
it broke the will of the Soviet leadership, and shortly thereafter the 
Soviet Union disintegrated. It probably would not have done so if it 
was not for the courage and the tenacity and the sacrifice of the 
people of Afghanistan, who we encouraged to go and do our fighting for 
us.
  Yes, we owe the people of Afghanistan a debt, and when we did not 
repay that debt, and when we walked away and told them to sleep in the 
rubble and let their children continue to be blown apart by land mines 
that we had given them to plant during the war against the Soviets, but 
we did not bother to stick around to help them clear them after the war 
was over, yes, there was a void. That void was filled by the Taliban 
and that void was filled by bin Laden and that void was filled by evil. 
When good people are not responsible and walk away, that void is 
usually filled by the evil people of this world. If there is any lesson 
of history, that is the lesson of history.
  It is not the ``loyal jerga,'' however you pronounced it, I say to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul). It is called a Loya Jirga. It is 
not a gathering of people who are being gathered for us to tell them 
what to do; this is a noble effort on our part to have all of the 
tribal leaders and local leaders of Afghanistan to gather together so 
they can determine what they want for their country, and it is 
something we should be proud of.
  Yes, there is a $300 million cost, military cost, to that. That $300 
million is a drawdown so that the government of Afghanistan can create 
a military force that will permit Afghanistan to again be a unified 
country, rather than torn apart by warlords who are more powerful than 
the government, which is committed to the rights and liberties of their 
people at the center. We need to work with those people who want to 
rebuild a free and democratic Afghanistan.
  For 10 years, I tried to struggle to get the King of Afghanistan 
back, who was dedicated to serving the role that other monarchs have 
served in situations like that, in Spain and in Greece and elsewhere, 
as a transition figure to democracy. I was opposed by our State 
Department, who undermined that effort. I am sure there are a lot of 
regrets now in our government that what we did not do in the past ended 
up creating this horrible situation on September 11, where thousands of 
Americans died.
  But I can assure my colleagues that we will not have to have that 
same regret if we do what is right today, because, yes, there will be 
problems in the future, but those problems will be much greater if we 
do not act. If we do not back those people who are positive and want to 
have more democracy and want to respect the rights of their people, 
other people will fill the void, and then our challenges and problems 
and costs will be much greater.
  What we are proposing today is a good deal. Yes, it costs money. It 
is a good deal. Also, let us not forget that other people around the 
world are joining us, and if we refrain from picking up our share of 
the load to help rebuild Afghanistan, our neighbors throughout the 
world will note that and they will not do their share. So this is a 
good deal in order to achieve a safer planet for our people, a safer 
country here, and also to pay that debt that we owe to the people of 
Afghanistan.
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number 
of words.
  Madam Chairman, I would speak in support of the Lantos amendment. I 
would like to state my strong support for the Lantos amendment on 
improving security in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act 
provides critical economic and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan; 
but without a security component to this aid, we have no means of 
assuring that our help will be effective or promote Afghanistan's long-
term reconstruction.
  The defeat of the Taliban and of all the positive social and 
political changes that came with it could not have taken place without 
United States leadership. I am seriously concerned, however, that our 
investment will be wasted if we do not directly consider how the United 
States can improve long-term security in Afghanistan.
  In February, during testimony before the Committee on Armed Services, 
General Tommy Franks, Commander in Chief of the United States Central 
Command, restated President Bush's pledge to build ``a lasting 
permanent solution for Afghanistan's security needs.'' The President's 
words have never been more relevant.
  Since Chairman Karzai took the head of the interim government, one of 
his ministers has been killed, militia factions are fighting for 
influence, the refugee situation is worsening, and general lawlessness 
throughout the country is threatening the government's effectiveness.
  By the end of the month, over 400 districts throughout Afghanistan 
must elect 16,000 delegates. They in turn will choose about 1,000 local 
leaders to participate in the new Afghan parliament. This is a delicate 
process that can easily be derailed.
  The requirement in the amendment that the President submitted to 
Congress of the strategy for meeting Afghanistan's security needs is 
essential. This strategy should consider the use of U.S. military 
assets. At a time when U.S. troops are engaged in conflicts across the 
globe, from the Philippines to Georgia, it would be irresponsible for 
us to walk away from the one country where we have achieved victory 
without securing peace. A safe and secure Afghanistan is in the United 
States' national interest.
  I applaud the acceptance by the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman 
Hyde), and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. It was a good 
bill, and it is a better bill with the Lantos amendment.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. FORD. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of 
words.
  Madam Chairman, I rise in support of this Lantos amendment. Never 
before, at least in my short time, I am just 32 years old, Madam 
Chairman, has America's standing been more precarious than it is today. 
In a lot of ways our need and responsibility to lead has never been 
greater. I have listened to some of my colleagues, particularly my 
friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul), who raised some 
interesting points about national security and whether or not we should 
shoulder the President with this burden when, in fact, he has not asked 
for it. We in this Congress have a tendency of burdening different 
agencies and departments with things that they did not ask for. That 
should not be a reason to defeat this amendment.

[[Page H2767]]

  We have developed a reputation across the globe, whether we like it 
or not, and I see my friend, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-
Lee) and I was proud to join her and 7 other colleagues on a trip to 
Kurdistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan some several months ago. We have 
developed, I think wrongly, as a Nation that being a country that 
supports things that narrowly benefit us or that is convenient to us 
and withdrawing in times when it may be inconvenient in the smallest 
ways. The rules of globalization call that we be better citizens. Part 
of that citizenship, I believe, is supporting this amendment; and 
coming to understand that for Chairman Karzai, whom the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Hobson) and the ranking member on the Subcommittee on 
Military Construction, Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Olver), and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen), 
and the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), and my friend, the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Rogers), and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes). Part of 
what we learned on this trip from Chairman Karzai is that he cannot 
accomplish the many things we all heard the President speak so 
eloquently about back in January and have heard Defense Secretary 
Rumsfeld talk about at length every day in his news conferences. We 
cannot accomplish the kind of peace and stability and bring about 
conditions for progress until we create a very stable and secure 
environment, not only there in Kabul but outside of that area as well.
  We traveled there, as I said, and gained a greater appreciation for 
our men and women serving us there. For anyone who believes that young 
people are incapable of doing monumental things, I say one needs look 
no further than the U.S. military, and certainly the young men and 
women who are protecting and defending not only our interests but the 
free world's interests there in Baghram and all of our air bases in 
Manaos and certainly there at K-2.
  It is my hope that we in this Congress will have the courage to urge 
the President and the administration to do all that is laid out here in 
this Lantos amendment.
  I close on this note. We have made so many great strides in this 
country over the last several years in science and medicine and 
technology and we will continue to do those things. One of the 
challenges that my generation, I think, will have, Madam Chairman, is 
to figure out ways in which not only we use all of that technology and 
science and advancements here in America but around the globe, but also 
to figure out how we take the human spirit and try to transfer that as 
well. Because I think the way we are thought about in other parts of 
the world, particularly Central Asia, is unfair to all Americans, 
certainly to the good works of this Congress, this Senate and even this 
President is attempting and have been done in the past. There has been 
no greater citizen for freedom and no greater advocate for freedom and 
voice for freedom over the years than the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lantos) whether it is the Middle East or Africa or other parts of 
the world.
  It is my hope that this amendment is passed and that this Congress 
will take a harder and more thoughtful look and have a kind ear when it 
comes to foreign aid and issues affecting foreign countries. Because 
if, indeed, we want to contain or limit terrorism, we must come to 
grips with the fact that winning the war in Afghanistan alone will not 
accomplish that. Until we are willing to reach out and educate and 
close some of the awful gaps that exists between men and women, some of 
the awful disparities that exist between the children of our country 
and children around the globe, we will continue to be bedeviled with 
the challenges we saw on September 11 and continue to hear the kinds of 
threats that even Director Mueller and General Ashcroft are issuing 
today.
  Madam Chairman, I urge support for the Lantos amendment.
  Mr. FARR of California. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the 
requisite number of words.
  (Mr. FARR of California asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR of California. Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong 
support of the Lantos amendment and the underlying bill, the 
Afghanistan Freedom Support Act.
  The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act makes good on America's promise 
not to abandon Afghanistan. Our commitment to Afghanistan will be a 
testament to America's commitment to its allies in the war on terror. 
The most important commitment that the United States can make, however, 
is to support the security of our Afghan allies and friends. Without 
security, there can be no infrastructure rebuilding, no eradication of 
narcotics cultivation, no economic revitalization, no improved 
education and health care. None of our well-intentioned programs, which 
ultimately will be assumed by the Afghans themselves, will find any 
success without adequate security measures.
  Security is most certainly not a partisan issue. Here we all agree 
that security is fundamental to prosperity. I am sure then that many of 
my colleagues shared my dismay when President Bush announced that the 
U.S. would not support an extension of Internal Security Assistance 
Force, the ISAF, to other major cities in Afghanistan besides Kabul. It 
contradicted the President's announcement that he would like to see the 
Peace Corps' Crisis Corps and eventually the Peace Corps volunteers 
back in Afghanistan as soon as possible.
  Everybody in this body knows that I am one of the strongest 
supporters of the Peace Corps, having served as a volunteer in Colombia 
in the 1960s. I advocated strongly for expansion of the Peace Corps. I 
was the loudest to cheer when the President boldly committed himself to 
double the number of Peace Corps volunteers by the year 2007. I am also 
supportive of the President's intention to call upon the Peace Corps to 
help rebuild and revitalize Afghanistan. As their Peace Corps brothers 
and sisters went before them, the new volunteers will bring the great 
American gifts of optimism and enthusiasm to their important work in 
the Afghanistan villages. Nonetheless, we can not expect Peace Corps 
volunteers, even the Crisis Corps volunteers, to operate in a climate 
of insecurity that now reigns in Afghanistan.
  I would like to bring our attention to an editorial from The 
Washington Post from April 27 of this year. I will submit this document 
for the Record.
  The article was written by Anna Seleny, a political science teacher 
at Princeton, but also the last Peace Corps volunteer to be evacuated 
from Afghanistan in 1987 before the Soviet invasion. Miss Seleny 
believes, as I do, that the Peace Corps can play an important role in 
restoring peace and prosperity to Afghanistan. However, the ability of 
volunteers to play that role will be seriously compromised by the 
violence and impunity that still reigns there. Without security, the 
volunteers' mission will fail. Miss Seleny fears that they will be 
withdrawn again, and I fear worse.
  What is required now is to be realistic. Without security and order, 
there can be no peace and prosperity. If we want the latter, we must 
also provide the former. I think that helping Afghanistan is the right 
thing to do. But let us do the job right. Let us expand the security 
mission beyond Kabul to cover other cities to other provinces. Let us 
help the Afghanistan democratic process by protecting the Loya Jirga 
from threats and intimidations. Let us help make it safe for women and 
girls to go outside and walk the streets without fear of attack. Let us 
help create an environment where Afghans can afford to stop dwelling on 
the past and worrying about the present, and allow them to think about 
the future, to dream and to build better lives for themselves and their 
families.
  The Lantos amendment most reasonably asks the administration to 
prepare a strategy to meet the security needs of Afghanistan. It is an 
important first step towards meeting our obligations and laying the 
foundations for its successful U.S. policy in the region.
  I thank my colleagues for their attention and consideration and urge 
them to support the Lantos amendment and the underlying Afghan Freedom 
Support Act.

