[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 24528-24529]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         CONFERENCE REPORT ON FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I supported passage of the Conference 
Report on H.R.2606, the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill for 
Fiscal Year 2000.
  Foreign aid programs, which constitute a mere one percent of federal 
spending, are an important and underappreciated component of United 
States foreign and national security policy. Passage of the annual 
appropriations bill for foreign operations is, consequently, an 
imperative. It is for this reason that I voted for its passage, and 
anticipate its being signed into law by the President.
  Despite my support for passage of the Conference Report, this 
legislation is not without its flaws. While it includes essential 
economic and military assistance for Israel and Egypt, it contains none 
of the funding associated with implementation of the Wye River accords 
involving Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority. It is 
anticipated that such funding will be included in a supplemental 
appropriations bill at some point in the not-too-distant future, but I 
question the fiscal and political wisdom of budgeting in this manner. 
Smoke and mirrors rarely provide for sound budgeting practices or a 
coherent foreign policy.
  I am also concerned about the continued inclusion in this legislation 
of unrequested earmarks and adds. While the Conference Report 
represents a vast improvement over the bill passed by the Senate in 
June, it still represents the legislature's continued refusal to desist 
from earmarking in spending bills. Such earmarks in the bill include 
$500,000 for what by any other name remains the Mitch McConnell 
Conservation Fund, $15 million for American universities in Lebanon, 
and a requirement to establish a $200 million maritime fund using 
United States commercial maritime expertise. The bill essentially 
mandates the establishment of an International Law Enforcement Academy 
in Roswell, New Mexico, thereby demonstrating yet again that fiscal 
prudence and operational necessity remain alien concepts to members of 
this body.
  There are more examples, but I think I have made my point. As I have 
stated in the past, there is undoubtedly considerable merit to some of 
the programs for which funding is earmarked at the request of members 
of Congress. My concern is for the integrity of the process by which 
the federal budget is put together. Merit-based competitive processes 
ensure that the interests of the American taxpayer are protected, and 
that the most cost-effective approach is employed. Absent such 
procedures, I will continue to have no choice but to highlight the 
practice of adding and earmarking funds for programs and activities not 
requested by the respective federal agencies.
  Finally, I must register my strong opposition to language in the bill 
prohibiting any direct assistance to Cambodia and requiring U.S. 
opposition to loans from international lending institutions for that 
impoverished country. Cambodia's election was not perfect; in fact, the 
months leading up to the vote were characterized by numerous efforts on 
the part of the Cambodian People's Party to intimidate its political 
opposition. Cambodia, however, is experiencing its first period of 
relative peace and stability in many years, and it is regrettable that 
some in the Senate remain committed to isolating the government in 
Phnom Penh during a time when we should be working within that country 
to strengthen democratic institutions while facilitating economic 
growth. Section 573 of the Conference Report, consequently, represents 
a significant impediment to our ability to help Cambodia move forward 
from an enormously painful past.
  Despite these flaws, Mr. President, I reiterate my support for 
passage of the bill and request the accompanying list, be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

  Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs for the 
    Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2000, and for Other Purposes--
                    Directive Language and Earmarks


                        Bill Language Provisions

       Not less than $500,000 should be made available for support 
     of the United States Telecommunications Training Institute;

[[Page 24529]]

       $19.6 million shall be available for the International Fund 
     for Ireland;
       $10 million shall be available for the Russian Leadership 
     Program;
       $1 million shall be available for the Robert F. Kennedy 
     Memorial Center for Human Rights;
       Sense of Congress that the Overseas Private Investment 
     Corporation shall create a maritime fund with total 
     capitalization of up to $200 million. The fund shall leverage 
     U.S. commercial maritime expertise;


                       Report Language Provisions

       The Agency for International Development is ``encouraged'' 
     to provide assistance for the Morehouse School of Medicine to 
     establish an International Center for Health and Development;
       $250,000 shall be made available to the International Law 
     Institute;
       AID is directed to restore biodiversity funding, which 
     benefits the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries;
       $700,000 is earmarked for Historically Black Colleges and 
     Universities for implementation of a distance learning 
     program;
       AID is directed to ``uphold its commitment'' to American 
     Schools and Hospitals Abroad by providing at least $15 
     million for fiscal year 2000, with the money allocated to 
     institutions operating in Lebanon;
       The bill directs that $500,000 shall be provided for 
     research, training and related activities in the Galapagos 
     Islands. Usually referred to as the Mitch McConnell 
     Conservation Fund, the money will likely be allocated for the 
     Charles Darwin Research Station and the Charles Darwin 
     Foundation;
       $861,000 is earmarked for the Seeds of Peace program;
       $5 million is earmarked for the Irish Peace Process 
     Cultural and Training Program.
       $19 million is earmarked for the International Fund for 
     Ireland;
       $10 million is earmarked for the Russian Leadership 
     Program;
       $3 million is earmarked for Carelift International to 
     support social transition initiatives in Central Europe and 
     the new independent states;
       The Department of State is directed to take measures 
     ensuring the establishment of the International Law 
     Enforcement Academy of the Western Hemisphere at the 
     deBremmond Training Center in Roswell, New Mexico;
       $35.8 million is earmarked for the Global Environment 
     Facility.
       Total: $321 million.

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