*EPF319 07/25/01
House Approves Boost in Foreign Operations Spending
($676 million targeted for Andean anti-drug program) (640)

Washington -- The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a $152,000 million foreign operations spending bill for the next fiscal year, $283 million more than the amount enacted for fiscal 2001.

The measure, which passed 381-46 July 24, contains approximately two-thirds of U.S. funding on international affairs. It includes $676 million for the counter-narcotics Andean Initiative, $474 million for international HIV/AIDS programs, $1,387 million for child survival and health programs and $30 million to assist victims of human trafficking.

The foreign spending measure for the year beginning October 1 next goes to the Senate for consideration. A final bill reconciling any differences between House and Senate versions will then be sent to the president for signature or veto.

The House approved an amendment to add $18 million to child health programs from an equal cut in funding for the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank). Members of the Congressional Steel Caucus had objected to an $18 million loan guarantee the bank made in December for export of equipment to a Chinese steel manufacturer that was subject to a U.S. dumping investigation.

Democrats failed to pass an amendment to divert some funds targeted for the Andean Regional Initiative into programs to fight infectious diseases. The Andean Initiative provides development assistance, alternatives to drug production, and support for democratic institutions in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. The House also voted to maintain the cap at 800 on the number of U.S. military and civilian contract workers allowed in Colombia.

The House foreign spending measure also would provide:

-- $2,040 million for military and $720 million in economic support for Israel, $1300 million for military and $655 million in economic support for Egypt, and $35 million for education programs in Lebanon.

-- $768 million -- $42 million less than in fiscal year 2001 -- for assistance to former Soviet Union countries with $82.5 million each for Georgia and Armenia. The president would be allowed to withhold a portion of the funds if Russia sells arms to Iran and prevents humanitarian groups from assisting displaced persons in Chechnya.

-- $600 million for assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltics with no more than 15 percent of that amount for operations in Kosovo and no funds for large-scale reconstruction in Kosovo.

-- $715 million for migration and refugee assistance.

-- $549 million for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) operating expenses.

-- $311 million for nonproliferation, terrorism and related programs.

-- $224 million for debt restructuring programs and $600 million for the Heavily indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Trust Fund.

-- $217 million -- in addition to the Andean Initiative amount -- for international narcotics control and enforcement.

-- $200 million for international disaster assistance.

-- $275 million for the Peace Corps.

-- $135 million for peacekeeping operations.

-- $196 million for international organizations and programs.

-- $804 million for the International Development Association -- the World Bank affiliate that provides low-interest loans to the poorest countries, $103 million for the Asian Development Fund, $100 million for the African Development Fund, $35.8 million for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and $25 million for the International Fund for Ireland.

-- $16 million for the African Development Foundation and $12 million for the Inter-American Foundation.

-- $738 million for Export-Import Bank loans, loan guarantees, insurance and tied-aid grants -- more than $100 million over the administration's request, $50 million for the Trade Development Agency (TDA) and $38.6 million for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

-- $100 million for El Salvador for recovery from earthquake damage suffered at the beginning of the year.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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