[[Page H2768]]

               [From the Washington Post, Apr. 27, 2002]

                 The Peace Corps Will Need Some Backup

                            (By Anna Seleny)

       If things go according to the Bush administration's plan, 
     the Peace Corps will be back in Afghanistan soon. This makes 
     sense; it could spur Afghan reconstruction while teaching 
     idealistic young Americans about the realities of life in the 
     developing world.
       But these laudable aims can be accomplished only if the 
     administration agrees to extend the mandate of the 
     international peacekeeping force there, and expand it to 
     cover the provinces. I speak from experience; I was the last 
     Peace Corps volunteer evacuated from Afghanistan in 1979 
     before the Soviet invasion.
       I arrived in Kabul in January 1978 and was assigned to work 
     in a health clinic north of Mazar-e-Sharif, near the Uzbek 
     border. Three months later bombs started to fall, as part of 
     a Soviet-backed coup in which the Communist ``People's 
     Democratic Party'' murdered President Mohammed Daoud, the 
     last ruling member of the Mohammedzai dynasty. After several 
     days of intense fighting, an eerie calm settled over a 
     capital now under strict military curfew. My most vivid 
     memory of the following weeks is of riding my bicycle past 
     ever-lengthening lines of people waiting outside prisons for 
     news of relatives who had disappeared. Many never got 
     answers, and the new regime's duplicity and brutality were 
     only the beginning of the country's long nightmare.
       Like other Peace Corps volunteers, I was given the option 
     of leaving without dishonor or continuing my work. About a 
     dozen of us stayed (out of approximately 150). It was no 
     longer considered safe to work in the provinces, so I was 
     reassigned to the Afghan Institute of Technology in Kabul. As 
     the new regime tightened its grip, some of my friends and 
     colleagues began to distance themselves from anything 
     American, for self-protection; one even adopted Marxist 
     rhetoric overnight. Others overcame their fears and continued 
     to insist that I come to their homes. Eventually, after the 
     assassination of American Ambassador Adolph Dubs, the rest of 
     us were withdrawn, along with all but a skeleton embassy 
     staff.
       Today, after more than two decades of war and poverty, most 
     Afghans want U.S. help in restoring a measure of peace, 
     prosperity and normality to their country. The Peace Corps 
     can play an invaluable role in this delicate task: serving as 
     goodwill ambassadors and helping communities provide basic 
     services to a population in desperate need. For quite some 
     time, however, the Peace Corps volunteers will have to go 
     about their tasks in a highly unstable local and geopolitical 
     context. Afghan internal rivalries are still erupting in 
     fierce vendettas, and no national government can exercise 
     credible authority, let alone punish the perpetrators of 
     violence. Some regions of the country remain dominated by 
     former warlords. Without an expanded international 
     peacekeeping force, there could be a major conflagration 
     between dominant groups holding power in Kabul and their 
     provincial rivals.
       The administration is right to stress the need for 
     reconstruction aid. But it seems poised to repeat America's 
     mistakes in the region: committing too few resources for too 
     short a time, and thus ultimately failing to secure hard-won 
     gains. Before angry groups in Afghanistan can cooperate to 
     put their country back on its feet, the peace must be fully 
     secured--something beyond the power of the interim 
     government, and probably the first post-conflict government 
     as well. This is why the Afghans themselves have asked that 
     the international peacekeeping force be significantly 
     expanded in both time and scope.
       Without some kind of force in place capable of maintaining 
     order, moreover, any new Peace Corps volunteers will probably 
     have to be withdrawn as things fall apart, just as we were in 
     1979. This would not only be a public relations disaster and 
     a waste of substantial rhetorical, military and political 
     capital; it would also be a historic lost opportunity.
       Some speak of Afghanistan as if it had always been in 
     turmoil, as if its ethnic and tribal groups had never reached 
     a workable accommodation. Don't believe them. Before 1979 
     Afghanistan was miserably poor, but people did not starve. 
     Daoud's government had serious flaws, but it was a moderate 
     republic. There was increasing political and social 
     pluralism, including enhanced freedoms and a range of 
     professional careers for women. By the late 1970s Afghanistan 
     had achieved a kind of rough tribal democracy that might well 
     have developed into something better with time. The country 
     also had a professional, multi-ethnic army of which many 
     Afghans were justly proud, and a growing middle class.
       The potential for a more prosperous and peaceful 
     Afghanistan is there. The Peace Corps is at its best when 
     helping distressed nations dig out from under. But for the 
     Corps to do its job, somebody else must first keep the peace. 
     And keeping the peace requires a firm commitment that, like 
     the mission of the Peace Corps itself, conveys to Afghans and 
     the world the patient determination that is the hallmark of 
     true world leadership.

  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).
  The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the ayes 
appear to have it.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings 
on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
will be postponed.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word for 
purposes of entering into a colloquy.
  Madam Chairman, once again I appreciate the efforts of our diligent 
colleagues, the chairman of our committee, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member, and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) in their work with me on an important 
issue for assistance for the unintended victims of the war in 
Afghanistan.
  The current military operations in the United States Armed Forces and 
other allied forces in Afghanistan are directed against the members of 
Taliban and other terrorist organizations, not against the people of 
Afghanistan. Although the United States and our allies have 
demonstrated enormous good will towards the people of Afghanistan who 
have suffered under the former Taliban regime, there have been numerous 
unintended victims of the current military operations by us and other 
allied countries.
  In the past the United States has provided aid to civilian casualties 
of military operations. Assistance should be provided to individuals 
who are unintended victims of the current military operation as well. 
The men and women of our armed forces are well trained and there is no 
question that they do their job very, very well. Nonetheless, even in 
the most justified of wars, civilians will suffer and some will be 
killed.
  In the aftermath of the Afghanistan campaign, we feel it is important 
for the United States to assist these people and particularly to help 
unintended victims who have suffered directly due to our munitions. 
There are children that have been injured or left to fend for 
themselves because adult members of their families have been mistakenly 
killed; widows who have been left to care for children without means to 
provide for food, health and clothing. Other victims have suffered 
property loss or personal injury.
  Despite humanitarian efforts, women and children remain victims of 
this war and desperately, desperately need our help. I believe that 
providing this assistance speaks to the highest values of our Nation 
and of our people. It would be an important good will gesture for us to 
help these unintended victims of the war against terrorism that was 
appropriately and ably spearheaded by our country in Afghanistan.
  Madam Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) to 
respond.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  My colleague from Oregon reminds us of the sad situation that 
unfortunately comes along with any war, unintended victims. Facing 
one's enemy in battle is hard enough; knowing that others may have 
perished without participating in the war is tragic. I am pleased, 
however, that the legislation before us will help the people of 
Afghanistan in a substantial way. It provides serious economic, 
democratic development and military aid. It will assist in meeting the 
urgent humanitarian needs of the Afghan people including food, shelter, 
medical care, family reunification services and the clearance of land 
mines. It will also assist refugees and internally displaced persons, 
eradication of illicit narcotics, and reconstruction efforts.
  I am hoping these efforts will provide some comfort to the innocent 
people of Afghanistan who have had to bear witness to the evils of 
terrorism and this war.
  If history was our guide, we are assured that the United States will 
undertake a serious investigation, examining these matters, and act 
accordingly to directly assist those injured or killed by tragic 
mistakes or accident.
  I would be pleased to support the gentleman in moving legislation 
through the Committee on International Relations that would achieve 
those ends at the appropriate time. In the meantime, I agree with the 
gentleman that the unintended victims and their families should receive 
priority in receiving assistance under this legislation, if at all 
possible.
  I hope this has satisfied the gentleman's inquiry.

