*EPF203 02/08/00
Text: Helms Opening Statement at Foreign Relations Committee Hearing
(Albright testifies on FY2001 foreign affairs budget) (1200)
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms (Republican-North Carolina) says he and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright have accomplished a great deal together regarding U.S. foreign policy, "ranging from the expansion of NATO, to State Department reorganization, to passage of landmark U.N. reform legislation."
"It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with you, and the Committee is honored to welcome you here this morning," Helms said in remarks prepared for delivery February 8 as he welcomed Secretary Albright before his committee to testify on the foreign affairs budget for the coming fiscal year, that begins October 1.
Helms noted that now "the U.S. Information Agency and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency have been abolished and their functions consolidated in the State Department, the reorganization is in a critical phase. I intend to work with you," he told the Secretary, "to determine where overlap and duplication are occurring and I very much appreciate your assurances that savings will be found in the fiscal year 2001 budget."
Following is the text of Helms' statement, as prepared for delivery:
(begin text)
Prepared Statement of Senator Jesse Helms
Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Tuesday, February 8, 2000
It is my privilege, again, to welcome a great lady who is very special to all of us, the distinguished Secretary of State, the Honorable Madeleine Albright. The official purpose of this hearing, Madam Secretary, is to review the President's foreign affairs budget for fiscal year 2001, which was submitted to the Congress yesterday morning.
However, this hearing has, over the years, become much more than that. This is our annual "around the world hearing" during which, near the beginning of each year, the Secretary of State comes to report to the Senate on the state of our nation's foreign affairs -- and, in the process, always engages the Committee in a wide ranging discussion of U.S. foreign policy.
I note with some regret that, while we do anticipate that you may again appear before the Committee before the end of the year is through, this will be your final annual "around the world" hearing as Secretary of State. Madam Secretary, by my count this is your 16th appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and it has always been a pleasure to have you with us.
And while we have not always agreed on the multitude of matters confronting the nation during your tenure, we have accomplished a great deal together, ranging from the expansion of NATO, to State Department reorganization, to passage of landmark U.N. reform legislation. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with you, and the Committee is honored to welcome you here this morning.
And, to avoid possible confusion at the U.N., the distinguished Secretary may appreciate my clarifying that, despite our personal friendship, I do not speak for her, and in her testimony this morning she will speak for herself and for the President and not for Congress.
Tomorrow (February 9), the Committee will hear from a distinguished panel of former Administration officials regarding U.S. foreign policy, and on Thursday (February 10) we will be visited by Mr. Brady Anderson, the Administrator for the Agency for International Development (AID).
Madam Secretary, this is also your first appearance before the Committee since enactment of the James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations Authorization Act this past November. The law, named for two fine Americans who advised us both, authorizes State Department activities for fiscal years 2000 and 2001; it mandates sweeping reforms of the United Nations in exchange for payment of arrears; and it authorizes an embassy security construction account that will serve as a blueprint for increasing the security of U.S. embassies and bringing U.S. diplomacy into the 21st century. That law, in conjunction with the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act, enacted in 1998, which abolished two federal agencies and integrated their functions into the Department of State, will have major impacts on U.S. diplomacy in the years to come. I thank you, Madam Secretary, for the considerable role you played by working with the Committee in enacting these two landmark bills.
But, of course, the work of both of these laws has only just begun. Now that the U.S. Information Agency and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency have been abolished and their functions consolidated in the State Department, the reorganization is in a critical phase. I intend to work with you to determine where overlap and duplication are occurring and I very much appreciate your assurances that savings will be found in the fiscal year 2001 budget.
I know we agree that ensuring a strong State Department will enhance implementation of U.S. foreign policy priorities.
We also must continue to work together to ensure the U.N. reforms are carried out. As you know, just last month this Committee took an historic visit to the United Nations and held the first field hearing of the Foreign Relations Committee in New York City. My impression is that members of the Committee and Ambassador Holbrooke found the visit useful and an important step toward ensuring implementation of the reforms called for in the bill.
And lastly, I call to your attention to the five year authorization of funds for embassy construction in the authorization bill. Senator Grams was instrumental in conceiving this plan and I congratulate him for his good work. The plan provides a clear guidepost to the essential upgrading of U.S. embassies and ensuring the security of U.S. personnel overseas.
The President's budget does not include the full funding for this embassy upgrade program, but I am hopeful that you will make it a priority to ensure funding for this embassy construction plan.
This year, Madam Secretary, the Committee hopes to consider legislation authorizing U.S. technical assistance, trade promotion policy, and anti-corruption programs. The legislation will address key priorities, including combating narco-trafficking in Colombia through alliances in the Andean Region, supporting democracy in the Balkans with passage of the Serbia Democracy Act, and policies to strengthen U.S. exports, particularly in the agricultural sector.
There are, as you are well aware, a number of important policy issues before you. Your having just returned from Russia (as have some members of this Committee), we expect considerable discussion and debate in the coming months on the future of U.S. policy regarding Russia. You are in the midst of serious and delicate negotiations for peace in the Middle East. A number of treaties are under negotiation by the State Department that could have major impact on U.S. security policy, including economic security and U.S. exports. The Congress will be debating the future of U.S. trade policy with China, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
We look forward to hearing your testimony on these and any other issues you feel are important. So again I extend a sincere welcome to you and look forward to a productive and cooperative legislative year by working together.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)
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