[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 145 (Friday, November 4, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H9650-H9672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3057, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, 
             AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 532, I call up 
the conference report on 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 532, the 
conference report is considered read.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
November 2, 2005, at page H9499.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) and 
the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) each will control 30 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased this morning to be able to bring 
before my colleagues in the House of Representatives the fiscal year 
2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations Conference Report for the bill 
H.R. 3057.
  There is no doubt that the conferees had a difficult challenge this 
year, working with an overall funding allocation that is almost $2 
billion below the fiscal year 2006 request. This is nearly 10 percent 
less than the President asked for. Nonetheless, the conferees took on 
the challenge of making the hard choices necessary to meet budgetary 
realities while funding this country's top foreign policy priorities at 
responsible levels, levels that fulfill our foreign policy objectives.
  The conference report continues strong and active oversight of the 
expenditure of taxpayers' dollars consistent with the mandate given to 
us by the United States taxpayers and the leadership of this committee 
and the Congress.
  The conference report continues the Appropriations Committee's 
pursuit of accountability for the expenditure of tax dollars, in 
particular our foreign assistance program expenditures. The oversight 
of our primary agencies--State Department, Treasury Department and 
USAID--includes quarterly reporting of expenditures, consultation on 
major programmatic changes and limitation on expenditures until 
conditions on congressional notifications are met.
  The conference agreement also establishes for the first time an 
independent inspector general for the Export Import Bank.
  That, Mr. Speaker, is a very quick summary of the bill. Let me turn 
now to some of the highlights that are contained in the conference 
report.
  First, with regard to overall funding, the fiscal year 2006 budget 
request for the foreign operations account or appropriations bill was 
$22.8 billion. As I already mentioned, the conference report funds our 
foreign assistance portfolio at $20.9 billion; $1.9 billion below what 
the President had asked for but $1.4 billion over the fiscal year 2005 
conference agreement.
  Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The conference report includes $2.8 
million for the third year of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Here 
we are actually above the President's request by $268 million. This 
number is $629 million over the fiscal year 2005 level.
  The conference report includes not less than $450 million, twice the 
amount requested by the President, for the U.S. contribution to the 
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
  The Millennium Challenge Corporation, or MCC. This agreement funds 
the MCC at $1.77 billion, $270 million or 18 percent above the $1.5 
billion provided in fiscal year 2005. We are, however, and this needs 
to be noted, significantly below the $3 billion requested by the 
President for this year.
  Mr. Speaker, I happen to be a strong supporter of the Millennium 
Challenge Corporation. I was there when the President announced the 
idea for it. I helped draft the legislation which ultimately ended up 
in our bill. I am a big believer in this new concept of delivering 
foreign assistance. But we did

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have limitations, and I think that what we have done is a responsible 
way for it to proceed and make sure that we have adequate funding to 
continue and expand the work of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
  The increase that we have for the MCC and the conference report comes 
because we recognize that the White House's top priority, and they 
communicated this with us, was the Millennium Challenge Corporation. 
But, as I said, our budgetary constraints left us with little ability 
to fully fund this important initiative.
  Supporting the global war on terror. The agreement provides 
significant increases in our security assistance and anti-narcotics 
programs abroad for our allies in the war on terror. This includes 
fully funding the request for $2.3 billion for Israel and $1.8 billion 
for Egypt in economic and security assistance, and $300 million for 
Pakistan and military assistance.
  Additionally, over $1.2 billion have been provided to the anti-
narcotics and law enforcement accounts, $155 million above last year's 
levels. The conferees recognize that the illegal drug industry is not 
only a domestic issue facing the United States but one that funds 
international terrorism and organized crime, thereby threatening our 
borders.
  Afghanistan. The agreement dramatically increases economic and 
counternarcotics/law enforcement assistance for Afghanistan at $665 
million. That is $350 million above last year's level. This conference 
agreement fully funds the $430 million request for Economic Support 
Funds for Afghanistan, an increase of $205 million over the 2005 level. 
It provides $235 million for police and counternarcotics programs.
  Importantly, the conference report includes new language that limits 
expenditure of about half of the ESF funds until the Secretary of State 
certifies to the committee that the government of Afghanistan at both 
the national and provincial levels is fully cooperating with the United 
States on narcotics eradication and interdiction efforts.
  Iraq. In the case of Iraq, the conference agreement provides $61 
million in ESF funds. The fiscal year 2006 request was for $458.5 from 
a variety of accounts to support activities in Iraq. This obviously is 
a very significant difference from what was requested. However, the 
committee noted that more than $3.5 billion of the $18.4 billion that 
was appropriated in 2003 for the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund 
remains unobligated. The conferees did not think it was responsible to 
direct new taxpayer resources to Iraq at this time.
  The conferees expect the administration to fund the remainder of its 
request for Iraq from the unobligated portions of the Iraq Relief and 
Reconstruction Fund, and we are convinced that the administration has 
the flexibility to do just that.

