Speech #940043098

As Senators will recall. this bill was not acted upon finally because of the collapse of Phnom Penh. but the Foreign Relations Committee. in carrying this bill for the appropriation. said this: In approving the additional food aid the Committee has included language stating that "primary emphasis shall be given to relieving human suffering." Under the bill approved by the Committee humanitarian aid can be made available to any new government that may emerge from the present situation. We have. further. the language of the -pending bill. which says in section 7: It is traditional for the American people to be generous and compassionate in helping the victims of foreign conflicts and disasters. In keeping with that tradition it shall be the policy of the United States to provide humanitarian assistance to help relieve the suffering of refugees and other needy people who are victims of the conflicts in South Vietnam and Cambodia. That being the documentary background to this amendment. I point out that the amendment simply does one thingthat is. it stipulates that the delivery of this food is to be accomplished through multilateral international channels. in keeping with section 35(a). subsection 7. of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1974.