[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 98 (Thursday, July 15, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H5797-H5801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4818, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT
FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the
Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 715 and ask for its
immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 715
Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this
resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule
XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of
the bill (H.R. 4818) making appropriations for foreign
operations, export financing, and related programs for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other
purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed
with. All points of order against consideration of the bill
are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and
shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on
Appropriations. After general debate the bill shall be
considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. Points
of order against provisions in the bill for failure to comply
with clause 2 of rule XXI are waived except: beginning with
the semicolon in section 565(a)(2) through ``501)'' in
section 565(a)(3). Where points of order are waived against
part of a section, points of order against a provision in
another part of such section may be made only against such
provision and not against the entire section. During
consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recognition on
the basis of whether the Member offering an amendment has
caused it to be printed in the portion of the Congressional
Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII.
Amendments so printed shall be considered as read. At the
conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the
Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with
such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous
question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and
amendments thereto to final passage without intervening
motion except one motion to recommit with or without
instructions.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln
Diaz-Balart of Florida) is recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of
debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Frost), the ranking member of the Committee on Rules,
pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During
consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose
of debate only.
(Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 715 is an open
rule that provides for the consideration of H.R. 4818, the Fiscal Year
2005 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs
Appropriations bill. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate, evenly
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of
the Committee on Appropriations. The rule also provides one motion to
recommit, with or without instructions.
I would like to take a moment to reiterate that we bring this rule
forward in totally open fashion. Historically, appropriations
legislation has come to the House governed by an open rule, and we
continue to do so in order to allow each and every Member of this House
the opportunity to submit amendments for consideration, obviously as
long as they are germane under the rules of the House.
[[Page H5798]]
This legislation before us appropriates over $19 billion for
operations across the globe. This bill is fiscally sound, while at the
same time compassionate and responsive to needs of millions of people
plagued by disease, famine and disaster.
H.R. 4818 bolsters the President's Millennium Challenge Corporation
to $1.25 billion, nearly a quarter of a billion dollars more than in
fiscal year 2004. This expansion of foreign assistance is meant to help
bring economic security, basic tenets of democracy and the rule of law
to some of the world's poorest.
In May of this year, the Corporation began the first round of funding
assistance by extending aid to 16 developing countries chosen from a
total of 63 eligible nations. Each country that will receive this new
funding is obligated to meet benchmarks for political, economic and
social development, especially in transparency and anti-corruption
efforts. Never before has the United States concentrated aid grants to
countries that have the capability for reform in this fashion. This
program is really, I think, the future of U.S. foreign assistance and a
most effective means to responsibly disseminate U.S. taxpayer money in
the foreign area.
The underlying legislation provides $2.2 billion to combat HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria. Combined with anticipated funding in the
Labor-HHS bill, Congress will commit to fulfill President Bush's
commitment to 14 countries on the African continent and the Caribbean
by appropriating $2.8 billion. This continues the important mission to
provide the training and technical assistance to private and voluntary
organizations that work to eradicate that nightmarish disease.
The United States already has a proven record on HIV/AIDS assistance,
but this year's funding will go far beyond previous obligations. In a
speech given yesterday, U.S. AIDS Coordinator Randall Tobias remarked
on the $2.4 billion that this Congress provided in fiscal year 2004. He
said, ``This year, America is spending nearly twice as much to fight
global AIDS as the rest of the world's donor governments combined.''
Our resolve to help all those across the globe who fight this disease
is strong and serious. In addition to funding, the Federal Government
enlists the expertise of various agencies, including the Food and Drug
Administration, which assures that the medicines we send to Africa and
the Caribbean are safe and effective to help those with HIV/AIDS.
Mr. Speaker, the underlying legislation also provides $2.2 billion
for military and economic assistance to Israel. I think we have to
continue to ensure that our friends and allies remain secure. A strong
Israel is necessary, not only for the region, but obviously we are
committed to do everything we can to see that Israel is safe and secure
within its boundaries.