[[Page H2769]]

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman. I appreciate 
the gentleman's leadership and his words of direction. At this point I 
would yield to the ranking member of the committee, my good friend, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding and I 
thank him for his thoughtful remarks and for his very genuine and 
sincere interest in this matter.
  Clearly there have been unintended innocent victims during our 
military operations, and I fully agree with my friend, the gentleman 
from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), that U.S. assistance should be provided 
to such victims and their families.
  I also strongly endorse the commitment of our chairman to bring 
forward appropriate legislation on this issue, and I look forward to 
working with him and with my friend from Oregon on this matter and I 
thank the gentleman for yielding.

                              {time}  1645

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) to seek his comments on the subject of 
this colloquy.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding 
to me.
  I agree with both of my colleagues, or all three of my colleagues, of 
the tragedy of unintended victims of the war and when we have a 
situation we are fighting against terrorism.
  The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) 
has expired.
  (On request of Mr. Hyde, and by unanimous consent, Mr. Blumenauer was 
allowed to proceed for 1 additional minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chairman, I continue to yield to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Chairman, the tragedy of unintended victims in 
this war against terrorism should be investigated in order to determine 
the best manner of assisting them, and their claims should be dealt 
with if they are shown to be valid claims.
  Afghan's civilians who have lost family members or homes due to being 
caught in a crossfire during the hostilities between the coalition 
forces and the Taliban or al Qaeda fighters need our help. This 
legislation is a big step in the right direction. It is my strong 
desire to see that these people, the unintended victims of this war, 
are granted a priority consideration for reconstruction assistance 
under this legislation.
  This is the moral and the right thing to do, and I thank the 
gentleman for his efforts to make sure that we do the right thing.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chairman, reclaiming my time, I deeply 
appreciate the strong words of comfort and support and wisdom from my 
three colleagues. I know this will make a huge difference, not just to 
people in Afghanistan, but from what we have been hearing, of an 
outpouring of concern by Americans who are concerned about unintended 
victims, and this is an important step forward.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Hoeffel

  Mr. HOEFFEL. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Hoeffel:
       Page 21, beginning on line 15, strike ``is strongly urged 
     to designate'' and insert ``shall designate''.
       Page 21, line 17, insert ``who shall report to the 
     Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs and'' after 
     ``coordinator''.
       Page 22, after line 8, insert the following:
       (b) Additional Requirement.--An individual designated by 
     the President as coordinator pursuant to subsection (a) may 
     only be an individual who is appointed by the President by 
     and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

  Mr. HOEFFEL (during the reading). Madam Chairman, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HOEFFEL. Madam Chairman, the original bill, the Afghanistan 
Freedom Support Act, urged the creation of a coordinator at the 
Department of State for aid to Afghanistan and mandated that this 
coordinator be appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate. I 
am disappointed that these two provisions have been removed from the 
bill by the chairman's amendment.
  My amendment would do three things. It would mandate that the 
President designate a coordinator for Afghanistan aid within the State 
Department. It would mandate that the coordinator report to the 
Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs, and it would mandate that 
this coordinator be designated with the advice and consent of the 
Senate.
  Madam Chairman, one of the biggest problems in planning and 
implementing an Afghan aid program is the plethora of agencies and 
operations within the United States Government, each responsible for a 
portion of the overall program, a piece of the pie. There is a lack of 
a central coordinating authority to provide direction to these 
agencies.
  A Senate-confirmed coordinator would establish prominent State 
Department leadership for this new program. The stature of this person 
would automatically command, would help the State Department rein in 
all of the 13 agencies that currently work on aid and policy affecting 
Afghanistan.
  H.R. 3994 is a solid bill that will do very well to address the 
development needs of Afghanistan. It is a good start. It is not enough. 
If we want to eradicate terrorism, that fight will have to extend 
beyond Afghanistan's borders.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman, 
and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member, for 
supporting the insertion of my language into the declaration of policy 
section during committee consideration, that the U.S. should implement 
a broader comprehensive aid program that extends beyond the borders of 
Afghanistan into central Asia, to best foster stability and 
democratization and to effectively eliminate the causes of terror.
  President Bush recently outlined his vision for a modern day Marshall 
Plan at the Virginia Military Institute on April 17, 2002. The 
President stated, ``Marshall knew that our military victory against 
enemies in World War II had to be followed by a moral victory that 
resulted in better lives for individual human beings.'' I applaud the 
President and his vision of seeking hope and opportunity for all 
people.
  The successful rebuilding of Afghanistan can only happen if we invest 
in the surrounding countries and help bring stability to the region.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HOEFFEL. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for these thoughtful 
remarks and for his interest in this bill; and with regard to the issue 
of coordinator for Afghanistan policy, I fully agree with the gentleman 
of the importance of this position. Where the State Department and I 
disagree, however, is on the question of mandating such a position.
  As I am sure my colleague knows, the State Department has appointed 
an individual to this position who is already performing the onerous 
task of coordinating aid and policy relating to Afghanistan. It seems 
to me, therefore, that in this instance mandatory language appointing a 
coordinator is unnecessary.
  With regard to the issue of a broader comprehensive aid program that 
extends beyond the borders of Afghanistan and into central Asia, it is 
a laudable objective and is something I would be pleased to work with 
the gentleman in crafting solutions toward this end.
  Mr. HOEFFEL. Madam Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for his comments. I am particularly 
pleased by the chairman's interest in working with me and others in the 
future on these important issues.
  Madam Chairman, out of deference to Secretary Powell and to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), I ask unanimous consent to withdraw 
my amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  The CHAIRMAN. The amendment is withdrawn.

[[Page H2770]]

     Amendments No. 3 and No. 4 Offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I offer two amendments, and 
I ask unanimous consent they be considered en bloc.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendments.
  The text of the amendments is as follows:

       Amendments No. 3 and No. 4 offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
     Texas:

   Amendment No. 3: Page 14, line 2, insert before the semicolon the 
following: ``, with particular emphasis on health care for children who 
                             are orphans''.

       Page 14, line 17, insert before the semicolon the 
     following: ``, with particular emphasis on basic education 
     for children who are orphans''.
                                  ____