  West Bank and Gaza. This agreement fully funds the request of $150 
million for the West Bank and Gaza program, an increase of $75 million 
over the 2005 level, and retains the fiscal year 2005 prohibitions and 
restrictions on the expenditure of those funds, including the 
requirements for a GAO audit of U.S. assistance.
  There is no request for direct cash assistance for the Palestinian 
Authority, and nothing in this conference report or accompanying 
statement of the managers provides for such assistance.
  MDB oversight. The agreement includes a provision addressing anti-
corruption measures for the World Bank and other reform provisions for 
all the multi-lateral development banks. It is our hope that these 
provisions will lead to greater transparency, less corruption, and more 
effective operations for our multi-lateral contributions to these 
institutions.
  The Global Environmental Facility, or GEF. The agreements includes 
$80 million for the Global Environmental Facility. That is $27 million 
below the request, but it is a full $80 million more than was in the 
House-passed bill. The conferees were pleased to see that in the 
intervening months the Global Environmental Fund has agreed to 
establish a performance-based allocation system for the disbursement of 
funds, as it had committed to do in 2002.
  Next year, my subcommittee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
GEF to monitor how the allocation system is implemented, but our 
inability to fund the full amount is simply a budgetary one, not 
because of any transgression on the part of the GEF.
  There are many other items in the conference agreement that I do not 
have time to go into in detail, but let me just briefly touch on them.
  $322 million for the Peace Corps. That is $5 million above last year.
  $4.3 billion total for USAID, $121 million above the request and $93 
million below last year's enacted level.
  $440 million for bilateral international family planning programs, of 
which $34 million goes to the UNFPA.
  The conference agreement does, however, retain current law on 
restriction and prohibitions on assistance, which I know will please 
some and make others very unhappy.
  The conference report does not include the $100 million for conflict 
response funds that had been requested by the administration. We 
believe this is something that can be handled through reallocation of 
funds.
  Let me close by thanking my ranking member, the gentlewoman from New 
York (Mrs. Lowey), for her continued cooperation and commitment in 
producing a bipartisan conference agreement. I say with all the 
sincerity in the world, it is both an honor and pleasure to work with a 
legislator as dedicated and hardworking as the gentlewoman from New 
York (Mrs. Lowey).
  I also want to thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin 
(Mr. Obey), and my chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), 
for the support that both of them have given in bringing the product 
which we bring to you today.
  I want to thank the other members of the subcommittee, the minority 
side as well as the majority side, who served on this conference and 
helped us in our deliberations and were such active members of all of 
the hearings that we held during the course of this year. I think our 
conference agreement reflects the spirit of cooperation that has been 
the hallmark of this subcommittee.
  Finally, let me extend my thanks to the staff of the Foreign 
Operations Subcommittee. On the House side, Alice Hogans, Rodney Bent, 
Rob Blair, Lori Maes, Betsy Phillips, Nisha Desai, as well as Sean 
Mulvaney from my staff and Beth Tritter from the gentlewoman from New 
York's (Mrs. Lowey) staff.
  On the Senate side, I want to thank Paul Grove, Tom Hawkins, Tim 
Rieser, Jennifer Park, Bob Lester and Harry Christy for the work they 
did in bringing this bill to where we are today.
  This is a specially poignant moment for me and for the subcommittee 
as it will be the last time that Rodney Bent and Sean Mulvaney will be 
on the floor for one of our bills before they leave for different 
opportunities. While we wish them well in their new pursuits, they will 
be sorely missed by me and by the staff of the subcommittee. I thank 
them for what they have done through the years to help support the 
foreign policy of the United States.
  Again, I thank my colleagues for their indulgence here. I thank them 
for the support they have given us. I urge my colleagues to vote in 
favor of the conference report.

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[[Page H9668]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this conference report; and 
I urge my colleagues to support it. I want to thank Chairman Kolbe and 
our colleagues in the Senate for working with me to craft what I 
believe represents a good bipartisan and bicameral compromise.
  This bill demonstrates the commitment of Congress to our Nation's 
foreign assistance programs and puts foreign assistance where it should 
be, alongside diplomacy and defense as a pillar of U.S. national 
security strategy.
  In light of our conference allocation, which cuts nearly $2 billion 
from the President's request, we have put together a very good bill.