I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) and
the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Kolbe) for their leadership on
this important issue. I urge all of my colleagues to support both this
rule and the underlying legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
customary 30 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, the United States has always fought for a peaceful,
democratic and stable world, and now, more than ever, such a world is
in our highest national interest. While the United States and her
allies are making progress in the war on terror, Congress must remain
committed to the ideals of peace and democracy and must do whatever it
takes to maintain security here at home and elsewhere.
That is why today, Mr. Speaker, I have come to the floor in support
of H.R. 4818, the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. Along with
defense and diplomacy, foreign assistance remains one of the strongest
tools we have to ensure that the world is safe for peace and democracy.
The bill before us today helps ensure that the United States is
successful in this mission by providing $19.4 billion for our foreign
policy priorities. Among its major provisions, the bill contains
significant funding for pressing needs in the war on terror, such as
the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and significantly increases funding
for HIV/AIDS programs in the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
The bill also provides significant aid to Israel. Specifically, the
bill provides Israel with $360 million in economic assistance and $2.2
billion in military assistance. Israel has always been a good friend
and strong ally of the United States. She shares our common values of
peace and democracy, and she continues to struggle to win the war
against terror for the protection of her own people, as we do.
America's friendship with Israel has never been more important, and I
am pleased we can provide our friend and ally with this aid as we
continue the joint struggle to achieve peace and freedom in the Middle
East.
Today we will consider the foreign operations bill under an open
rule, which I support. However, four Members came to the Committee on
Rules yesterday with important amendments that required waivers in
order to be considered today and which I believe deserve serious
consideration by this House. Unfortunately, not one of these four
amendments was granted waivers. Each was defeated on a party line vote.
The gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) and the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Maloney) brought important amendments dealing with
women's health; the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) brought an
amendment designating an additional $800 million in emergency aid for
the global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; and the
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) brought an amendment to help
secure peace in the Middle East by transferring $325 million in aid for
the Egyptian military into economic assistance that will improve the
quality of life for the Egyptian people. The Lantos amendment, which we
attempted to protect from a point of order, was not given an order.
In recent months, Egypt has embarked on a major military buildup that
may disrupt our efforts to bring peace to the region. It is my
understanding that the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) may offer
a modified version of his amendment which will not need a waiver today
during debate on the bill.
Although I am disappointed that four amendments were not protected, I
am pleased that this bill is being considered under an open rule, and I
plan on voting in its favor, as I do the bill. I urge my colleagues to
do the same.
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), a member of the Committee on Rules.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me the
time.
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to express my appreciation to the
gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Kolbe) and the ranking member, the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), for crafting a foreign aid bill
that attempts to balance competing priorities for economic development
and security funding. In particular, I would like to express my support
for the $400 million provided for basic education.
Over the past 3 years, increased funding levels for basic education
has made it possible for USAID to expand its education programs from 20
to 43 countries. These increases have also had positive effects on
other U.S. development priorities, such as preventing HIV/AIDS and
promoting agricultural development and maternal and child health. It is
my hope that over the next couple of years Congress will increase
funding for basic education to $1 billion annually. I believe this is
the kind of leadership and funding America must demonstrate to achieve
universal education by the year 2015. I look forward to working with
the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Kolbe) and the ranking member, the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), in achieving this goal.
I would also like to touch upon one other priority in this bill that
continues to trouble me deeply, U.S. policy and aid for Columbia.
Yesterday, a
[[Page H5799]]
representative from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
described the dire situation of the internally displaced inside
Colombia and the increasing number of Colombian refugees fleeing to
neighboring Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama.
I have traveled to Colombia on three occasions over the past 4 years,
and each time I have visited communities of the displaced. By most
estimates, there are around 3 million internally displaced Colombians,
mainly women, children and elderly. This bill makes $5 million
available to help displaced Colombians, or approximately $1.66 for each
displaced person. This hardly seems adequate to me.
