Speech #960171231

Mr. Speaker. in early November. the gentleman from Pennsylvania and I organized a meeting at the State Department with a number of our colleagues on the Cambodian matter. We wanted to know what kind of assistance the Cambodian refugees were receiving and what the United States was doing to speed its way and to quell the hunger and disease which afflict these starving people as a result of the brutal conflict and repression in that country. We went to the State Department to demonstrate in no uncertain terms that we believed that the United States was obligated to assume leadership in the relief efforts. At that time we assured Under Secretary Christoper. and through him we promised the President of the United States. that we would actively support any supplemental request for assistance that the administration made. but we also pledged to monitor the adequacy with which the administration fulfills the commitments that it makes on behalf of these efforts.