*EPF312 06/27/01
Text: House Subcommittee Votes to Restore Ex-Im Funding for 2002
(Aid bill would provide more for HIV/AIDS, child health) (1350)
A House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee has voted to restore funding of the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) in fiscal year 2002 (FY02) to near current levels, $118 million more than the Bush administration had requested.
In June 27 action the subcommittee voted to approve spending by Ex-Im of $805 million for export credits. Combined with about $90 million left over from unspent money, the spending level approved for next year would approach this year's level.
The foreign operations subcommittee also voted to provide $474 million for HIV/AIDS programs and to increase funding for world child health programs $396 million more than the president's request.
The foreign spending measure for the year beginning October 1 next goes for consideration to the full House Appropriations Committee, which could add or delete provisions then to the full House for passage or further change. The full House and Senate must pass a final bill before it is sent to the president for signature or veto.
The subcommittee also voted to fully fund the president's requests for military financing for Israel at $2,040 million, Egypt at $655 million and Jordan at $75 million. It would give the president authority to impose certain sanctions on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) if he determines it is not doing enough to stop terrorism.
The subcommittee also voted to increase funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) $126 million over this year's budget, $177 million more than the president's request. It would increase the Peace Corps' budget $10 million to $275 million as the president requested.
The subcommittee voted to decrease aid for former Soviet Union countries $42 million from the current year to $768 million, $40 million less than the administration's request. It also voted to provide $600 million for southeast Europe and the Balkans, $76 million less than the 2001 appropriation for the region.
Following is the text of the House Appropriations release on the subcommittee's action:
(In the text, "billion" equals 1,000 million.)
(begin text)
FUNDING TAXPAYERS' OVERSEAS INVESTMENTS
Subcommittee Approves FY02 Foreign Operations Chairman's Mark
FY02 Bill: $15.2 billion
FY02 President's Request: $15.2 billion
FY01 Enacted: $14.9 billion
"I am pleased that our subcommittee has developed this bill in a bipartisan fashion that stays within our allocation of $15.2 billion," said Representative Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Chair, Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs. "We have taken great care to ensure that important initiatives have received subcommittee support, for example, the significant increase in funding for HIV/AIDS activities demonstrates the U.S.'s commitment to addressing this serious, international issue."
"We have also taken into account the needed assistance that U.S. companies require to promote their exports and trade initiatives overseas, while preserving U.S. jobs, by adding level funding to the vital service that the Export-Import Bank provides."
Major Priorities and Initiatives:
-- Provides $434 million for HIV/AIDS within the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund and $40 million in other accounts. Fully funds the Presidential initiative to provide $100 million for a global HIV/AIDS trust fund from within Child Survival funds.
-- Increases the restructured Child Survival and Health Programs Fund $169 million over last year's level and $396 million over the President's request. Total FY02 funding is $1.4 billion, which includes $120 million for UNICEF -- $10 million more than last year's level.
-- The Export-Import Bank is $107 million below FY01 and $118 million above the President's request, bringing FY02 funding to $805 million. This funding restores the program to current levels.
-- Provides $1.1 billion in Development Assistance through AID.
-- Provides $358 million in reproductive health assistance in the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund, the same as the President's request and the same as last year's level. Total funding in the bill for reproductive health assistance is $425 million, the same as last year's level.
-- The bill includes language that requires the President to determine whether the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is complying with its commitments to renounce the use of terrorism and by taking the necessary disciplinary action against any PLO personnel that are determined to be involved in acts of terror or violence.
If the President cannot determine that the PLO is in substantial compliance with its commitments, he must impose one or more of the following sanctions for a time period of at least six months (sanctions can be waived if the President determines it is in the U.S.'s national security interests).
Closure of the Palestinian information office in Washington;
Designation of PLO, or one or more of its constituent groups, as a terrorist organization; or
The limitation of assistance provided under the West Bank and Gaza program to humanitarian assistance.
-- Provides $200 million for international disaster assistance, the same as the President's request.
-- Peacekeeping operations are funded at $135 million, the same as the President's request.
-- International Narcotics Control is funded at $217 million, the same as the President's request.
-- The Andean Counterdrug Initiative is funded at $676 million, $55 million below the request.
-- Fully funds the President's $2.04 billion request for Foreign Military Financing for Israel. Also fully funds the President's $720 million request for economic assistance to Israel, $120 million below FY01.
-- Fully funds the President's $1.3 billion request for Foreign Military Financing for Egypt, the same as FY01. Also fully funds the President's $655 million request for economic assistance to Egypt, $40 million below FY01.
-- Fully funds the President's $75 million request for Foreign Military Financing for Jordan, the same as FY01. Also fully funds the President's request for $150 million for economic assistance to Jordan, the same as FY01.
-- Assistance for the Independent States of the former Soviet Union is funded at $768 million, $42 million below last year's level and $40 million below the President's request.
-- The International Fund for Ireland is level funded??? at $25 million, $5.4 million above the President.
-- Provides $224 million for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief, the same as the President's request. Funding conditions include a 24-month moratorium on new market loans to countries benefiting from HIPC debt relief.
-- Increases the Agency for International Development (AID) $126 million over FY01 and $177 million over the President's request, bringing FY02 funding to $3.36 billion.
-- Increases Peace Corps $10 million over FY01, bringing FY02 funding to $275 million, the same as the President's request.
-- Fully funds President's $40 million request for demining activities.
-- Provides $600 million for Southeast Europe and the Balkans, $5 million below the President's request and $76 million below FY01.
Other Items of Interest:
-- Limits funding for the Korean Peninsula Economic Development Organization (KEDO) to the President's requested level of $95 million. Prohibits funds if North Korea breaks its agreement on freezing nuclear development.
-- The contribution to the International Development Association is funded at $803 million, the same as the President's request and $28 million below FY01.
-- Reduces the Global Environment Facility (GEF) $25 million below the President's request and $25 million below last year, bringing FY02 funding to $83 million.
-- The total World Bank Group is funded $896 million, $3 million above last year and $25 million below the President's request.
-- The Trade and Development Agency is funded at $50 million, the same as the President's request and $6 million more than FY02.
-- Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is funded at $37 million, the President's request and $30 million less than FY01.
-- Funds International Military Education Training (IMET) at $65 million, the same as the President's request and $7 million above last year.
-- Prohibits foreign aid to any government, which the Secretary of State determines is aiding the rebels in Sierra Leone by providing military support or by assisting in illicit diamond trade, the same language as last year.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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