I ask this House to approve H.R. 1096. providing authorization to spend $175 million for nonfood assistance in 18 African nations. Of this total. $137.5 million is earmarked for disaster assistance to provide seeds. farm implements. emergency health care. and so forth. The balance of i $37.5 million will be used for refugee assistance on the continent of Africa s where drought and famine have c turned millions of residents into un- s willing economic nomads. r This nonfood aid will assist in d mediumterm recovery efforts. linking I emergency needs with agriculture de- d velopment. in order to help avoid con- t ditions which could lead to future a famines. r It is absolutely imperative that we o strive to maintain the link between a emergency food aid and development assistance. We must take care to foster d