The administration requested an openended appropriation for the costs of the Defense Departments relief operation. known as Operation Provide Comfort. We recommend a specific amount. $320.5 million. to cover those costs through the end of May. by which time we hope the operation will be wrapping up. and the United Nations taking over. The administration requested $150.5 million for State and AID refugee and peacekeeping programs. to be paid for out of the interest that has accumulated in the Defense cooperation account. We approved that $150.5 million. and allow it to be paid for either out of the account itself or out of the interest. It is my expectation that the administration has the flexibility it needs to assure the allies that we are using only the interest for these humanitarian relief programs. so as not to discourage further contributions to the cooperation account. The Foreign Operations Subcommittee recommended an additional $85 million for humanitarian relief. and put the funds in programs that can be used both for the needs of refugees in Iraq and for other emergencies around the world. like the tragic cyclone in Bangladesh and the desperate food shortages in Sudan and other parts of Africa. That addition would be paid for by rescinding moneys in the 1991 foreign operations appropriation bill that cannot be used for their intended purpose. Mr.
Keywords matched
refugee refugees