[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 43 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Pages 2628-2629]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Congressional Action on the Foreign Operations 
Appropriations Legislation

October 25, 2000

    I commend the House and Senate for passing a foreign operations bill 
today that supports our efforts to promote peace and stability around 
the world, in turn helping to make our Nation more safe and secure.
    I am particularly pleased that this legislation funds our landmark 
initiative to provide debt relief to the poorest of the world's nations. 
Our commitment to debt relief gives these poorest countries a critical 
opportunity to combine reform with funds to reduce poverty and provide 
basic health care and education for their people. I applaud the efforts 
of all those across the political spectrum who joined forces to secure 
this vital funding.
    I also am pleased that this legislation increases funding to fight 
HIV/AIDS. In nations around the world, HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of 
death and is undermining decades of effort to reduce mortality, improve 
health, expand educational opportunities, and lift people out of 
poverty.
    This legislation also helps strengthen our efforts to support 
democracy and stability in southeastern Europe, the Newly Independent 
States, and other key regions. It includes additional resources to 
combat terrorism and nuclear proliferation. It also provides increases 
for our Peace Corps volunteers around the world and for the Export-
Import Bank, which supports the export of American products overseas.

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    Finally, I am pleased that this legislation commits additional 
critical funding for international family planning organizations and 
lifts the restrictions hampering their work that I have strongly opposed 
in the past.