Speech #990024954

Chairman. I thank the gentleman for yielding the time to me. The Hamilton amendment that we are debating right now. for those Members who during the debate have forgotten the main thrust of it. does simply two things: No. 1. it gives $10 million in humanitarian aid to refugees outside the country of Nicaragua. and. No. 2. it gives $4 million for the implementation of a treaty that has not been negotiated. that has not been worked out. Looking at it on its face. but for the $4 million in appropriations to enforce a process that has not been completed. it is not a bad amendment. It deals with money to refugees. If the problem in Nicaragua was a drought. if the problem was a great flood. if the problem was an earthquake and. therefore. there were a lot of refugees outside the borders of Nicaragua. I could understand voting for $10 million. or $14 million. or $25 million in humanitarian aid. but that Is not the problem. That type of humanitarian aid could be dealt with by a separate bill. a supplemental.