[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 92 (Monday, July 11, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPOPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3057) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2006, and for other purposes:

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of international wildlife 
conservation efforts and the Global Environmental Facility, GEF.
  Protecting and preserving our environment is one of the most 
important duties I have as a Member of Congress. We simply won't have a 
world to live in if we continue our neglectful ways.
  I support maximizing the GEF's resources, leveraging the highest 
possible contributions from the other donor countries, and 
demonstrating U.S. leadership on international environmental issues.
  The GEF is the primary financing mechanism for important 
environmental work around the world, helping developing countries 
address the many environmental challenges associated with ending 
poverty and enhancing economic development. Since its establishment in 
1991, the GEF has provided $5 billion in grants, leveraged $16 billion 
in co-financing for projects in 140 countries around the world, and has 
provided more than 4,000 grants directly to community groups and non-
governmental organizations. The U.S. has provided close to $1 billion 
to the GEF over this same time frame.
  Because other countries' contributions are indexed to the United 
States' level of support, we have the ability to either gather great 
resources for the global environment or greatly limit the international 
response to issues such as tropical forest loss and the decline in 
coral reefs worldwide.
  Funding the GEF is a good investment. Choosing to make the highest 
commitment to the GEF will truly help define American leadership on 
environmental issues to the rest of the world.

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