Mr. Speaker, I have traveled to nearly every region in Colombia, and
everywhere I go, Colombians of all political viewpoints, including
mayors and governors, plead for funds to support community-based
programs to generate income, provide basic healthcare, education and
nutrition, and to bring some measure of economic stability and security
to their towns and villages.
Now, I do not mean to imply that none of these funds in this bill
will serve these purposes, but we all know that precious little of U.S.
aid is allocated for these types of programs in Colombia, especially
when weighed against the need. The simple fact remains that the
majority of U.S. funding for Colombia is military and security
assistance for counterinsurgency and counternarcotics programs.
Over the past 3 years, along with my distinguished colleague, the
ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Skelton), I have offered amendments to cut military aid
for Colombia, but the Committee on Rules refuses to consider amendments
on their merit and grant some waivers for amendments to appropriations
bills so that key foreign policy issues can be more fully explored and
debated.
For example, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) and I have
never been able to offer an amendment to the foreign operations bill
that reflects what many of my House colleagues believe would be a
better set of priorities for the hundreds of millions of dollars we
send down to Colombia each year; or an amendment that would condition
U.S. funding for Colombia's agreement with the paramilitaries to an
assurance that paramilitaries with outstanding U.S. extradition
warrants will serve prison time in the U.S. or Colombia.
I cannot offer an amendment conditioning U.S. funding to ensure that
the land paramilitaries took by violence be restored to the original
inhabitants, who are now destitute and desperate displaced people or
refugees.
So I sympathize with my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos), and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), each of whom
went before the Committee on Rules the other evening and were denied
waivers to debate their important amendments.
{time} 1100
We all know that foreign aid authorizing bills come out very rarely
and, frankly, the aid for Colombia has never been authorized. It has
always been presented to Congress in supplemental spending bills and
the Foreign Operations and Defense appropriations bills and hardly ever
has a designated line item in the bill. Over $3 billion has gone to
Colombia since Plan Colombia was launched, all with very little debate
and, in some instances, no debate.
Mr. Speaker, in the future, I hope that the leadership of this House
will allow Members to have a more comprehensive debate on whether and
how to shape our new and different priorities for the military,
security, and economic assistance we are sending to Colombia. I, for
one, look forward to that day.
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, before yielding to
the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, I yield myself such
time as I may consume to say that with regard to the issue of the
displaced people in Colombia, it is an extraordinary human tragedy, and
the reason that there are displaced people in Colombia is because of
the terrorists. What this bill is trying to do, and it does in a very
important way, is to help the democratically elected government of
Colombia fight the terrorists.
Also, there is aid for refugees in this legislation. I know the
people of Colombia are very grateful for it. I had the privilege of
visiting them some months back. But obviously, it is not only in the
interest of Colombia, but of the United States, to defeat the
terrorists, the cause of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of
innocent people in Colombia; and we do not lose sight of that. Neither
does, obviously, the government of Colombia, because the people there
are suffering at the hands of those brutal murderers that are being
fought day in and day out by the Colombian people; and, obviously, the
American people, through this Congress, are helping the Colombian
people fight those terrorists.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), the chairman of the subcommittee.
Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to say that I think this is a good
rule, it is an open rule, it is a fair rule. I think it is one in which
we can carry on a good, healthy debate about foreign policy and our
foreign assistance programs, and I hope this body will support it and
we can do it quickly and hopefully get on to consideration of the bill
very soon.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from New
York (Mrs. Lowey).
Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the rule, but I rise to
express my disappointment with this rule.
On a party-line vote, the Committee on Rules refused to make my
amendment in order to provide funding on a limited basis to the United
Nations Population Fund. I requested that it be made in order so that
the full House would have the opportunity to discuss this matter of
grave importance, not only to the poorest women and their families, but
also to United States national security. Unfortunately, we are being
denied the opportunity to debate this issue.
Many of my colleagues think they have voted on this issue before.
However, the debate we could have had today would have been different
from those of the last 3 years.
To begin with, this amendment would have maintained the Kemp-Kasten
restrictions in the bill in their original form. As many of my
colleagues know, these restrictions prohibit funding to any
organization that supports coercive abortion and sterilization.
