25 October 2001
Senate Passes $15,500 Million Foreign Operations Spending Bill
(Measure approved by 96-2 now goes to conference committee) (430) By
Kathryn McConnell
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- The Senate has passed 96-2 a $15,500 million foreign
operations and export financing bill for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2002.
The bill passed October 24 after two days of debate on the Senate
floor is approximately $300 million more than the Bush administration
requested. The House of Representatives passed a $15,200 million
foreign operations spending bill in July. The Senate bill cuts $164
million from the administration's request of $731 to fight drug
trafficking in South America. Opponents of increasing funding for
counter-narcotics efforts in Latin America questioned the
effectiveness of past anti-drug spending in the region.
The foreign operations bill now goes to conference committee for
reconciliation of difference between the House and Senate versions. A
final bill will then go to President Bush for signature or veto.
The bill includes $2,700 million for military and economic aid to
Israel, $2,000 million for Egypt and $225 million for Jordan.
An amendment introduced during the final hours of debate would
authorize the president to waive the restriction on assistance to
Azerbaijan if he determines it is in the national security of the
United States. The measure also would require the Secretary of State
to report to Congress on U.S. military presence in and assistance to
Uzbekistan. Other amendments introduced on the Senate floor would make
funds available for:
-- Programs that foster democratization, human rights, press freedoms
and rule of law in countries with significant Muslim populations,
including programs that train emerging Afghan women leaders. Programs
for Afghan women would receive a total of $2 million.
-- Studying the feasibility of sending more Peace Corps volunteers to
countries with significant Muslim populations.
-- Services aimed at reintegrating war-affected youth in East Asia.
-- Relief and reconstruction assistance for victims of earthquakes and
drought in Central America.
-- Treatment, control and research of tuberculosis.
-- To modify annual drug certification procedures for Western
Hemisphere countries.
The bill includes $753 million for the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank,
$1,179 million for multilateral banks, $1,450 million for child and
health programs and $800 million to assist former Soviet Union
countries. Funds would be withheld from Russia if the president
determines the Russian government has implemented any law or
regulation that results in religious discrimination. The bill includes
a total of $3,889 for military assistance and $2,200 for economic
assistance. (Distributed by the Office of International Information
Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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