                              {time}  1015

  While I would have liked to see us maintain the Senate's level of 
funding for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, I am pleased that we have been 
able to increase funding by $125 million above the House level and $268 
million above the President's request, including $450 million for the 
Global Fund.
  I am also pleased that the conference agreement provides $440 million 
for bilateral international family planning programs and $34 million 
for the UNFPA. I am disappointed, however, that we could not retain 
commonsense provisions passed by the Senate that would have repealed 
the global gag rule and modified the Kemp-Kasten restriction. These 
provisions would have helped our programs be more responsive to the 
need for family planning assistance around the world.
  I appreciate that the conference report includes increases over the 
request, the House-passed level and the fiscal year 2005 level for 
Development Assistance, including a $65 million increase in funding for 
basic education. Since Chairman Kolbe and I began working together, we 
have quadrupled funding for basic education, and I am delighted that 
the Senate agreed to include the House-passed level for this valuable 
priority.
  The agreement fully funds our commitments to Israel and other Middle 
Eastern countries and provides increases for programs designed to 
mitigate ongoing conflicts. I am pleased that we retained the Obey 
amendment earmarking assistance for democracy and education programs in 
Egypt. We must use every tool at our disposal to encourage the 
government of Egypt to make greater strides in reforming its political 
process, and I think this bill sends that message.
  I am greatly concerned about the impact of the October 6 earthquake 
on the people of Pakistan, and I think it important that we stand by 
Pakistan in this time of need. While this bill does not contain new 
funds for earthquake relief, I appreciate the inclusion of language in 
the Statement of Managers recognizing the need for additional funds and 
setting forth the expectation that some of the $600 million provided in 
this bill may be reprogrammed to meet relief and reconstruction needs.
  I do feel that the bill has a few shortcomings. One is the funding 
for the Global Environmental Facility. Since the GEF recently adopted 
the management and transparency reforms advocated by the United States, 
I do feel we should have done our part by fully funding the fiscal year 
2006 request. However, I understand that budgetary constraints limited 
our contribution to $80 million, and I hope that we can strive for full 
funding in fiscal year 2007.
  I also regret that, while we fulfilled the administration's request 
for Sudan, the bill does not contain funding added by Senator Corzine 
on the Senate floor for the African Union peacekeeping mission in 
Darfur. I hope that the administration will seek these funds at the 
earliest possible moment and any subsequent request for funding or 
reprogramming in this fiscal year.
  Finally, I am pleased that we were able to achieve compromise 
language placing restrictions on military assistance for Indonesia and 
paramilitary demobilization assistance for Colombia. While I would have 
preferred the more robust Senate language on these issues, I believe 
the compromises we have reached address the concerns of all interested 
parties.
  Finally, I want to thank again Chairman Kolbe for his hard work on 
this bill, his commitment on this bill. I really deeply appreciate the 
close working relationship which we have enjoyed throughout the years. 
It has really been a pleasure for me to work on these very important 
issues in this bill with him.
  I also want to thank the members of my subcommittee for their 
commitment to the issues that we worked so hard on included in this 
bill.
  I want to thank Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Obey for their 
commitment and their cooperation in working on this bill and, of 
course, the staff.
  Chairman Kolbe has an outstanding staff. Betsy Phillips, Alice 
Hogans, Rodney Bent, Rob Blair, Lori Maes, and Sean Mulvaney have been 
wonderful partners in this process; and we will miss a few of them who 
are moving on. Good luck to them.
  Of course, our outstanding minority staff, it is always a pleasure 
for me to work with Nisha Desai and Beth Tritter. I thank them for 
their hard work as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 7 minutes to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the distinguished ranking member 
of the full Committee on Appropriations.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I intend to vote for this bill; but I want to make a few 
observations, some of which I find to be quite ironic in the process.
  I want to congratulate the chairman of the subcommittee. He has done 
his usual workman-like job. He is a first-rate public servant, and I 
appreciate the bipartisan and nonideological tone that he brings to his 
work. That is fully appropriate to the nature of the bill that he 
brings to this House.
  But I must confess a sense of irony. This Congress has already voted 
to provide $1.2 trillion in tax cuts for millionaires over the next 
decade. It has voted to provide more than $250 billion in spending for 
the war in Iraq; and yet, there are a number of Members of this body 
who begrudge the fact that in this bill you would find roughly $15 
billion to be spent on what I would call the tools of peace and mercy: 
peace because I think economic assistance to the poverty stricken parts 
of the world help create conditions that avoid war, and mercy because I 
think a good portion of this bill could be called the most important 
pro-life bill that we vote on each year.
  Literally in the hour that it took to deal with the rule, you will 
have had several hundred children in this world die, and that is no 
accident. A lot of it occurs simply because of the negligence of the 
developed world, and I would like to think that that would rapidly 
change; but I do not expect to see it, unfortunately.
  The New York Times wrote an editorial this morning suggesting that 
this bill be vetoed because this bill provides $2 billion or so less 
than the President supposedly requested to attack poverty problems in 
the Third World. I agree with the concerns expressed in that New York 
Times editorial; and I would say, imagine how different the world would 
be if instead of spending $250 billion on the dumbest war in American 
history, at least since the War of 1812, imagine how changed the world 
would be if we led the world and provided just 10 percent that amount 
each year to see that by the end of the next decade we could deliver 
clean drinking water to every single human being on this planet.
  Imagine how the world's attitude toward the United States would 
change. I doubt very much that you would see some of the poll responses 
that we see these days where a majority of people in all too many 
countries consider America to be a threat, unfortunately, rather than a 
friend. I think the view of the United States is unjustified; but 
nonetheless, that is the way a lot of people think around the world, 
and it is in very large part because we put so much money into an 
action like Iraq and put so little money into helping people achieve 
the basic necessities of life.
  But I do not think that this bill can be blamed for the fact that we 
fall