The amendment would have provided funding for UNFPA in only six
countries, all of which are strategically important to United States
national security: Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Pakistan, Kenya, and
Tanzania. If UNFPA is found to be supporting coercive practices in any
of these countries, the amendment would have prohibited funding for the
UNFPA program in that country.
The amendment would have maintained prohibitions on funding for the
UNFPA in China and would have restored a prohibition included in
previous Foreign Operations bills that requires a reduction in U.S.
funds to UNFPA programs for every dollar spent by UNFPA in a country
which is alleged to support coercive practices. Currently, China is the
only such country.
Essentially, my amendment would have asked a very simple question:
Should we let concerns about UNFPA's programs in one country, China,
stop the United States from investing in a proven, multilateral program
that could, in fact, reap benefits for United States national security?
By improving the health of women and their children, reducing the
rate of maternal deaths, and preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS,
UNFPA chips away at the demographic trends and public health disasters
that threaten the stability of the world's poorest nations. As we all
know, achieving global stability is a primary United States foreign
policy goal. I am really disappointed that we will not have the
opportunity to debate it today.
I am also displeased that the rule did not grant waivers to other
Democratic amendments. One such amendment proposed by the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Lee) would have provided an additional $800
million in emergency funding to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and
malaria. While we have provided $400 million in the bill for the Global
Fund, an amendment equal to last year's bill and $300
[[Page H5800]]
million above the President's request, the Global Fund will require
much more in order to meet current and future commitments. It is
unfortunate, I say to my colleagues, that we will not be able to vote
on this sound policy initiative today.
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as
he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the
chairman of the Committee on Rules.
(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule. It
is, as the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations stated, an open rule, which allows for any germane amendment
to be considered.
I see my friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) here, and
I would like to say that he knows very well that we tried very much to
work with him to accommodate his desire to have an amendment as it
relates to our policy towards Egypt; and I know that under this open
amendment process, he is going to be able to offer an amendment that is
different than the one he had intended to offer. But, as has
traditionally been the case, we have provided protection for the bill
as it has been reported out of the Committee on Appropriations, and
then provided for an open amendment process not moving into this extra
area of providing waivers for the amendments that the distinguished
ranking minority member of the subcommittee mentioned.
So I believe that the opportunity for a very fair and open and
rigorous, and I know it will be a somewhat lengthy, debate, to the
consternation of a few of my colleagues here, it will take place; and I
think it is very important.
Mr. Speaker, I remember very vividly when the President of the United
States stood in his State of the Union message and talked about the
need for us to ensure very important support for a number of
initiatives. HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, malaria, all very important
programs that are funded in this appropriations bill.
I had the privilege of going last year to Africa and I met with
leaders in west and north Africa; and the Millennium Challenge Account
is a very important thing, providing an incentive for those nations as
they move and take bolder steps towards political pluralism and the
rule of law and free and fair elections, and all of the structures that
follow that. And the Millennium Challenge Account, I believe, is a very
important tool as we continue to encourage that kind of development and
growth on the very important continent of Africa.
I also want to say that as we focus on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria and the issue of the Millennium Challenge Account, to me, Mr.
Speaker, there is nothing more important in this bill than the
important items that focus on the global war on terror.
There are many people who are often hypercritical of the foreign
assistance packages that come out of the United States Congress. We all
know that it is a fraction of the overall Federal expenditures. But now
it is, in many ways, even more important for us to focus on important
foreign assistance. Why? Because since September 11 of 2001, we all
know that our world here as Americans changed. The rest of the world
dealt with terrorist attacks on a regular basis, but we know that
September 11 clearly changed our world here. And that is why I believe
it very important that we do everything that we possibly can to
continue to provide strong assistance to our allies and those who are
standing up to the global war on terror. And we know that there are
many people who are part of that, many nations are part of that, the
coalition is strong and growing; and I believe that this legislation
that we are going to consider will go a long way towards building that
very important support.
