[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 149 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2339]
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

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JEB HENSARLING

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 4, 2005

  Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, today, the House of Representatives 
approved the conference report for H.R. 3057, legislation to fund 
American projects abroad in Fiscal Year 2006. I would like to mention 
how much I appreciate the hard work of my friend from California, 
Chairman Lewis, in bringing this bill to the floor. This is no easy 
task. Unfortunately, I cannot support this legislation because I 
believe it represents a disservice to taxpaying American families. 
Several times already this year, I have opposed legislation that 
violates either the Budget Act or increases spending by significant 
levels. Congress must learn to live by these funding levels or we will 
leave our children and grandchildren a huge and unfair financial burden 
as their inheritance.
  At this crucial time in our Nation's history Congress needs to make 
the necessary and tough choices about spending. Unfortunately, H.R. 
3057 does not achieve that goal and vastly exceeds funding in previous 
years. Although H.R. 3057 was within the limits of the budget 
allocations, the bill costs $1.24 billion more than last year's bill, 
for a total price tag of almost $21 billion, a 6 percent increase. It 
also includes a gratuitous 40 percent increase in funding for the 
Export Import Bank, as well as several questionable earmarks, including 
$2.3 million for the International Fertilizer Development Center. We 
must show more fiscal responsibility and more accountability.
  While I cannot support H.R. 3057 because of its budgetary 
implications, I am pleased that the bill contains $2.5 billion in 
important assistance to aid our friend and ally, Israel. The package 
includes $2.2 billion in military aid and $240 million in economic 
assistance, as well as important oversight provisions to ensure that 
aid to the Palestinians is spent properly. Further, the bill spends $50 
million for Israel to help facilitate the movement of people and goods 
in Palestinian areas. Israel continues to be a bastion of freedom and 
democracy in a part of the world where too many despots and dictators 
rule. I believe the United States must support and stand by Israel or 
its very existence could be jeopardized.
  Earlier this year, Israel took the unprecedented and expensive step 
of dismantling certain settlements located in disputed areas. Because 
of this, and other good-faith gestures on the part of Israel, I will 
continue to do everything in my power to ensure that U.S. foreign 
policy is geared towards achieving a just and lasting peace in the 
region. As a Member of Congress who has been to Israel and has seen Tel 
Aviv teeming with life and commerce, it is my hope that one day the 
people of the Middle East will experience democracy, freedom, peace, 
economic prosperity and tolerance. I believe this funding is critical 
to achieving that goal and must remain a top priority for Congress.
  I know many other parts of the world have come to depend on American 
foreign aid, and clearly there is no more generous nation than the 
United States. I believe this bill does not go far enough in addressing 
the looming fiscal crisis our Nation currently faces. We must protect 
the integrity of the budget laws and rules Congress has established and 
work harder to protect the family budget from the federal budget. Thus, 
I cannot support H.R. 3057 as written.

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