*EPF105 02/07/00
Fact Sheet: Clinton FY 2001 International Affairs Budget
(Requests $22,800 million for all programs) (920)

Following is a State Department fact sheet on the Clinton administration's proposed international affairs budget for the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2000.

In the text, "billion" equals 1,000 million.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

February 7, 2000

FACT SHEET

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FISCAL YEAR 2001 BUDGET REQUEST

SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS

The United States enters the 21st century strong, prosperous, respected, and at peace. But we also face serious dangers, including the spread of weapons of mass destruction, international terror, ethnic strife, the risk of renewed financial crisis, illegal drugs, environmental degradation, and epidemic disease.

The goal of American foreign policy is to enable our citizens to take advantage of the opportunities of this new era, while protecting us from and reducing the dangers. We do this by exercising leadership around the world, in partnership with allies and friends, on behalf of more open political and economic systems and the rule of law. The question we face is whether we will have the resources required to provide the kind of leadership our citizens deserve and our interests demand.

Today, only about one penny out of every dollar the Federal Government spends is used for International Affairs. But this penny can make the difference between hardship and prosperity for our citizens, war and peace for our country, oppression and freedom for our world.

The International Affairs category of the federal budget (or Function 150) provides the resources for America's diplomatic leadership and programs in support of our interests around the globe. This includes everything from supporting Middle East peace to interdicting drugs, from curbing the spread of nuclear weapons to sustaining our Peace Corps volunteers, from promoting U.S. exports to responding to humanitarian disasters.

The President's FY 2001 request for International Affairs is $22.8 billion. It includes programs administered by a number of Federal departments, agencies and foundations./1 Jurisdiction over appropriations for Function 150 is shared by four Subcommittees on each side of Capitol Hill./2 An extended Summary and Highlights document, keyed to the appropriations accounts contained in legislation of these Subcommittees, will be available at www.state.gov shortly.

U.S. National Interests

The FY 2001 budget promotes the seven national interests outlined in the International Affairs Strategic Plan. These fundamental U.S. national interests are:

-- National Security - To protect vital interests and secure peace; deter aggression; prevent, defuse, and manage crises; halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and advance arms control and disarmament;

-- Economic Prosperity - To expand exports, open markets, assist American business, foster economic growth, and promote sustainable development;

-- American Citizens and U.S. Borders - To protect American citizens abroad and safeguard the borders of the United States;

-- Law Enforcement - To combat international terrorism, crime, and narcotics trafficking;

-- Democracy and Human Rights - To support establishment and consolidation of democracies and uphold human rights;

-- Humanitarian Response - To provide humanitarian assistance to victims of crisis and disaster; and

-- Environment, Population, and Health - To improve the global environment, stabilize world population growth, and protect human health.

In addition, the success of U.S. foreign policy and programs depends upon a solid platform complemented by a well-trained corps of foreign and civil service professionals and a robust public diplomacy program. Without the requisite tools and personnel, U.S. leadership is at risk.

Priorities for FY 2001

The FY 2001 budget reflects several priorities worth highlighting:

-- Funding for a sustained, multi-year program of investment in overseas facilities and security measures, in line with the recommendations of the Overseas Presence Advisory Panel and the Accountability Review Boards (Kaden and Crowe reports).

-- Emphasis on resources to promote democracy, especially in key countries making the transition to democracy, such as Colombia, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Ukraine.

-- Funding for recovery in Kosovo and to aid in the economic and political integration of the states of Southeast Europe into Europe.

-- Continued funding for the Expanded Threat Reduction Initiative and for solidifying democracy and promoting free markets in the states of the former Soviet Union.

-- Strong support for Africa to help establish stable, democratic African countries and promote economic growth.

-- Increased funding to address transnational threats, particularly focused on preventing the spread of HIV/AIDs, fighting terrorism, and putting narco-traffickers out of business.

-- Increased funding to return family planning programs to FY 1995 levels.

-- Debt relief to help put the poorest heavily indebted countries on a path of economic growth and rising income.

Supplemental Appropriations

In this budget, the Administration is requesting $1.65 billion in FY 2000 supplemental appropriations to support Plan Colombia, Kosovo and Southeast Europe, and the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.

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1/These include the international programs of:
Department of State
Department of the Treasury
Department of Defense, Defense Security Cooperation Agency
Department of Agriculture
U.S. Agency for International Development
Export-Import Bank
International Trade Commission
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Peace Corps
Trade and Development Agency
U.S. Institute of Peace
African Development Foundation
The Asia Foundation
Inter-American Foundation

2/Chiefly, the House and Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittees and the Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Subcommittees. The Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittees have jurisdiction over food aid. The Labor, Health, and Human Services Subcommittees have jurisdiction over the United States Institute of Peace.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)
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