So I congratulate both the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) and the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) for the hard work that they have
put into this important legislation; and I thank my colleague, the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart) who, as a Cuban
American, understands how important it is for us as a Nation to do what
we can to encourage political pluralism, democratization, free and fair
elections, the rule of law, and all of those institutions which we all
hope one day the people of Cuba will be able to enjoy.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Lantos).
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend, the gentleman
from Texas, for yielding me this time.
First, I want to pay tribute to the bipartisan leadership of this
very important subcommittee of the Congress. They have done a great
job, and I want to commend them. I also want to thank the scores of my
colleagues on the Republican and Democratic sides who have seen the
wisdom of an amendment I will propose which will represent a
fundamental change in U.S. foreign policy with respect to the Middle
East. It is an amendment, the prime beneficiaries of which are the
Egyptian people. I will explain.
I am proposing to shift one-quarter of the military aid we are
providing on automatic pilot to Egypt and shift that dollar-for-dollar
for economic aid, for education, health programs, democracy-building,
free media.
Egypt is fortunate enough to have no military threat aimed at it.
There are three neighbors Egypt has: the Sudan, which certainly is no
military threat to Egypt; Israel, which has peace with Egypt; and
Libya, which has just surrendered to the United States all of its
weapons of mass destruction. Egypt is one of the most fortunate nations
on the face of this planet in terms of its security situation. It has
no threat against it.
Yet, year after year, as if we were on automatic pilot, we are
providing the Egyptian military with high-tech equipment amounting to
$1.3 billion. It is one of the worst expenditures of our foreign aid
program.
My measure will shift one-quarter of that military aid to economic
and social aid. Egypt will lose not one thin dime, but the Egyptian
people will gain an enormous amount in their effort to enter the 21st
century.
I would like to suggest that this amendment, $325 million in military
aid, traded for $325 million in economic aid, may be subject to a point
of order. It is the absurdity of our system that if that point of order
is sustained, I will be forced to offer an amendment shifting a larger
amount, which will not be subject to a point of order.
So I want all of my colleagues to clearly understand that my initial
intent is to propose a shift of $325 million. That is all I wish to
achieve. However, if I am blocked by parliamentary maneuvers from
accomplishing this, I will be compelled to shift a larger amount, which
I am sure the vast majority of my colleagues on the Republican and the
Democratic side will support.
Egypt desperately needs economic assistance. Per capita income in
Egypt is less than $1,000. The majority of Egyptian women over the age
of 15 are illiterate. The last thing this society needs is the ultimate
in high-tech weapons in a security situation which is safe, which is
unassailable. There is no threat to Egypt.
{time} 1115
It would be the ultimate of irresponsibility for us to continue
following the path of recent years and automatically appropriate $1.3
billion in military assistance to Egypt.
I will urge at the appropriate time all of my colleagues to support
my amendment. This amendment has the support of civil society in Egypt.
High-ranking members of the Egyptian parliament have advised me that
they are hoping and praying that this amendment will pass because it
will provide a major boost to economic and social development by the
Egyptian people.
I want to thank my colleague for yielding me time.
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we reserve the
balance of our time.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New
York (Mrs. Maloney).
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time
and for his leadership on so many issues.
Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that the Committee on Rules did not
accept an extremely important amendment that I had hoped to offer
today. I went to the committee because the issue of funding the United
Nations Population
[[Page H5801]]
Fund is essential to the health and well-being of millions of women
around the world. Women are dying, and the U.S. has turned its back on
them.
I offered an amendment that would have ensured that the money in this
bill will go to UNFPA and go to help young women and girls who are
suffering from obstetric fistula, a terrible condition that occurs
during prolonged labor and leaves the women leaking urine for life.
Unfortunately, on a party line vote, the Committee on Rules voted not
to protect my amendment.
I assure my colleagues that I have made every effort to compromise on
this issue and to break this logjam.
In April of this year, I wrote a letter to the President, signed by
many of my colleagues, asking him to put aside our differences and
reach a compromise that would help millions of women and girls around
the world by funding UNFPA's work on obstetric fistula. Sadly, I
received a response ignoring the facts.