  Amendment No. 4: Page 14, line 17, insert before the semicolon the 
    following: ``, with particular emphasis on basic education for 
                              children''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman 
from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, first of all, it is 
important to again thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for working with me and my staff 
for an interest that I have as a Chair of the Congressional Children's 
Caucus.
  As I rise to support not only the amendments that I intend to offer 
today, I do want to add my support to the gentleman from Illinois' (Mr. 
Hyde) amendment that he just offered and as well the Lantos amendment 
which I will vote enthusiastically for.
  As my colleagues have indicated, a number of us had both the 
privilege and the challenge to visit Afghanistan during these trying 
times after the horrific act of September 11. The first order of 
business for those of us in this Nation after September 11 was to 
mourn, but also to help heal the terrible and horrific acts that took 
the lives of so many Americans. We wanted to comfort, and we wanted to 
show that we would not stand for this happening again. Then we rallied 
and we said we will stand united to fight against terrorism.
  It is important that that is done; but as we look to fight against 
terrorism, it was clear as we visited Afghanistan that there are people 
there who simply want a better way of life. The Lantos amendment 
acknowledges that there cannot be peace without security, and so I 
support his intentions and effort to ensure that Afghanistan is secure.
  I also refute those who would think that we cannot build a nation and 
create democracy because, as we all know, we must eliminate the 
incubator of terrorism; but at the same time, we must balance that with 
giving the Afghanistan people the tools that they need to build a 
government and also to build a nation securely.
  I, therefore, believe it is additionally important to focus on the 
children, and so I offer these amendments to deal with two of the 
groups of children in Afghanistan.
  As society breaks down during conflict, children have no access to 
school and are driven from their homes. Worst yet, they are separated 
from their family. Afghan children perceive armed groups as their best 
chance for survival. Others seek to escape from poverty while others 
join military forces to avenge family members who have been killed.
  My amendments emphasize basic education for the orphan children, 
almost a million in Afghanistan and for the children of Afghanistan; 
and the reason I say this is because one of the sites we visited was an 
orphanage with 1,000 children needing basic education. I believe the 
right to an education for children in Afghanistan would develop not 
only the child's personality but all their talents and mental and 
physical abilities to their fullest potential.
  Education serves as a much broader function. It gives shape and 
structure to a child's life. Education can also instill community 
values, promote justice and peace, and respect for human rights, and 
enhanced peace, stability and independence. Likewise, the psychological 
impact of the past 20 years has left an immutable scar in over 1 
million Afghan orphans' memories.
  Two generations of Afghan children know only war, deprivation, 
homelessness, hunger, suffering and loss; and therefore they need good 
education and good health care. In addition, there are estimated to be 
10 to 15 million land mines scattered in the landscape exploding and 
injuring at a rate of 20 to 25 people per day. They kill or injure 
predominantly children who sometimes are victims of demise because of 
their disguise or they are disguised as toys.
  Can my colleagues think of how horrible it is living in a country 
where any moment a person could lose a leg or their life as a child? 
Their future seems bleak in a world that has largely forgotten them. We 
need to help them.
  Let me for a moment applaud the Houston Independent School District, 
Madam Chairman, because they are working with me on a books, pens and 
pencils campaign for the end of the year to send these books and 
pencils and pens to the Afghan children. We all are trying to help.
  The amendment I offer will emphasize in this legislation that 
children need educating and good health care. The stage of physical, 
psychological and cognitive and moral development that a child has 
reached directly affects his or her ability to cope with these impacts. 
We must promote the physical and psychological recovery and social 
reintegration of children affected by armed conflict. That means basic 
education, open schools, teachers who are teaching and good health 
care.
  Another important issue, as I indicated, is children's health. 
Thousands of children are killed every year as a direct result of 
fighting, and we need to ensure that they have food supplies. Because 
of the destruction of food crops and agricultural infrastructures, 
these children are in need of good health care.
  One of the most telling stories was going to the hospital and seeing 
children with no medication, seeing malnourished children; and so this 
legislation with the humanitarian funds that are allotted can now 
emphasize immunization resources. It can now emphasize health 
professionals that will provide the care for our children. It can now 
provide the care for the 1,000 children in the orphanage who needed 
basic health care to get rid of the sores on their faces and bodies.
  The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-
Lee) has expired.
  (By unanimous consent, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas was allowed to 
proceed for 1 additional minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, as I close these two 
amendments en bloc, I emphasize in this legislation the need to focus 
on children's education for both orphanages and the children of 
Afghanistan and children's health and to provide the resources to the 
nation to ensure that our children are our priority.
  Might I just lift the face of a child who evidences the need for 
helping our children. The United Nations focused on children in the 
last week for the first time in 12 years, but we can focus on this 
child to help her have a better education and better health care.
  Madam Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support these two amendments, 
Nos. 3 and 4 en bloc.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, the majority is very pleased to accept the 
two amendments offered by the gentlewoman en bloc. They are worthy 
additions to the bill, and we accept them.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, on the Democratic side, we strongly 
support the amendments, and I want to commend our friend from Texas.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendments offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  The amendments were agreed to.

                              {time}  1700


      Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 Offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I offer amendment Nos. 5 
and 6, and I ask unanimous consent they be considered en bloc.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendments.
  The text of the amendments is as follows:

       Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
     Texas:

   Amendment No. 5: Page 26, line 3, insert before the semicolon the 
     following: ``and prohibits the use of children as soldiers or 
combatants''.
                                  ____


Amendment No. 6: Page 29, line 9, strike ``Assistance'' and insert the 
                               following:

       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), assistance

[[Page H2771]]

       Page 29, after line 11, insert the following:
       (2) Limitation.--Amounts made available to carry out this 
     title for a fiscal year may be made available for assistance 
     to the Government of Afghanistan only if the President first 
     determines and certifies to Congress that the Government of 
     Afghanistan prohibits the use of children as soldiers or 
     combatants.

  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the amendments will be considered en 
bloc.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, these two amendments are so 
important, I believe, to a future in Afghanistan and around the world 
that I first express my appreciation to the chairman of the committee 
and the ranking member for listening to my concerns and having their 
own commitment to human rights, recognizing that we will not begin the 
21st century in the right way as long as we put children to war.
  Children are at war around the world. Clearly, there are hundreds of 
thousands of children who are put at war. And might I again refer us to 
this wonderful face, this wonderful young girl, because girls and boys 
are subjected to combat. I would simply ask, as we listen to this 
debate and pass this legislation, that my colleagues support me in the 
prohibition against using children as soldiers and combatants. These 
children have no other future, no other opportunity, no other goals, no 
other challenges, no other hope. That is what we do to children when we 
put them in combat for our disputes.
  I believe children must get the best possible start in life. Their 
survival and protection, as well as their growth, are the essential 
foundation for proper human development. I believe we should fight for 
them, and we should make a concerted effort to fight infectious 
diseases, tackle major causes of malnutrition, and nurture children in 
a safe environment that enables them to be physically healthy, mentally 
alert, emotionally secure, socially competent, as well as able to 
learn.
  However, the experience of the past decade does not allow this. 
Consequently, this confirms that the needs and rights of children must 
be a priority. Every moment that we stand by and silently watch 
Afghanistan crumble, more children will suffer and die. As I stated, my 
amendments ask, in the first, to prohibit the use of children as 
soldiers or combatants. My second amendment, amendment number 6, asks 
that the President certify that this has not occurred and as well that 
the money is limited.
  One of the most deplorable developments in recent years has been the 
increasing use of children as soldiers. What is frightening today is 
the escalation of children used as fighters. Children soldiers are used 
as lethal weapons. Children are used because they have advantages as 
soldiers; they are easier to intimidate and do as they are told. 
Children soldiers are also less likely than adults to run away or 
demand salaries. Children who have grown up surrounded by violence see 
this as a permanent way of life.
  It is important to note that when schools are closed and families 
fragmented, there are few influences that can compete with a child's 
life. The military soldiering becomes their family. I believe children 
deserve the greatest protection, but as child soldiers they are often 
considered the most expendable.
  There was a story recently about a child soldier in Afghanistan, 
barely 12 years old, and he had started at age 8. As an example of 
this, during the Iran-Iraq war, children soldiers were sent out ahead 
in waves over mine fields.
  Children have been used as soldiers by all warring factions 
throughout 20 years of resistance and civil war in Afghanistan. Can we 
not do better? Is there not a better role for children? Two generations 
of Afghan children have been raised in a highly militarized culture. In 
schools, both inside the country and refugee camps, textbooks and 
teaching methods have used images of tanks, guns and bullets in 
mathematics and reading classes.
  On October 2, 2001, The New York Times reported that children as 
young as 12 will be recruited as soldiers for the Taliban. I fear that 
without this amendment the current Afghan crisis could see 
unprecedented levels of conscription and mobilization of children.
  In meeting with Chairman Karzai, let me say I believe he has the best 
intent and the best opportunity to bring Afghanistan together. With the 
amendment of the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the amendment 
of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and with this legislation, 
we can secure Afghanistan and give him the support he needs, but at the 
same time we have to make sure that the country knows that children at 
war is wrong.
  Children have become a direct participant in the war. Denied a 
childhood, and often subjected to horrific violence, Afghan children 
are serving as soldiers in current armed conflicts. These young 
combatants participate in all aspects of contemporary warfare. They 
wield AK-47s and M-16s on the front lines of combat. They serve, as I 
said, as human mine detectors; they participate in suicide missions; 
they carry supplies, and act as spies, messengers, or lookouts.
  The primary reason for this or these amendments is to ensure that 
this legislation moves forward in order to protect the innocent child. 
Again, I bring my colleagues' attention to an innocent face. This is 
the face for education and as well good health care and a good quality 
of life.
  I believe it is enormously important that we do what we can to 
protect against child soldiers.
  The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-
Lee) has expired.
  (By unanimous consent, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas was allowed to 
proceed for 1 additional minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I have worked with the 
chairperson and ranking member of this committee. I am so committed to 
this issue that I really wanted to ensure that resources were kept from 
Afghanistan on the basis of using child soldiers. However, I am fully 
aware that it is important that any resource we have to help build this 
country is not reserved, if you will, it is not limited, and that with 
the confidence of having the legislation structured as it is, that this 
would provide for enough reinforcement against using children as 
combatants.
  Madam Chairman, I rise today to speak for the children of 
Afghanistan. We are blessed with the privileges of living in a country 
as great as the United States. But we, too, often forget about the 
millions of people around the world whose daily life is a struggle for 
survival. In particular, the children of Afghanistan, who have seen the 
unspeakable pain and agony of over twenty years of war and crimes that 
have inflicted untold miseries.
  I believe children must get the best possible start in life. their 
survival and protection as well as their growth are the essential 
foundation for proper human development. I believe that we should fight 
for them. We should make a concerted effort to fight infectious 
diseases, tackle major causes of malnutrition, and nurture children in 
a safe environment that enables them to be physically healthy, mentally 
alert, emotionally secure, socially competent as well as able to learn. 
However, the experience of the past decade does not allow this. 
Consequently, this confirms that the needs and rights of children must 
be a priority. Every moment that we stand by and silently watch 
Afghanistan crumble, more children suffer and die.
  One of the most deplorable developments in recent years has been the 
increasing use of young children as soldiers. What is frightening today 
is that the escalation in the use of children as fighters.
  Children soldiers are used as lethal weapons. Children are used 
because they have advantages as soldiers. They are easier to 
intimidate, and do as they are told. Children soldiers also are less 
likely than adults to run away or demand salaries. Children who have 
grown up surrounded by violence see this as a permanent way of life. It 
is important to note that when schools are closed and families 
fragmented, there are few influences that can compete with a child's 
life. I believe that children deserve the greatest protection, but as 
children soldiers they are often considered the most expendable. An 
example of this was during the Iran-Iraq war, children soldiers were 
sent out ahead in waves over minefields.
  Children have been used as soldiers by all warring factions 
throughout 20 years of resistance and civil war in Afghanistan. Two 
generations of Afghan children have been raised in a highly militarized 
`kalashnikov culture'. In schools, both inside the country and refugee 
camps, textbooks and teaching methods have used images of tanks, guns 
and bullets in mathematics and reading classes.

