The bill as passed by our subcommittee addresses pressing global funding needs while reducing overall spending. It appropriates a total of $13 billion. $1.4 billion less than the Presidents request. At the same time. it Is true to our foreign aid priorities. providing muchneeded assistance for refugee programs and for the newly emerging states of the former Soviet Union. As we developed this bill. we also tried to provide the highest possible funding levels for other priority needs. includIng family planning. the environment. and children. The aid to the former Soviet Republics contained In this bill is a sound investment In global security.