Speech #1030089191

I also want to make the point that this bill. in spite of those overall budget reductions. provides $21/ billion to meet our highest new priority. assistance to the former republics in the Soviet Union. There is also room in the bill for the beginning of the $500 million aid proposition that the administration has been discussing with respect to the Middle East to assist the Palestinians as we move toward peace in that region. This committee has always made refugees our No. 1 priority. and we did again this year despite the fact that we had very deep cuts in a significant number of programs. We have an increase in this budget for refugees. We also make enhancing the ability of this country to export our commercial products a high priority because we provide $1 billion to the ExportImport Bank to facilitate our exports to the rest of the world. and we institute. or we begin the process of instituting. virtually each and every reform mentioned by the Gore Commission including requiring that AID begin to downsize the number of missions that it has around the world by eliminating 12 of those missions this year. So I think this subcommittee can truthfully say that if you take a look at what we have done and what we have required the administration to do before they can get the second half of the money in this bill. we have virtually put into place all of the reform actions suggested by the Gore Commission.