  On October 2, 2001, The New York Times reported that children as 
young as twelve were being recruited as soldiers for the Taliban. I 
fear that without this amendment the current Afghan crisis could see 
unprecedented

[[Page H2772]]

levels of conscription and mobilization of children.
  In Afghanistan, children have become direct participants in the war. 
Denied a childhood and often subjected to horrific violence, Afghan 
children are serving as soldiers in current armed conflicts. These 
young combatants participate in all aspects of contemporary warfare. 
They wield AK-47s and M-16s on the front lines of combat. They serve as 
human mine detectors. They, also, participate in suicide missions, 
carry supplies. They act as spies, messengers or lookouts. The primary 
reason for this is the fact that children are physically vulnerable and 
easily intimidated, children typically make obedient soldiers. The 
issue of child soldiers is shocking and horrifying. Both boys and girls 
in Afghanistan, some as young as eight years old, are recruited (either 
kidnapped or forced) to join armed groups.
  As a society breaks down during conflict, children have no access to 
school, and are driven from their homes. Worse yet, they are separated 
them from their family. Afghan children perceive armed groups as their 
best chance for survival. Others seek to escape from poverty. While 
others join military forces to avenge family members who have been 
killed.
  This is why, I believe, the right to an education for children would 
develop, not only, the child's personality, but all their talents and 
mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential. Education 
serves as a much broader function. It gives shape and structure to a 
child's life. Education can, also, instill community values, promote 
justice and respect for human rights and enhance peace, stability and 
interdependence.
  Likewise, the psychological impact of the past twenty years has left 
an immutable scar in over one million Afghan orphan's memories. Two 
generations of Afghan children know only war, deprivation, 
homelessness, hunger, suffering, and loss. In addition, there are 
estimated to be between 10 and 15 million land mines scattered in the 
landscape, exploding and injuring at a rate of 20 to 25 per day. They 
kill or injure predominantly children who are sometimes victims of 
mines disguised as toys. Can you think of how horrible it is living in 
a country where any moment you could lose a leg or your life or a 
child? Their future's seem bleak in a world that has largely forgotten 
them. We need to help them.
  The effects of armed conflict on child development accumulate and 
interact with each other. The stage of physical, psychosocial, 
cognitive and moral development that a child has reached directly 
affects his or her ability to cope with these impacts.

  We must promote the physical and psychological recovery and social 
reintegration of children affected by armed conflict.
  Another important issue we must address, it that of children's 
health. Thousands of children are killed every year as a direct result 
of fighting, but many more die from malnutrition and disease caused or 
increased by armed conflicts. The interruption of food supplies, the 
destruction of food crops and agricultural infrastructures, the 
disintegration of families and communities, the displacement of 
populations, the destruction of health services and programs and of 
water and sanitation systems all take a heavy toll on children.
  Many die as a direct result of diminished food intake that causes 
acute and severe malnutrition, while others, compromised by 
malnutrition, become unable to resist common childhood diseases and 
infections. Given their vulnerability, it is no surprise that around 2 
million children are estimated to have died as a result of armed 
conflict in the last decade.
  Many of today's armed conflicts take place in some of the world's 
poorest countries, where children are already vulnerable to 
malnutrition and disease, and the onset of armed conflict increases 
death rates up to 24 times. All children are at risk when conflicts 
break out, but the most vulnerable are those who are under fire and 
already malnourished.
  In conjunction with a child's health is education. The right to 
education for children should develop the child's personality, talents 
and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential. Education 
serves as a much broader function. It gives shape and structure to 
children's lives. It also can instill community values, promote justice 
and respect for human rights and enhance peace, stability and 
interdependence.

  Education is particularly important during armed conflicts. While the 
surrounding environment may be in chaos, schooling can represent a 
sense of normalcy. School children have the chance to be with friends 
and enjoy support and encouragement. They benefit from regular contacts 
with teachers who can monitor their physical and pschological health. 
Teachers can also help children to develop new skills and knowledge 
that is necessary for survival and coping, including mine awareless, 
negotiation and problem solving, and information about HIV/AIDS and 
other health issues. Formal education also benefits the community as a 
whole. The ability to carry on schooling in the most difficult 
circumstances demonstrates confidence in the future: communities that 
still have a school feel they have something durable and worthy of 
protection.
  Schools are targeted during war, in part because they have such high 
profiles. In rural areas, the school building may be the only 
substantial permanent structure, making it highly susceptible to 
shelling, closure or looting.
  The destruction of educational infrastructures represents one of the 
greatest developments setbacks for countries affected by conflict. 
Years of lost schooling and vocatiocal skills will take equivalent 
years to replace and their absence imposes a greater vulnerability on 
the ability of societies to recover after war.
  Formal education is also generally at risk during war because it 
relies on consistent funding and administrative support that is 
difficult to sustain.
  Even where services are maintained, however, education is usually of 
lower quality. Funds are short and the supply of materials slow or 
erratic. In addition, fear and disruption make it difficult to create 
an atmosphere conductive to learning and the morale of both teachers 
and pupils is likely to be low.
  Though still inadequate, relief programs direct most attention in 
times of armed conflict to the education of refugee children. This is 
party because, when children are massed together in camps, it is easier 
to approximate a classroom situation. In some countries, this reality 
simply reflects the dominance of inflexible formal education systems 
that persist despite growing doubts about this quality, relevance and 
content. Insufficient attention to the education needs of non-refugees 
during armed conflict is also attributable to the fact that some of the 
donors most active during conflicts are constrainted by their mandates 
to work exclusively with refugees. Other donors have been reluctant to 
use emergency funds for what they interpret as long-term development 
activities.
  When children have been forced to leave their homes and are crowed 
into displaced camps, re-establishing schooling systems as soon as 
possible reassures everyone by signaling a degree of stability and a 
return to normal roles and relationships within the family and the 
community.

  As Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am always 
concerned about the welfare of children here and abroad, because 
children are our future.
  World leaders have made a joint commitment and issue an universal 
appeal to give children a better future. Children's rights are an 
effective rallying point.
  A world fit for children is one in which all children get the best 
possible start in life and have access to a quality basic education. 
All children must have an ample opportunity to develop their individual 
capacities in a safe and supportive environment.
  I was always taught that the family is the basic unit of society and 
as such should be strengthened. The primary responsibility for the 
protection, upbringing and development of children rests with the 
family.
  War violates every right of a child--the right to life, the right to 
be with family and community, the right to health, the right to 
development of personality and the right to be nurtured and protected.
  This bill does not specifically address the crisis of children 
soldiers or the need for basic education for children or their health 
in Afghanistan.
  I have, therefore, proposed four amendments to be added to the bill 
for the protection and education for children:
  (1) prohibit the use of children as soldiers or combatants;
  (2) require the President to determine and certify that the 
Government of Afghanistan is not using children as soldiers or 
combatants.
  (3) would put emphasis on basic education and health care for 
children who are orphans.
  (4) would emphasize basic education for children.
  I therefore urge my fellow members to vote for these amendments.