Mr. Speaker, women are dying around the world, and this body can do
something about it. It is time that we did.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick).
Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I first want to commend the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), my chairman, and the gentlewoman from New
York (Mrs. Lowey), our ranking member, for the fine job they have done
on this bill. It is not a perfect bill, but it is a bill that we can
live with and work for. There is much distress around the world, and
this bill begins to address some of that.
I, too, am a little upset about a part of the rule that did not allow
for some very serious debate, as well as some help, for the children
and the women who live around this world who need attention that this
bill, unfortunately, because of our limited means, is unable to
address.
I do commend the rule for continuing the process and that we fund
Haiti and begin to help that Western hemisphere's poorest country to
begin to get back to normal.
Also, the Sudan, as my colleagues know now, in the Darfur region of
the Sudan, genocide is taking place, and this bill begins to address
that, but I wish and hope that we will withhold our money to Sudan
until they, the leadership in Khartoum, addresses the Darfur problem.
It is unfortunate, and I hope that we move forward in that regard.
HIV/AIDS is a pandemic in the world. In just completing the World
Conference in Thailand, we heard many, many stories about it and what
is happening in the world. Africa, Asia, the former Soviet Union,
India, it is a pandemic that must be addressed. This bill offers $2.5
billion for that, the largest we have ever appropriated. We wish we
could do more. It is unfortunate that one of the amendments offering
$800 million more is not going to be able to be offered today, but
overall, it is a good bill, not a perfect bill. We must do more to help
our neighbors around the world.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone).
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Subcommittee on
Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs, the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), the chairman, and the gentlewoman
from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the ranking member for their support and
leadership in ensuring funding for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. I want
to particularly thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg), my
co-chair of the Armenia Caucus, for all that he did in the
subcommittee.
Through their support, $65 million was allocated to Armenia in
economic assistance, and an additional $5 million was allocated in
military assistance and $5 million was secured for assistance to
Nagorno-Karabakh. I am pleased with these levels of aid, and I would
like to reiterate my steadfast support for maintaining these levels as
we go to conference.
I am particularly pleased with the fact that parity was restored in
the levels of military aid given to Azerbaijan and Armenia. When the
Bush administration's budget was released, I was quite troubled that
the FMF request for Azerbaijan was four times as high as the request
for Armenia. This imbalance simply could not be allowed. When the
President waived section 907 of the Freedom Support Act in the
aftermath of 9/11, a commitment was made by the Bush administration of
parity in any military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Because
Azerbaijan continues to blockade Armenia and also has threatened
Armenia militarily, it is more important than ever to maintain parity
in military aid between the two Nations.
Additionally, it is essential that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh
receive the aid and assistance that they need.
I support the language directing the USAID to spend $5 million in
fiscal year 2005 for programs in Nagorno-Karabakh. This support is in
our country's interests and will help alleviate the conditions of the
people there.
Lastly, I would like to thank again the subcommittee for maintaining
a high level of economic assistance to Armenia in order for the country
to overcome the dual blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey, which continues
to impede Armenia's economic well-being. Despite the dual blockades by
Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenia continues to implement economic and
democratic reforms, which have met with considerable success. While
Armenia continues to make important reforms, as long as Armenia suffers
from blockades on its east and west borders, continued and robust U.S.
assistance is necessary to help minimize their impact.
I want to thank the subcommittee again.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I would advise the gentleman from Florida
that we have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance
of our time and urge adoption of the rule.
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
I thank all of our colleagues who have come to the floor to debate
this important rule. This measure before us that we bring to the floor
is extraordinarily important and should be supported by the
overwhelming majority of our colleagues today.
I particularly am proud of the leadership that the President has
provided and really the congressional leadership has also joined in to
create an unprecedented assistance program to fight HIV/AIDS in the
world. I think we all have to be very proud of that, and it is a very
significant part of the legislation that we bring forward with this
rule today.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the
previous question on the resolution.
The previous question was ordered.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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