[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[April 25, 1991]
[Page 432]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 432]]


Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on Supplemental Assistance 
Requests for Iraqi Refugees
April 25, 1991

    The President today transmitted to Congress a request for FY 1991 
supplemental appropriations for the Department of State and the Agency 
for International Development (AID) and language provisions for the 
Department of Defense. The requested funds and provisions are for 
humanitarian assistance efforts for refugees and displaced persons in 
and around Iraq as well as for peacekeeping activities.
    The proposed language provisions would permit transfer from the 
Persian Gulf Regional Defense Fund to the Department of Defense for the 
incremental costs of humanitarian assistance.
    In addition, the supplemental requests $123.5 million for the 
Department of State and $27 million for the Agency for International 
Development for assistance for refugees and displaced persons as well as 
for peacekeeping activities. The State Department and AID requests would 
be financed through transfers of interest earned on balances in the 
Defense Cooperation Account. Contributions of foreign governments would 
not be used.
    These supplemental requests would be exempt from statutory spending 
limits because they are incremental costs associated with Operation 
Desert Shield/Desert Storm.