[[Page H9669]]

short of the President's budget for economic and anti-poverty help. 
What I do not understand is why anybody takes the President's budget 
seriously on this, because the President knew full well that while he 
was asking for this money, he knew full well that his allies in 
Congress would never allow that kind of an increase in foreign 
assistance as long as they were gleefully cutting aid to children under 
Medicaid, as long as they were gleefully about to take 300,000 American 
families off food stamps, as long as they were gleefully cutting 
children off the SCHIP welfare rolls in this country. They knew that 
public opinion would not tolerate providing large increases even for 
starving people around the world.
  So in that sense, I think the New York Times editorial is aiming at 
the wrong target. It is not the fault of the gentleman from Arizona or 
the gentlewoman from New York. It is not the fault of this committee 
that these misbegotten priorities are being carried out. It is the 
fault of the Republican Party leadership in this country, led by 
President Bush and the leadership in this House.
  I want to say one other thing. We saw yesterday headlines about the 
fact that $100 million was being surreptitiously spent by this 
administration to develop secret detention centers where torture is 
performed around the world. What is ironic is this bill contains $21.5 
million in appropriations for the victims of the torture. How 
hypocritical it must seem for the United States to provide money for 
the victims of torture at the same time that we allow torture to go on 
in our name around the world. Do we really want to have people every 
time they hear the words George W. Bush, do we really want them to 
think in their minds George W. Pinochet? I do not; but, unfortunately, 
that is what you are going to trigger in people's minds around the 
world.
  I hope that this Congress will live up to its responsibilities to end 
that practice by supporting the McCain amendment on the Defense bill. I 
hope that when that Defense bill leaves the House and goes to the White 
House that it contains that provision, despite the White House's threat 
of a veto, despite the action of the Secretary of Defense in opposing 
the McCain amendment. It is a moral imperative that we adopt that 
amendment on the Defense bill. Otherwise, the $21 million in this bill 
for victims of torture is a joke and a sham.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), the newest member of our 
subcommittee.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the ranking member, the 
gentlewoman from New York, for her cooperation in yielding me this 
time.
  I want to rise just to say that it has been a pleasure to work on 
this bill. There is a lot of good in it, and I want to highlight a 
particular part thereof and thank the ranking member and the chairman 
and the staffs of the two sides for working with me on an initiative to 
work to clean up the blood supply in sub-Saharan Africa where millions 
of people have contracted HIV through tainted blood transfusions.
  We have an initiative in the report that accompanies the bill that 
would provide millions to focus in on pediatrics, transfusions first 
and foremost, but also to require a group of entities and agencies, 
including the World Health Organization, the CDC and the National 
Institutes of Health, to develop a nonincremental approach and plan 
within 180 days to clean up the blood supply throughout sub-Saharan 
Africa and put an appropriate emphasis on saving millions of lives that 
needlessly are being lost through HIV because of blood transfusions 
that otherwise could be safe.
  So I just want to thank the leadership of the subcommittee, the chair 
and ranking member and staff, for their cooperation.
  There are other important initiatives in the bill in terms of clean 
water programs in Africa, some $15 million; and there are other things 
that are not, I think, given appropriate notice because of some of the 
larger items in the bill; but I think that these are very, very 
important. I just want the record to be clear that I thank the ranking 
member and the chair for their cooperation and will continue to want to 
build on these efforts because we can save millions of lives.
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Beauprez).
  Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the time, and I 
commend Chairman Kolbe for bringing this conference report to the 
floor; and I rise in full support of it.
  U.S. foreign aid helps promote economic development and strengthens 
democracy certainly around the world.

