[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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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
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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.
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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
Haiti's
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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.
____________________