 Modification to Amendment Nos. 5 and 6 Offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
                                 Texas

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to 
modify my amendment, which would mean withdrawing amendment number 6, 
and that is the amendment that deals with the certification by the 
President and the limitation of funds.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will report the modification.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Modification to amendment Nos. 5 and 6 offered by Ms. 
     Jackson-Lee of Texas:
       Strike the portion of the amendment that was originally 
     printed in the Congressional Record as amendment No. 6

  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the modification offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas is accepted.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word, and I am

[[Page H2773]]

pleased, on behalf of the majority, to accept the gentlewoman's 
amendment number 5. It makes a worthy addition to the bill, and I 
appreciate her withdrawing amendment number 6.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of 
words, and on behalf of the Democratic side I want to accept the 
gentlewoman's amendment, and I want to commend her for her 
indefatigable support for children everywhere.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. LANTOS. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, before taking this vote, I 
just wish to thank both gentlemen very much.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendments, as modified, offered 
by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote, 
and pending that, I make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings 
on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-
Lee) will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.


                    Amendment Offered by Ms. Waters

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Ms. Waters:
       Page 30, after line 8, add the following (and conform the 
     table of contents accordingly):

   TITLE III--ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO ASSISTANCE FOR 
                              AFGHANISTAN

     SEC. 301. GENERAL PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE.

       Notwithstanding any provision contained in title I or II of 
     this Act, assistance authorized by this Act may not be 
     provided to any agency or instrumentality of the Government 
     of Afghanistan, or any other individual (including an 
     individual who exercises civil power by force over a limited 
     region) or organization in Afghanistan, that is engaged in 
     poppy cultivation or illicit narcotics growth, production, or 
     trafficking, unless the agency, instrumentality, individual, 
     or organization (as the case may be) agrees to cease the 
     poppy cultivation or illicit narcotics growth, production, or 
     trafficking (as the case may be).

     SEC. 302. PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES INVOLVEMENT IN POPPY 
                   CULTIVATION OR ILLICIT NARCOTICS GROWTH, 
                   PRODUCTION, OR TRAFFICKING.

       No officer or employee of any Federal department or agency 
     who is involved in the provision of assistance under this Act 
     may knowingly encourage or participate in poppy cultivation 
     or illicit narcotics growth, production, or trafficking in 
     Afghanistan. No United States military or civilian aircraft 
     or other United States vehicle that is used with respect to 
     the provision of assistance under this Act may be used to 
     facilitate the distribution of poppies or illicit narcotics 
     in Afghanistan.

     SEC. 303. REQUIREMENT TO REPORT BY CERTAIN UNITED STATES 
                   OFFICIALS.

       (a) Requirement.--An officer or employee of any Federal 
     department or agency involved in the provision of assistance 
     under this Act and having knowledge of facts or circumstances 
     that reasonably indicate that any agency or instrumentality 
     of the Government of Afghanistan, or any other individual 
     (including an individual who exercises civil power by force 
     over a limited region) or organization in Afghanistan, that 
     receives assistance under this Act is involved in poppy 
     cultivation or illicit narcotics growth, production, or 
     trafficking shall, notwithstanding any memorandum of 
     understanding or other agreement to the contrary, report such 
     knowledge or facts to the appropriate official.
       (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
     official'' means the Attorney General, the Inspector General 
     of the Federal department or agency involved, or the head of 
     such department or agency.

     SEC. 304. REPORT BY THE PRESIDENT.

       Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall 
     transmit to Congress a written report on the progress of the 
     Government of Afghanistan toward the eradication of poppy 
     cultivation, the disruption of heroin production, and the 
     reduction of the overall supply and demand for illicit 
     narcotics in Afghanistan in accordance with the provisions of 
     this Act.

  Ms. WATERS (during the reading). Madam Chairman, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman 
from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Chairman, I rise to speak in favor of my amendment 
to H.R. 3994, the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002, but first I 
would like to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Hyde), and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos), for the work that they have done to bring this comprehensive 
piece of legislation to the floor. I think it has been well structured 
and that it speaks well to our intentions. And I think that the people 
of Afghanistan, for the most part, are going to be very, very pleased 
to receive the assistance that is so indicated in this bill.
  Madam Chairman, my amendment would ensure that the United States 
government policies in Afghanistan work to eliminate the harmful 
trafficking and illegal drugs that destroy communities throughout the 
world. My amendment has been structured so that it is in 4 sections. 
The amendment would prohibit foreign assistance to any Afghan agency, 
organization, warlord, or other individual who is engaged in poppy 
cultivation or the growth, production, or trafficking of illegal drugs 
unless there is an agreement to cease all poppy cultivation or drug 
trafficking activities.
  I know this portion of my amendment is going to present some 
concerns, because, on the one hand, how do you uplift this devastated 
nation and begin to get them out of poppy cultivation; how do you deal 
with the many factions who have been involved in the cultivation as the 
only way that they know to earn a living and, at the same time, say to 
them that we will not help them if they are involved? This portion of 
the amendment would simply say that we raise it as a concern and have 
people respond to say, okay, I will not do it any more. And that allows 
them to get the assistance that we would like to give them.
  This does not prohibit this country from exercising its assistance, 
but it simply gets all of those agencies and individuals understanding 
that this is a top priority of this government; that we would like to 
stop the cultivation and trafficking of illegal drugs. That is section 
301.
  Section 302 would prohibit Federal officers and employees who are 
involved in the provision of assistance under this bill from 
encouraging or participating in drug trafficking activities in 
Afghanistan. It would also prohibit the use of American aircraft and 
any other vehicles to facilitate the distribution of poppies and 
illegal drugs.
  There are some people who would look at this portion of my amendment 
and say, well, no one representing our country would be involved in 
assisting with drug trafficking, no one would use our aircraft, no one 
would be involved in distribution. Let me just say to my colleagues, we 
all know enough now about trafficking and illegal drugs to know that 
many innocent people get caught up in drug trafficking because it is so 
lucrative. Many folks just lose their sense of what they are all about 
when they get thrown into situations where there is drug trafficking 
all around them, and some are tempted to take a chance, to try 
something. We want to send the message that we do not want anybody that 
we are putting on the ground in Afghanistan to take a chance, to be 
tempted to get involved.
  The other portion of the amendment would require all Federal officers 
and employees who are involved in the provision of assistance under 
this bill to report known or suspected drug trafficking activities by 
recipients of foreign assistance in Afghanistan to the appropriate 
authorities.
  Why am I doing this? Because I try and learn from our experiences. I 
spent almost 3 years dealing with the drug trafficking aspect of the 
war that we were engaged in when the Contras were fighting the 
Sandinistas down in Nicaragua. We discovered several things: We 
discovered that the warring factions on both sides, the Contras and the 
Sandinistas, were involved in drug trafficking, and we kind of turned a 
blind eye. It was just a way of doing things.
  The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Waters) has expired.
  (By unanimous consent, Ms. Waters was allowed to proceed for 1 
additional minute.)
  Ms. WATERS. So, Madam Chairman, we want to discourage that.

[[Page H2774]]

  And, finally, the amendment would require the President to submit an 
annual report toward the eradication of poppy cultivation and the 
elimination of drug trafficking activities in Afghanistan.
  Let me just say that with all of the information that we have about 
what went on down in Nicaragua, too many people were involved. There 
was a Memorandum of Understanding between the CIA and the Justice 
Department that they did not have to support drug trafficking. We think 
we have done away with that, but we want to assure that we do not make 
the same kinds of mistakes as we move in to help this devastated 
country.
  They need us and we need to do the right thing.