                              {time}  1030

  That being said, Mr. Speaker, our foreign aid and our Nation's gift 
to our friends around the world should not be taken for granted. We are 
not obliged to give foreign aid, and I believe the countries that 
receive that foreign aid should be held to certain standards, 
particularly living up to extradition agreements our country has made 
with them.
  Included in this bill is a provision, section 581 specifically, that 
is going to help return cop killers to the U.S. to stand trial. For 
years, cop killers have been finding safe haven by fleeing the U.S. 
after committing their unthinkable crimes.
  This problem came to my attention in May of this year when Denver 
Police Officer Donnie Young was allegedly executed by Raul Gomez-
Garcia. After killing Detective Young and shooting and wounding his 
partner, Gomez-Garcia immediately fled to Mexico where he has since 
been tracked down and arrested.
  Gomez-Garcia's extradition back to the United States is now pending, 
but only because Denver DA Mitch Morissey made the only choice 
available to him, and that is to seek a lesser plea bargain sentence. 
The United States should not be forced to plea bargain with other 
countries, nor should full justice be denied family members of 
assassinated cops. This appropriations bill will help us put an end to 
rewarding foreign nations with foreign aid that provide safe haven to 
cop killers.
  Again, I urge its adoption and I commend Chairman Kolbe and the 
ranking member for bringing this to the floor, and Chairman Lewis and 
the full committee for the great work they have done on all our 
appropriations bills in this Congress.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the gentlewoman for yielding 
me this time and Chairman Kolbe for his leadership. I want to thank 
both my colleagues for working each and every year to create a 
bipartisan bill that I think is worthy of our support.
  I also would like to thank our staffs for working diligently and for 
their commitment to the issues which are in this bill, and especially I 
would like to thank Aysha and Christos on my staff who have worked 
tirelessly on these amendments.
  I am very pleased that the Lee amendment to ban the sale and transfer 
of excess weapons for use by the Haitian National Police and the State 
Department accountability report of the police involvement in criminal 
activity were included in this bill. Specifically, my amendment 
prohibits all arms transfers and sales by the State Department for use 
by the Haitian National Police and requires an investigation into 
implications of senior and rank-and-file members in corruption, 
kidnappings, and narcotics trafficking, as documented by the State 
Department's International Narcotics Control Strategy reports.
  Additionally, not later than 60 days after the enactment, the State 
Department will report to Congress their findings on the investigations 
into police abuse, including whether any United States-supplied or -
provided weapons or ammunition were used during massacres perpetrated 
by the Haitian National Police. Now, I expect these restrictions would 
apply to any money designated for Haiti, including the funding in the 
Foreign Military Financing Program, the International Military 
Education and Training, and the International Narcotic Control and Law 
Enforcement programs.
  This amendment is very necessary in the effort to restore democracy 
in Haiti. Haiti desperately needs humanitarian assistance; however, 
nonhumanitarian assistance, like weapons and arms, only exacerbates 
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[[Page H9670]]

