05 February 2002

Measure Suggests Using Foreign Aid as Anti-terrorism Tool

A bipartisan group of senators submitted a resolution February 5 that urges the United States to use foreign aid in its fight against international terrorism.

Senator Michael DeWine (Republican of Ohio) introduced Senate Resolution 204 (S. Res. 204), with nine co-sponsors including Senator Trent Lott (Republican of Mississippi) and Senator John Kerry (Democrat of Massachusetts).

The proposed resolution was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

S. Res. 204 says the international community "faces a continuing epidemic of ethnic, sectarian, and criminal violence." The proposed resolution continues that, "poverty, hunger, political uncertainty, and social instability are the principal causes of violence and conflict around the world."

The proposed resolution's authors say U.S. foreign assistance programs "should play an increased role in the global fight against terrorism to complement the national security objectives of the United States."

S. Res. 204 calls on the United States to lead coordinated international efforts "to provide increased financial assistance to countries with impoverished and disadvantaged populations that are the breeding grounds for terrorism."

The resolution's sponsors say that the United States should use "economic incentives" to end state support or tolerance of terrorism."

S. Res. 204 urges the United States Agency for International Development and the Department of Agriculture to "substantially increase humanitarian, economic development, and agricultural assistance."

Following is the text of Senate Resolution 204 from the Congressional Record:

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of United States foreign assistance programs as a diplomatic tool for fighting global terrorism and promoting United States.

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of United States foreign assistance programs as a diplomatic tool for fighting global terrorism and promoting United States security interests.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 5, 2002

Mr. DEWINE (for himself, Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. DODD, Mr. KERRY, Mr. LOTT, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. HAGEL, Mr. DAYTON, Mr. SARBANES, and Mr. BINGAMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of United States foreign assistance programs as a diplomatic tool for fighting global terrorism and promoting United States security interests.

Whereas the international community faces a continuing epidemic of ethnic, sectarian, and criminal violence;

Whereas poverty, hunger, political uncertainty, and social instability are the principal causes of violence and conflict around the world;

Whereas broad-based, equitable economic growth and agriculture development facilitates political stability, food security, democracy, and rule of law;

Whereas democratic governments are more likely to advocate and observe international laws, protect civil and human rights, pursue free market economies, and avoid external conflicts;

Whereas the United States Agency for International Development has provided critical democracy and governance assistance to a majority of the nations that successfully made the transition to democratic governments during the past two decades;

Whereas 43 of the top 50 consumer nations of American agricultural products were once United States foreign aid recipients;

Whereas in the past 50 years, infant child death rates in the developing world have been reduced by 50 percent, and health conditions around the world have improved more during this period than in any other period;

Whereas the United States Agency for International Development child survival programs have significantly contributed to a 10 percent reduction in infant mortality rates worldwide in just the past eight years;

Whereas investments by the United States and other donors in better seeds and agricultural techniques over the past two decades have helped make it possible to feed an additional 1,000,000,000 people in the world;

Whereas, despite this progress approximately 1,200,000,000 people, one-quarter of the world's population, live on less than $1 per day, and approximately 3,000,000,000 people live on only $2 per day;

Whereas 95 percent of new births occur in developing countries, including the world's poorest countries; and

Whereas only one-half of one percent of the Federal budget is dedicated to international economic and humanitarian assistance: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--

• United States foreign assistance programs should play an increased role in the global fight against terrorism to complement the national security objectives of the United States;

• the United States should lead coordinated international efforts to provide increased financial assistance to countries with impoverished and disadvantaged populations that are the breeding grounds for terrorism;

• consistent with United States foreign policy, economic incentives should be used to end state support or tolerance of terrorism; and

• the United States Agency for International Development and the Department of Agriculture should substantially increase humanitarian, economic development, and agricultural assistance to foster international peace and stability, and the promotion of human rights.