                              {time}  1715

  I think that we can change this country. We can change the direction. 
We can help very, very poor people in a devastated country. We can 
improve education. We can improve the infrastructure. But let us do it 
without drugs and drug trafficking being a part of it. We do not need 
the assistance of drugs in doing all of this.
  I would ask for an ``aye'' vote on my amendment.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  If I might address the gentlewoman from California, I believe she 
understands that we support the gentlewoman's amendment, except section 
301 as originally offered because of difficulties in interpretation and 
implementation. We are prepared to accept the remainder of the 
gentlewoman's amendment and praise it as a worthy addition to the bill. 
But I cannot accept 301 as originally offered. If the gentlewoman has a 
modification of that, we would be pleased to accept that.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HYDE. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. WATERS. Yes. Let me just say that 301 as originally authored did 
not have the proviso in it that said unless there is an agreement to 
seize all poppy cultivation or drug trafficking activities, which 
modifies the original 301 which did not have that in there. This would 
simply say that they could get assistance if they simply agree that 
they will not continue the activities as we know it. Is that what the 
gentleman is referring to?
  Mr. HYDE. Does the gentlewoman have a modification she wishes to 
offer in lieu of section 301 as originally filed? A modified amendment?
  Ms. WATERS. Yes, I do.
  Mr. HYDE. Very well. If the gentlewoman will offer it.
  I thank the Gentlewoman from California for her remarks. As you know, 
the underlying bill recognizes that local authorities in various 
regions of Afghanistan need incentives to cooperate in illicit 
narcotics eradication and provides assistance to opium growing regions. 
Such assistance, other than for humanitarian purposes, is to be 
transferred away from these opium-growing regions where the authorities 
don't cooperate in narcotics suppression activities.
  I agree with the provisions in the Gentlewoman's amendment that 
require United States officials to report knowledge of any involvement 
in illicit narcotics growth, production or trafficking by beneficiaries 
of this Act. Similarly, I support the report requirement on the 
Afghanistan government's progress in the eradication and reduction of 
supply of illicit narcotics. It also goes without saying that the 
prohibition of United States' involvement in the illicit narcotics 
trade is a measure that we all support vigorously.
  I do not support Section 301 of the amendment, however. This section 
provides, without qualification, that all assistance would be cut off 
to any official entity in Afghanistan that is involved in the illicit 
drug trade. Arguably, aid would be ceased to any entity if one person 
within that organization is determined to be involved in the drug 
trade. All innocent beneficiaries of the aid would then be prohibited 
from receiving assistance.
  Additionally, while this section raises a valid concern on its face, 
it is impossible to monitor. It virtually would require that each 
individual involved in the aid process would have to be certified as to 
not being involved in the drug trade. There is no standard or process 
outlined for determining who is involved in illicit narcotics and to 
what extent. As written, it could also cut off humanitarian and 
counter-narcotics aid--which is contrary to the intent of the bill. I 
also believe that the amendment does not provide for the flexibility 
that the President needs in this effort.
  The people of Afghanistan need to be rewarded for the progress that 
has been made in this effort--not punished. Certainly, we don't want to 
give aid to anyone involved in the drug trade, and this legislation has 
already been crafted with several mechanisms that would divert the aid 
in the event that it is determined to be going to an area which is not 
cooperating with these eradication efforts.
  I am happy to support the Gentlewoman on the remaining portion of her 
amendment.
  In no way in accepting this modified amendment do we concede there 
has been any evidence that the federal government here or anywhere else 
around the globe has ever been engaged in drug trafficking.


            Modification to Amendment Offered by Ms. Waters

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the 
amendment be modified in the form at the desk.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will report the modification.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Modification to amendment offered by Ms. Waters:
       Page 30, after line 8, add the following (and conform the 
     table of contents accordingly):

   TITLE III--ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO ASSISTANCE FOR 
                              AFGHANISTAN

     SEC. 301. PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES INVOLVEMENT IN POPPY 
                   CULTIVATION OR ILLICIT NARCOTICS GROWTH, 
                   PRODUCTION, OR TRAFFICKING.

       No officer or employee of any Federal department or agency 
     who is involved in the provision of assistance under this Act 
     may knowingly encourage or participate in poppy cultivation 
     or illicit narcotics growth, production, or trafficking in 
     Afghanistan. No United States military or civilian aircraft 
     or other United States vehicle that is used with respect to 
     the provision of assistance under this Act may be used to 
     facilitate the distribution of poppies or illicit narcotics 
     in Afghanistan.

     SEC. 302. REQUIREMENT TO REPORT BY CERTAIN UNITED STATES 
                   OFFICIALS.

       (a) Requirement.--An officer or employee of any Federal 
     department or agency involved in the provision of assistance 
     under this Act and having knowledge of facts or circumstances 
     that reasonably indicate that any agency or instrumentality 
     of the Government of Afghanistan, or any other individual 
     (including an individual who exercises civil power by force 
     over a limited region) or organization in Afghanistan, that 
     receives assistance under this Act is involved in poppy 
     cultivation or illicit narcotics growth, production, or 
     trafficking shall, notwithstanding any memorandum of 
     understanding or other agreement to the contrary, report such 
     knowledge or facts to the appropriate official.
       (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
     official'' means the Attorney General, the Inspector General 
     of the Federal department or agency involved, or the head of 
     such department or agency.

     SEC. 303. REPORT BY THE PRESIDENT.

       Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall 
     transmit to Congress a written report on the progress of the 
     Government of Afghanistan toward the eradication of poppy 
     cultivation, the disruption of heroin production, and the 
     reduction of the overall supply and demand for illicit 
     narcotics in Afghanistan in accordance with the provisions of 
     this Act.

  Ms. WATERS (during the reading). Madam Chairman, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment, as modified, be considered as read and 
printed in the Record.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman 
from California?
  There was no objection.
  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the amendment is modified.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of 
words.
  I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) for her 
interest and concern on this issue and for her tireless efforts on 
behalf of the poor and disenfranchised not only in Afghanistan but 
around the world, and on our side we strongly support her modified 
amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment, as modified, offered 
by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).
  The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings 
on the amendment, as modified, offered by the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters) will be postponed.

[[Page H2775]]

  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  I want to take this opportunity to highlight one of the most 
important aspects of this legislation, which is that it creates a 
separate account and authorizes additional funds for Afghanistan. Until 
now, Madam Chairman, funding for Afghanistan has been carved out of 
existing programs with cuts in important programs in other parts of the 
world.
  What this legislation has done, and I want to commend our 
distinguished chairman for his idea, is to establish a new account with 
new money to fund the relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of 
Afghanistan. So we do not have to dip into child survival funds or 
other accounts to fund health or education or reconstruction programs 
in Afghanistan.
  With Chairman Hyde's bill, we no longer have to rob Peter to pay 
Paul; or more appropriately, we do not have to take funds from health 
programs in India or elsewhere in the world to provide health services 
for women in Afghanistan. We do not have to choose between HIV/AIDS in 
Honduras or education in Afghanistan.
  I want to commend my friend, Chairman Hyde, for his foresight and his 
leadership in bringing new ideas and new resources to this important 
undertaking. I will work closely with him and with the other body to 
ensure that this additional provision is included in their version of 
the legislation.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. LANTOS. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Chairman, I just want to say two things: number one, 
I want to thank the gentleman for his superb cooperation and concede 
that so much would not be done in our committee without the gentleman's 
cooperation and enlightened farsightedness.
  Let me say, number two, your staff and my staff are superbly 
qualified people who make this place work, and I salute all of them.
  Mr. LANTOS. I thank my good friend for his very generous statement.
  Madam Chairman, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity 
to thank all of the staff who have worked on the Afghanistan Freedom 
Support Act. Their efforts have been truly bipartisan in the best 
tradition of this body.
  I want to acknowledge the work of Peter Smith, Hillel Weinberg, Steve 
Rademaker, and Walker Roberts on the staff of Chairman Hyde. On the 
Democratic staff of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, 
David Adams has made many contributions to this legislation. In 
particular, I want to thank the members of my own staff who have worked 
so tirelessly on this important bill. Nisha Desai has been creatively 
and actively engaged on this legislation from the very beginning. I 
want to pay special tribute to her efforts. Our Democratic chief 
counsel, David Abramowitz, has shown his usual careful attention to 
detail and made important contributions to the quality of our 
legislation. I also want to acknowledge the efforts of Peter Yeo, David 
Fite, Carol Doherty, Keith O'Neil, and Matt Gobush of the Democratic 
staff. I want to express my personal appreciation to our extraordinary 
chief of staff, Dr. Bob King.
  It is not often that a piece of legislation involves so many staff on 
both sides, but I think in this instance it is an indication of the 
importance of this issue and it is reflected in the quality of the 
legislation we have produced which would not have been possible without 
Chairman Hyde's leadership.


