Speech #890140004

In view of the grave threat of Communist expansion and of internal subversion by nationalistic or communistic extremists which faces many nations of the world. the committee believes it to be judicious and in the best interests of this country and of the free world to appropriate the full amount requested for military assistance. In southeast Asia and the Far East. our military assistance program is of special importance and urgency. as Senators well know. Turning to title II of the bill. which includes funds for the Peace Corps. administration of the Ryukyu Islands. various activities relating to assistance to refugees. and financing for the InterAmerican Development Bank and the .International Development Association. the sum of $714.188.000 is recommended. Of this amount. $102 million is recommended for the Peace Corps. together with unobligated balances remaining available on June 30. 1965. in the amount of $12.100.000. which will provide a total of funds available for fiscal year 1966 of $114.100.000. This will allow all but $900.000 of the $115 million requested by the Peace Corps. The $900.000 was eliminated by Congress during the authorization process. The committee has recommended the full amount of the budget estimate. $14.733.000. for the administration of the Ryukyu Islands. which is the same as the House allowance. For "Assistance to refugees in the United States." $30 million is recommended. This is $2.265.000 under the House allowance and the revised budget estimate. During the hearings. departmental officials advised the committee that their estimates of need for fiscal year 1966 had just recently been determined to be lower than anticipated and requested the reduction of $2.265.000. Senators may be interested to. know that the cost of this program have decreased from a high in fiscal 1963 of $56 million to $46 million in 1964. $36.6 million in 1965. and an estimated $30 million for fiscal 1966. For "Migration and refugee assistance. Department of State." the committee recommends the budget estimate. $7.575.000. the same as the House allowance. This is a $625.000 reduction from last years appropriation. and is made possible. the committee was informed. by continuing progress in the solution of refugee problems and greater contributions by other governments toward refugee and migration costs. For the "Investment in the InterAmerican Development Bank and the subscription to the International Development Association." the committee has recommended the full budget. estimate. $455.880.000 and $104 million. respectively. The committee report. which is before the Senate. explains the purposes for which these funds were appropriated.