[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CORRECTING MISCHARACTERIZATIONS IN PRESS REGARDING ASSISTANCE FOR 
                              PALESTINIANS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM KOLBE

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2005

  Mr. KOBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to correct mischaracterizations in the 
press regarding assistance for the Palestinians included in the fiscal 
year 2005 Emergency Supplemental that passed Congress on May 10. As my 
colleagues are aware, the conference agreement includes $200 million in 
assistance for the Palestinian people. Contrary to statements of 
others, this is the amount requested by the President.
  Several recent articles and editorials have inaccurately portrayed 
the way in which Congress provided this funding. The inaccuracies 
contained in these articles do not reflect the intent of the 
Administration or Congress and threaten to undermine the good work of 
the United States in supporting a lasting peace in the Middle East. 
These inaccuracies must be corrected.
  First, the President did not request the $200 million as a direct 
payment to the Palestinian Authority. As Administration officials have 
repeatedly stated publicly and in communications with Congress, this 
funding was requested predominantly for projects that benefit the 
Palestinian people. For instance, Secretary Rice on February 16 
testified before the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and 
on February 17 before the House International Relations Committee that 
most of these funds would be used for projects, not direct payments to 
the Palestinian Authority. In fact, the supplemental conference 
agreement includes a chart highlighting how assistance should be 
provided on a project-by-project basis. This chart directly tracks the 
justification material provided by the Administration to support its 
supplemental request and establishes a mechanism for proper 
Congressional oversight and intent.
  Second, it is simply incorrect to call an additional $200 million of 
U.S. taxpayer assistance a ``no-confidence vote'' for Mr. Abbas. There 
is widespread Congressional support and confidence in Mr. Abbas which 
is reflected by the $200 million provided in the supplemental and the 
$75 million provided in the fiscal year 2005 appropriations bill. This 
constitutes a nearly three-fold increase in U.S. assistance to the 
Palestinian people in just six months. As the final bill makes clear, 
these funds are provided with the same terms and conditions that have 
applied to Palestinian assistance in years past. Under these terms, the 
President may provide direct payments to the Palestinian Authority only 
if he certifies to Congress that such assistance is important to our 
country's national security interests.
  Finally, the final bill requires that $50 million of the assistance 
should be provided to Israel to improve the movement of people and 
goods to benefit the Palestinian people. A stable Palestinian state 
must be built on economic development, and economic development must be 
built upon a smooth flow of goods and people to and from the 
Palestinian territories and Israel. The Congress also made it clear 
that infrastructure will have to be developed in both the Palestinian 
and Israeli territories.
  Mr. Speaker, it concerns me that editorial boards of certain 
newspapers would make such strong statements about out lack of support 
for the Palestinian people based on inaccurate information. These 
issues are too delicate and too important to be damaged by careless 
journalism.

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