          Sequential Votes Postponed in Committee of the Whole

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, proceedings will 
now resume on those amendments on which proceedings were postponed in 
the following order: the amendment offered by the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos); amendment Nos. 5 and 6 offered en bloc, as 
modified to consist of amendment No. 5 offered by the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee); and the amendment, as modified, offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).
  The Chair will reduce to 5 minutes the time for any electronic vote 
after the first vote in this series.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Lantos

  The CHAIRMAN. The pending business is the demand for a recorded vote 
on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the ayes 
prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The Clerk designated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 407, 
noes 4, not voting 23, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 179]

                               AYES--407

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Allen
     Andrews
     Armey
     Baca
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Baldwin
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barr
     Barrett
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Brown (SC)
     Bryant
     Burr
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Carson (IN)
     Carson (OK)
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Collins
     Combest
     Condit
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cubin
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Davis, Tom
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     DeMint
     Diaz-Balart
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Engel
     English
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Farr
     Fattah
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Flake
     Fletcher
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fossella
     Frank
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gonzalez
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Graves
     Green (TX)
     Green (WI)
     Grucci
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hart
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoeffel
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Horn
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Inslee
     Isakson
     Israel
     Issa
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (OH)
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MN)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kerns
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Leach
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas (KY)
     Lucas (OK)
     Luther
     Lynch
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller, Dan
     Miller, Gary
     Miller, George
     Miller, Jeff
     Mink
     Mollohan
     Moore
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Myrick
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Osborne
     Ose
     Otter
     Owens
     Oxley
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Phelps
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Ryan (WI)
     Ryun (KS)
     Sabo
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Schaffer
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schrock
     Scott
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Sherwood
     Shimkus
     Shows
     Shuster
     Simmons
     Simpson
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Solis
     Souder
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Strickland
     Stump
     Stupak
     Sullivan
     Sununu
     Sweeney
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin

[[Page H2776]]


     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry
     Thomas
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Toomey
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Vitter
     Walden
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Waters
     Watson (CA)
     Watt (NC)
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                                NOES--4

     Goode
     Hostettler
     Jones (NC)
     Paul

                             NOT VOTING--23

     Blagojevich
     Bonior
     Borski
     Brady (PA)
     Burton
     Cannon
     Conyers
     Deutsch
     Emerson
     Greenwood
     Kirk
     Lewis (GA)
     Mascara
     Menendez
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Pombo
     Riley
     Smith (MI)
     Snyder
     Traficant
     Watkins (OK)
     Watts (OK)

                              {time}  1748

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina changed his vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
  So the amendment was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.


                      Announcement by the Chairman

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, the Chair announces 
that she will reduce to a minimum of 5 minutes the period of time 
within which a vote by electronic device will be taken on each 
amendment on which the Chair has postponed further proceedings.


Amendments No. 5 and No. 6, as Modified, Offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
                                 Texas

  The CHAIRMAN. The pending business is the demand for a recorded vote 
on Amendment No. 5 offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-
Lee) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the ayes 
prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
     recorded vote
  The CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 413, 
noes 0, not voting 21, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 180]

                               AYES--413

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Allen
     Andrews
     Armey
     Baca
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Baldwin
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barr
     Barrett
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Brown (SC)
     Bryant
     Burr
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Carson (IN)
     Carson (OK)
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Collins
     Combest
     Condit
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cubin
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Davis, Tom
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     DeMint
     Diaz-Balart
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Engel
     English
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Farr
     Fattah
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Flake
     Fletcher
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fossella
     Frank
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Graves
     Green (TX)
     Green (WI)
     Grucci
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hart
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoeffel
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Inslee
     Isakson
     Israel
     Issa
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MN)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kerns
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kleczka
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Leach
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas (KY)
     Lucas (OK)
     Luther
     Lynch
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller, Dan
     Miller, Gary
     Miller, George
     Miller, Jeff
     Mink
     Mollohan
     Moore
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Myrick
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Osborne
     Ose
     Otter
     Owens
     Oxley
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Phelps
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Ryan (WI)
     Ryun (KS)
     Sabo
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Schaffer
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schrock
     Scott
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Sherwood
     Shimkus
     Shows
     Shuster
     Simmons
     Simpson
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Solis
     Souder
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Strickland
     Stump
     Stupak
     Sullivan
     Sununu
     Sweeney
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry
     Thomas
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Toomey
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Vitter
     Walden
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Waters
     Watson (CA)
     Watt (NC)
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--21

     Blagojevich
     Bonior
     Borski
     Brady (PA)
     Burton
     Cannon
     Conyers
     Deutsch
     Emerson
     Greenwood
     Lewis (GA)
     Mascara
     Menendez
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Pombo
     Riley
     Snyder
     Traficant
     Watkins (OK)
     Watts (OK)

                              {time}  1756

  So the amendments, as modified, were agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.


      Amendment, As Modified, Offered by Ms. Waters of California

  The CHAIRMAN. The pending business is the demand for a recorded vote 
on the amendment, as modified, offered by the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters) on which further proceedings were postponed and 
on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will designate the amendment, as modified.
  The Clerk designated the amendment, as modified.


                             Recorded Vote

  The CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 412, 
noes 0, not voting 22, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 181]

                               AYES--412

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Allen
     Andrews
     Armey
     Baca
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Baldwin
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barr
     Barrett
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Brown (SC)
     Bryant
     Burr
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Carson (IN)
     Carson (OK)
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Collins
     Combest
     Condit
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cubin
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Davis, Tom
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     DeMint
     Diaz-Balart
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier

[[Page H2777]]


     Duncan
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Engel
     English
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Farr
     Fattah
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Flake
     Fletcher
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fossella
     Frank
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Graves
     Green (TX)
     Green (WI)
     Grucci
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hart
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoeffel
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Inslee
     Isakson
     Israel
     Issa
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MN)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kerns
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kleczka
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Leach
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas (KY)
     Lucas (OK)
     Luther
     Lynch
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller, Dan
     Miller, Gary
     Miller, George
     Miller, Jeff
     Mink
     Mollohan
     Moore
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Myrick
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Osborne
     Ose
     Otter
     Owens
     Oxley
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Phelps
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reyes
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Ryan (WI)
     Ryun (KS)
     Sabo
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Schaffer
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schrock
     Scott
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Sherwood
     Shimkus
     Shows
     Shuster
     Simmons
     Simpson
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Solis
     Souder
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Strickland
     Stump
     Stupak
     Sullivan
     Sununu
     Sweeney
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry
     Thomas
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Toomey
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Vitter
     Walden
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Waters
     Watson (CA)
     Watt (NC)
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--22

     Blagojevich
     Bonior
     Borski
     Brady (PA)
     Burton
     Cannon
     Conyers
     Deutsch
     Emerson
     Greenwood
     Lewis (GA)
     Mascara
     Menendez
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Pombo
     Reynolds
     Riley
     Snyder
     Traficant
     Watkins (OK)
     Watts (OK)

                              {time}  1805

  So the amendment, as modified, was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  The CHAIRMAN. Are there further amendments to the bill? If not, the 
question is on the Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, 
as amended.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, 
was agreed to.
  The CHAIRMAN. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Simpson) having assumed the chair, Mrs. Biggert, 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. 3994) to 
authorize economic and democratic development assistance for 
Afghanistan and to authorize military assistance for Afghanistan and 
certain other foreign countries, pursuant to House Resolution 419, she 
reported the bill back to the House with an amendment adopted by the 
Committee of the Whole.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is 
ordered.
  Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment to the committee 
amendment in the nature of a substitute adopted by the Committee of the 
Whole? If not, the question is on the amendment.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third 
reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.


                             Recorded Vote

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this vote 
will be followed by three 5-minute votes on motions to suspend the 
rules on which further proceedings were postponed yesterday.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 390, 
noes 22, not voting 22, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 182]

                               AYES--390

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Allen
     Andrews
     Armey
     Baca
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Baldwin
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barr
     Barrett
     Barton
     Bass
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berkley
     Berman
     Biggert
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Brown (SC)
     Bryant
     Burr
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Carson (IN)
     Carson (OK)
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Combest
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cubin
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Davis, Tom
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     DeMint
     Diaz-Balart
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Engel
     English
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Farr
     Fattah
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Fletcher
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fossella
     Frank
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gonzalez
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Graves
     Green (TX)
     Green (WI)
     Grucci
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hart
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoeffel
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Horn
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Inslee
     Isakson
     Israel
     Issa
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Jones (OH)
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MN)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kleczka
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Leach
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas (KY)
     Lucas (OK)
     Luther
     Lynch
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller, Dan
     Miller, Gary
     Miller, George
     Mink
     Mollohan
     Moore
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Myrick
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Ney
     Northup
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Osborne
     Ose
     Otter
     Owens
     Oxley
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Phelps
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel

[[Page H2778]]


     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reyes
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Ryan (WI)
     Ryun (KS)
     Sabo
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Schaffer
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schrock
     Scott
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Sherwood
     Shimkus
     Shows
     Shuster
     Simmons
     Simpson
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Solis
     Souder
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stenholm
     Strickland
     Stump
     Stupak
     Sullivan
     Sununu
     Sweeney
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Thomas
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Toomey
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Vitter
     Walden
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Waters
     Watson (CA)
     Watt (NC)
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                                NOES--22

     Bartlett
     Berry
     Coble
     Collins
     Condit
     Deal
     Duncan
     Everett
     Flake
     Goode
     Hall (TX)
     Hostettler
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Kerns
     Miller, Jeff
     Norwood
     Paul
     Sensenbrenner
     Stearns
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry

                             NOT VOTING--22

     Blagojevich
     Bonior
     Borski
     Brady (PA)
     Burton
     Cannon
     Conyers
     Deutsch
     Emerson
     Greenwood
     Lewis (GA)
     Mascara
     Menendez
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Pombo
     Reynolds
     Riley
     Snyder
     Traficant
     Watkins (OK)
     Watts (OK)

                              {time}  1825

  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________