[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 23104]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



REPUBLICANS SHOULD KEEP THEIR WORD AND HONOR FUNDING FOR THE WYE RIVER 
                                ACCORDS

  (Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, later today the House will vote on the 
Conference Report on Foreign Operations Appropriations for Fiscal Year 
2000. I will vote against the conference report, marking the first time 
in 21 years that I have opposed a foreign aid appropriations bill.
  I am taking this action for one very good reason. The Republican 
leadership of Congress has refused to include money requested by the 
administration to fund the Wye River Accords between Israel and the 
Palestinians. This is one of the most irresponsible acts taken by the 
Congress in a very long time.
  In August, two delegations of Members of the House traveled to Israel 
and met with Prime Minister Barak and Palestinian Leader Arafat. I 
headed the Democratic delegation and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Davis) headed the Republican delegation. Both delegations told Prime 
Minister Barak and Yassir Arafat that we would support funding for the 
Wye River Accords. The Democrats intend to honor our word. Apparently 
the Republican leadership does not intend to allow those Republican 
Members to keep theirs.
  This is indeed a sad day. The Wye River Accords and the subsequent 
agreement entered into by Israel and the Palestinians earlier this 
month to implement Wye mark a dramatic turning point in the history of 
the Middle East. President Clinton has said he will veto this bill if 
it is passed by the Congress. I urge a no vote today and a vote to 
sustain the President's veto when the bill is returned to the House.

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