[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 16, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E248-E249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other 
     departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes:

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the dangerous and 
irresponsible cuts to the State and Foreign Operations budget. This 
short-sighted budget slashing generates petty savings at the expense of 
America's long-term national security and economic growth.
  There are no two ways about it: Our national security depends on 
investments in development, diplomacy, and defense. As Department of 
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said, ``The challenges confronting 
our nation can't be dealt with by military means alone.'' But this 
legislation and many of the amendments to it are tone deaf to this 
common sense.
  Mr. Speaker, this fiscal negligence will come back to haunt us if we 
cripple our efforts to prevent conflict, promote rule of law, and 
support the creation of stable allies.
  I am particularly upset that the Peace Corps, one of our government's 
most cost-effective tools of peacebuilding, is slashed by $70 million. 
Do you know what Peace Corps could do with that money? Send 1,400 
Americans to high-priority countries in the Middle

[[Page E249]]

East, Africa, and around the globe to work on critical projects like 
education, agricultural development, and HIV/AIDs relief, while 
promoting goodwill towards America.
  Similarly, I am concerned about amendments to defund the U.S. 
Institute of Peace. Our country is fighting a multi-billion dollar war. 
And as General Petraeus affirmed, USIP works closely with the military 
in both Afghanistan and Iraq to promote on-the-ground peacebuilding 
efforts and bring an end to conflict. Yet, as my colleagues propose to 
increase funding for the war, some have also proposed to eliminate 
funding for USIP, the only independent government actor that is 
dedicated solely to conflict prevention and resolution. That makes 
absolutely no economic sense.
  Rather than make smart investments in civilian instruments of 
security, this bill and a lot of the amendments to it cut many other 
excellent foreign assistance programs with strong returns on 
investment. These include international family planning, poverty and 
infectious disease alleviation, and the Inter-American Foundation.
  As Secretary Gates said, ``Development is a lot cheaper than sending 
in soldiers.'' If we want to be better stewards of taxpayer dollars, 
then why are we ripping resources away from the low-cost, high-return 
international programs that create strategic alliances and prevent 
multi-billion dollar wars?
  The foreign aid budget is less than two percent of our total federal 
budget. This boils down to about $126 per American. That's about $100 
bucks less than an army service uniform. So, for just $126 a head, 
America remains the beacon of democracy in the world. Now, that makes 
good economic sense.
  Our job in this body is to serve the American people. But what kind 
of public servants are we if we vote to jeopardize America's national 
security so we can save a few bucks this year?
  These cuts to foreign assistance masquerade as fiscal responsibility. 
But the reality is that this is a short-sighted proposal that endangers 
our long-term security, stability, and economic health. I strongly 
oppose this misguided legislation.

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