struggle with violence and criminal activity within the Haitian 
National Police Force and throughout the population.
  Mr. Speaker, disarmament is impossible if we are complicit in sending 
arms to the country. With crime uncontrollable, human rights a distant 
goal, and elections on the horizon, it is unconscionable that the 
United States would support the sale and free transfer of arms. That is 
why I am pleased that the Foreign Ops conferees agreed to limiting the 
transfer and sale of U.S.-based arms to Haiti. It is necessary to help 
the curbing of growing violence and to support an environment for 
peaceful and free elections.
  I also appreciate the efforts by Chairman Kolbe and Ranking Member 
Lowey to get $2.82 billion in this bill for our global HIV and AIDS 
programs, including $450 million for the Global Fund to fight HIV and 
AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. While I believe, like many, that this 
number could be and should have been at least $150 million higher to 
match the Senate funding level, $2.8 billion is a step in the right 
direction.
  Finally, I would like to say that I think our overall foreign aid 
budget should be significantly increased to alleviate poverty 
throughout the world.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to 
the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
New York for yielding me this time and for her leadership, along with 
that of the chairman of the subcommittee, for the collaborative efforts 
in improving America's foreign policy.
  This bill, more than any other I think, sets the tone and the pathway 
for Americans yet not born. Our relationships around the world help us 
to create a harmonious world, if that is possible, and one that 
applauds democracy and looks toward the United States in a 
collaborative and friendly manner.
  I rise as well to thank the committee for its work in Haiti and 
particularly the dollars that will be utilized for a speedy and 
transparent election. In a delegation that I joined just a few weeks 
ago, we met with the interim prime minister, interim president of 
Haiti, to talk about the importance of secure elections, to talk about 
the importance of releasing political prisoners and allowing those 
individuals who are seeking to run for the highest office in Haiti to 
be allowed to be on the ballot. These dollars for Haitian elections are 
absolutely imperative, but also the instructions, if you will, the 
cajoling of the government to ensure that there are safe and free 
elections.
  We all have watched the horror in Pakistan as now the mounting 
numbers rise to upwards of 80,000 people that may be dead. Some of the 
areas are impassable and it is hard for aid to reach those areas, but 
there are still people there who will be subjected to the bitter cold. 
I applaud the language that is in the legislation as given to me by 
Congresswoman Lowey that suggests we should be concerned about the 
devastation and as well to seek to reprogram a number of dollars, 
particularly possibly dollars from the $300 million in economic 
assistance. I would ask the State Department and the President, working 
with the Pakistani Government, to move those dollars as quickly as 
possible to begin to solve the problem of the bitter cold and the lack 
of housing.
  And might I also ask for support in the Millennium Fund. I had hoped 
that the Millennium Fund could have been higher, but I am grateful for 
the work that has been done in that area. And I also join the ranking 
member of the full committee in the hope that the torture amendment 
will be considered, because I believe the torture amendment equates to 
a dignified American foreign policy.
  Let me simply close by saying that there is certainly good dollars in 
the Global Fund and work on the malaria and tuberculosis dollars; but I 
hope as we look to the future we can raise those dollars, because that 
speaks to the quality of life for people who cannot speak for 
themselves or help themselves.
  Again, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for the work they 
have done on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Conference Report to H. R. 
3057, the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for FY 2006. In so 
doing, I congratulate the chairman and ranking member of the full 
committee as well as the chairman and madam ranking member of the 
subcommittee for their diligence in pulling together a comprehensive 
compromise among the many global initiatives--which is no simple 
challenge.
  While I shudder to see 20 percent of the $20 billion allocated for 
military assistance compared to a little over 1 percent to fight global 
HIV/AIDS, I am pleased to see the commitment shown by both Chambers to 
play a key role in the relief and reconstruction of Pakistan, India, 
and other Himalayan areas affected by the massive earthquake. In 
particular, I applaud the $365 million outlay for ``International 
Disaster and Famine Assistance'' account and the $300,000 outlay to 
Pakistan in the ``Economic Support Fund'' account.
  As we are all fully aware, on Saturday, October 8, 2005, an 
earthquake registering a 7.6 magnitude struck Pakistan with the 
epicenter being near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir. 
This earthquake was the strongest to hit the region in a century and 
has severely stretched the resources of the Pakistani Government. In 
addition, according to the most recent reports, the death total has 
exceeded 73,000. Unfortunately, the mountainous terrain coupled with 
the approach of winter and bad weather has drastically halted relief 
operations to the tens of thousands of injured survivors and the 
estimated two million people who have been left homeless.
  In addition to the massive destruction of homes, the earthquake has 
also damaged sanitation systems, destroyed hospitals and left many 
victims with no access to clean drinking water; thus, making survivors 
more vulnerable to disease. Due to these conditions, measles and 
waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea could spread quickly 
among survivors. Measles, deadly for children, are already endemic in 
the region and only 60 percent of the children are protected. 
Interestingly enough, it has been reported by the United Nations that 
donor fatigue is part of the problem in a year plagued by tsunamis, 
hurricanes and famine. Sixty countries pledged $1.3 billion in 
assistance to Pakistan, but that aid is not necessarily cash or readily 
available.
  In closing let me note that we must continue to support the relief 
efforts in Pakistan. So much more needs to be done during this tragic 
time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for 
yielding me this time, and I rise in support of H.R. 3057, the foreign 
operations appropriations legislation, and specifically I want to thank 
the conference committee for including language I authored which would 
authorize the appropriation of $5 million to the Department of State to 
combat piracy in countries that are not members of the Organization of 
Economic Cooperation and Development.
  According to recent figures from the International Intellectual 
Property Association, worldwide motion picture piracy losses each year 
are estimated to be between $3 billion and $4 billion. More than 52 
million illegal optical disks of the Motion Picture Association of 
America's member companies were seized worldwide during 2004, a result 
of 41,000 raids and more than 65,000 investigations.
  Our government continues to work to secure legal protections for 
American-produced intellectual property. The State Department works 
with numerous countries to improve their legal codes and law 
enforcement training and to enforce intellectual property protections. 
However, in order for such efforts to be more effective, we must 
provide adequate funding and tools to engage foreign governments and 
convince them of the needs to enforce these laws.
  That is why I am especially pleased that the final conference report 
has specifically included authorization language for a new program to 
combat piracy in non-OECD countries. It would provide equipment and 
training for judges and prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and 
assist other governments in complying with international copyright and 
intellectual property treaties and agreements.
  Although the bill earmarks $5 million for existing appropriations for 
international narcotics control and law enforcement, I am hopeful that 
the money will enable the International

[[Page H9671]]

Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau to strengthen its existing 
work. Furthermore, I hope the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs 
will be able to receive the funding under the newly authorized programs 
in future years.
  In conclusion, I want to note that this sensible bipartisan language 
has been adopted in this House three times, and I thank the ranking 
member and the chair.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, to close, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the chairman of the full committee.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the 
chairman yielding me a brief amount of time. I am not rising actually 
to close, but rather to say to the body how much I believe both the 
ranking member and I very much appreciate the tone that has been set by 
the leadership of the gentlewoman from New York and the gentleman from 
Arizona.
  The bill that was passed through our process last year, the bill this 
year reflects absolutely the best of our work in the Appropriations 
Committee on a bill that is perhaps as important as any of our 
subcommittee reports. This bill reflects our effort by way of both 
Houses to support foreign policy that in the long term reflects 
America's interest in the world.
  There is absolutely no question that the assistance that goes forward 
with these bills and through this effort has a huge impact upon 
providing a positive slant to America's voice in the world. I could not 
feel more strongly than I do that foreign affairs should be handled in 
a nonpartisan way, and this bill is the first bill in my memory that 
had the signature of every member of the conference committee from both 
bodies, Democrat and Republican alike. It is incredible to see us move 
in the direction of actually have the House recognize how important 
foreign assistance is and foreign affairs is in terms of America's 
interest in this complex and shrinking world.
  So congratulations is long overdue for the work of this very fine 
staff, but most important the leadership of Mrs. Lowey and the 
leadership of my friend, Jim Kolbe, making a real difference on behalf 
of this changing and complex circumstance that we are responsible to 
play a leading role in.
  The President should recognize just how important this tool will be 
as he goes forward in trying to have our voice have the impact we must 
have in the world.
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for his 
kind remarks, and I urge all the Members to support this conference 
report which has been crafted.
  Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
3057, the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for 2006. I want to 
commend Chairman Kolbe and Ranking Member Lowey for their tireless 
efforts. As a conferee on this bill, and as a member of the 
Subcommittee, I wanted to ensure that H.R. 3057 addressed global needs 
that often go unheeded or are under-funded.
  I am particularly pleased with funding levels for HIV/AIDS, which 
include $2.8 billion in funding. The bill provides $350 million for 
bilateral HIV/AIDS and $243 million for Malaria and Tuberculosis 
programs. I am also pleased that I was able to work with Chairman Kolbe 
and Ranking Member Lowey to insert language that supports funding 
through USAID to provide medical and programmatic initiatives related 
to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
  Additionally, H.R. 3057 doubles funding to support aid to the 
Palestinians for development programs. The bill provides funding for 
debt restructuring for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, HIPC, and 
provides $110 million for the Middle East Partnership Initiative, MEPI, 
and $390 million for humanitarian efforts supported by non-governmental 
organization, NGOs, in Sudan.
  Finally, this bill provides essential funding to two of our 
staunchest allies in the ongoing war against terrorism, Egypt and 
Jordan, both of which are countries involved in promoting economic and 
political reform that will lead to freer and more transparent 
democratic societies.
  Clearly, H.R. 3057 is the best bill we could fashion within very 
tight budget constraints. I am pleased to offer my support to H.R. 3057 
and urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that the Fiscal Year 2006 
Foreign Operations Conference Report includes over $131 million for 
alternative development and institution building in Colombia. These 
funds will help foster both economic and social development and create 
more stability in Colombia.
  A key element to fostering a secure Colombia is creating growth and 
stability in the neglected rural areas. The government of Colombia must 
develop and implement a comprehensive rural development policy. I would 
like to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for the language in the 
House report that calls on USAID to report to Congress about the 
concrete steps the Colombian government is taking to develop a rural 
development strategy. This report will provide a blueprint for what the 
Colombian government must promote development in rural areas--and how 
future U.S. assistance should complement those goals.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the conference report and 
congratulate the Chair and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on 
Foreign Operations for their leadership in crafting this important 
legislation and for their work in ensuring that crucial national 
security priorities are appropriately funded.
  Even as our troops are still engaged in combat in Afghanistan and 
Iraq, new challenges to our Nation's security and diplomatic interests 
are emerging. This bill does a good job of meeting these challenges 
within the confines of an extremely tight budgetary environment.
  I am particularly pleased that the conference agreement includes $75 
million in assistance to Armenia and $3 million for Nagorno Karabagh. 
The conferees also agreed to maintain the military assistance parity 
between Armenia and Azerbaijan by approving $5 million in Foreign 
Military Financing, FMF, and $750,000 in International Military 
Education and Training, IMET, for both countries. Through these 
appropriations, the conferees have continued to advance the political 
and economic development of the Caucasus, while also increasing 
stability in the region.
  I was also heartened to see that the conferees continued this 
country's longstanding support for our democratic ally Israel by 
providing $2.5 billion in assistance for Israel, including $2.3 billion 
for military grants, and $240 million in economic assistance.
  At the same time, the Congress has wisely met the president's request 
for $150 million for development programs for Palestinians in the West 
Bank and Gaza, $75 million more than the current level. Only by helping 
the Palestinian people to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness 
can we hope to realize the vision of a two-state solution to decades of 
conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. I believe that it is wise 
that our assistance to the Palestinians goes to private voluntary 
organizations (20 percent) or to contractors (80 percent), all of which 
are selected and monitored by USAID. While I hope that Abu Mazen will 
be able to end the corruption in the PA, I think that it is prudent 
that the U.S. forego direct transfers to the PA until there is greater 
transparency and accountability.
  This has been a difficult year for our relationship with Egypt. Even 
as Cairo has proven a valuable partner in helping to facilitate the 
Israeli pullout from Gaza, the country's moves towards democracy have 
been halting. I think that this bill properly funds our priorities by 
appropriating $1.8 billion in aid for Egypt--$1.3 billion for military 
grants, and $495 million in economic assistance with $50 million of the 
economic assistance directed to programs that promote democracy and 
human rights, and $50 million be for education, including $5 million 
for scholarships for disadvantaged Egyptian students.
  At a time when the United States is viewed with skepticism and 
outright hostility in many parts of the world, foreign assistance and 
disaster relief is one of the most effective ways to change negative 
views of our country. In the wake of the tsunami last December and the 
October 8 earthquake in Pakistan, the generosity of the American people 
has been a strong force for advancing our national interests abroad, 
even as we wrestled with the aftermath of a devastating series of 
hurricanes here at home.
  As the Congress and the President begin to work on the Fiscal Year 
2007 budget for foreign operations, I hope that we will remember that 
feeding the hungry, healing the sick and helping those left homeless by 
nature's fury can play an important role in making the United States 
more secure and more respected by the rest of the world.
  Again, I thank my colleagues for their work on this important 
legislation and offer my wholehearted support.
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). Without objection, the previous 
question is ordered on the conference report.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the conference report.
  Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 358, 
nays 39, not voting 36, as follows:

[[Page H9672]]

                             [Roll No. 569]

                               YEAS--358

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Allen
     Andrews
     Baca
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrett (SC)
     Barrow
     Barton (TX)
     Bass
     Bean
     Beauprez
     Berkley
     Berman
     Biggert
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boren
     Boucher
     Boustany
     Bradley (NH)
     Brown (OH)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown, Corrine
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Butterfield
     Camp
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carson
     Carter
     Case
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chandler
     Chocola
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Cramer
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (KY)
     Davis (TN)
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Emanuel
     Engel
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Farr
     Fattah
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Fitzpatrick (PA)
     Foley
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Frank (MA)
     Frelinghuysen
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gerlach
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Granger
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Hall
     Harman
     Harris
     Hart
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayworth
     Herger
     Herseth
     Higgins
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Inglis (SC)
     Inslee
     Israel
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (OH)
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MN)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick (MI)
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kline
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Leach
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Lynch
     Mack
     Maloney
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy
     McCaul (TX)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Menendez
     Mica
     Michaud
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy
     Murtha
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Neugebauer
     Ney
     Northup
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Owens
     Oxley
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pearce
     Pelosi
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Royce
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Sabo
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sanders
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schmidt
     Schwartz (PA)
     Schwarz (MI)
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Sherwood
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simmons
     Simpson
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Sodrel
     Solis
     Souder
     Spratt
     Strickland
     Stupak
     Sweeney
     Tauscher
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry
     Thomas
     Thompson (CA)
     Thornberry
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                                NAYS--39

     Bartlett (MD)
     Berry
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     DeFazio
     Duncan
     Flake
     Franks (AZ)
     Gibbons
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Graves
     Green (WI)
     Gutknecht
     Hayes
     Hefley
     Hensarling
     Hostettler
     Hulshof
     Jenkins
     Jones (NC)
     Keller
     Lucas
     Melancon
     Miller (FL)
     Moran (KS)
     Otter
     Paul
     Petri
     Rahall
     Rohrabacher
     Ryun (KS)
     Sensenbrenner
     Stark
     Stearns
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Taylor (MS)
     Westmoreland

                             NOT VOTING--36

     Baker
     Becerra
     Boehlert
     Boswell
     Boyd
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Davis (FL)
     Dicks
     Emerson
     Filner
     Ford
     Gallegly
     Gutierrez
     Hastings (FL)
     Hinchey
     Hoyer
     Issa
     Kind
     McMorris
     Miller, Gary
     Norwood
     Nunes
     Ortiz
     Osborne
     Poe
     Pombo
     Roybal-Allard
     Ryan (WI)
     Schiff
     Sullivan
     Thompson (MS)
     Tiahrt

                              {time}  1113

  Mr. GOODLATTE and Mr. WESTMORELAND changed their vote from ``yea'' to 
``nay.''
  So the conference report was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, due to obligations in my district, I was 
unable to vote on the Conference Report on H.R. 3057, the Foreign 
Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act 
for Fiscal Year 2006. However, had I been present, I would have voted 
``yea'' on the Conference Report on H.R. 3057.
  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict, 
I was unable to vote on the Conference Report on H.R. 3057, the Foreign 
Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act 
for Fiscal Year 2006. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, on November 4, I missed rollcall vote No. 
569. Rollcall vote No. 569 was on agreeing to the conference report 
making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, 
and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and 
for other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''
  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, on the legislative day of Friday, November 4, 
2005, I was unavoidably detained with family matters and was unable to 
cast a vote on rollcall vote No. 569. Had I been present, I would have 
voted ``yea'' on this vote.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to important business in my district, I 
was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been 
present, I would have voted as indicated below:
  Rollcall vote No. 569, ``yea.''
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 569, on H.R. 3057, I was in 
my Congressional District on official business. Had I been present, I 
would have voted ``yea.''
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this 
chamber today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been 
present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 569.
  Stated against:
  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I missed recorded votes today in order to be 
with my family in California for an unexpected family emergency. I 
would like my intentions made known for my constituents in the 11th 
district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 
569, the Conference Report on H.R. 3057--Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006.

                          ____________________