HR 4569 -- 09/17/98

H.R. 4569 - FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING,
AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS BILL, FY 1999
(Sponsor: Callahan (R), Alabama;)

The Administration appreciates efforts by the Committee to accommodate certain of the President's priorities within the 302(b) allocation. However, the bill is unacceptable to the Administration for the reasons described in this letter. The President would veto the bill if it were presented to him in its current form.

This legislation is a critical element of America's national security budget. At the dawn of a new century, America faces unique challenges and unprecedented opportunities to strengthen our national security, enhance our global leadership, extend the reach of our democratic values, and deepen our own prosperity. The challenges we face are formidable. If this bill in its current form were to become law, however, it would erode our ability to promote effectively critical American interests at home and abroad. It would require us to walk away from problems that can and must be solved. The responsibility for safeguarding our national security and exercising U.S. leadership must be foremost when allocating scarce fiscal resources. We urge the Congress to provide the leadership needed to keep America safe, strong, and prosperous.

The only way to achieve the appropriate investment level for the programs funded through this bill is to offset discretionary spending by using savings in other areas. The President's FY 1999 Budget proposes levels of discretionary spending for FY 1999 that conform to the Bipartisan Budget Agreement by making savings through user fees and certain mandatory programs to help finance this spending. In the Transportation Equity Act, Congress -- on a broad, bipartisan basis -- took similar action in approving funding for surface transportation programs paid for with mandatory offsets. In addition, this year, as in the past, such mandatory offsets have been approved by the House and Senate in other appropriations bills. We want to work with the Congress on mutually-agreeable mandatory and other offsets that could be used to increase funding for high-priority discretionary programs, including those funded by this bill.

International Monetary Fund

While the Administration welcomes the Committee's efforts to provide funding for the International Monetary Fund's (IMF's) New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB), we are extremely concerned by the Committee's failure to include in its bill the requested appropriation for the $14.5 billion U.S. share of the IMF's critically needed quota increase. Since February of this year, the President has repeatedly called on Congress to approve the full amount of his $18 billion budget request for the IMF. To reject or delay this funding not only would undermine America's leadership in the world; it also would expose American workers, savers, farmers, and businesses to unacceptable economic risks.

The IMF's financial resources are nearing historic lows, necessitating the recent activation of the IMF's emergency credit lines, the General Arrangements to Borrow (GAB), for the first time in twenty years. Without the entire $18 billion in new funding, composed of the quota increase and the U.S. share of the New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB), the IMF -- and hence the United States and the world -- will remain vulnerable if new, escalating, or spreading systemic crises occur. To protect America's economic strength, Congress must act now to pass the full quota.

The Committee's bill proposes several conditions on IMF funding that, while directed at objectives we share, are unworkable in their current form and, therefore, would have the effect of delaying indefinitely the availability of these critical resources to the IMF. We urge the Congress to respond to these concerns as the bill moves through the process.

International Family Planning

The Administration strongly opposes the "Mexico City" restrictions that are included in the Committee bill, which would prohibit foreign non-governmental organizations from receiving U.S. family planning funds if the organization uses any of its own funding from non-U.S. Government sources for abortion-related services or advocacy. The Committee bill's "Mexico City" language is even more restrictive than the provision contained in the conference report on the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act. The Administration continues to oppose these restrictions, which would deny funding to the most experienced and qualified family planning and maternal-child health care providers. As stated in past Administration communications, should this language be included in the final bill presented to the President, the President would veto the bill.

Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)

The Administration strongly objects to the Committee action deleting U.S. funds for KEDO and including language prohibiting the President from exercising his authority to transfer funds from other sources for this purpose. The Agreed Framework reached between the United States and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in 1994 remains the key tool with which we are able to engage with North Korea on a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including missile tests. The Committee's actions would allow North Korea to blame the United States for not fulfilling our commitment to the Agreed Framework and, in essence, give the North an "out" to begin reprocessing fissile material currently monitored under international safeguards. Such an action would seriously destabilize security on the Korean peninsula, place U.S. troops in greater danger, and exacerbate the Korean financial crisis.

New Independent States

As recent events have indicated, the incomplete, peaceful transition of the New Independent States (NIS) to stable, market democracies is vital to the U.S. national security. The Congress has shared this view and provided considerable support for this program in the past. The current political/economic situation in Russia highlights how great the stakes are for the United States to continue to help Russia achieve this peaceful transition. The enormous economic potential of the Caspian Basin represents great opportunities to advance our mutual goals. Therefore, the cuts embodied in the Committee's funding level for USAID assistance programs to the NIS are especially unfortunate. These cuts would make it extremely difficult to push for market reforms and support democratic forces across the region. The Administration welcomes and strongly supports the Committee's action to repeal restrictions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan and would strongly oppose any efforts to overturn the Committee's action. These restrictions have been a disincentive for securing peace in the Caucasus and do not serve U.S. national interests.

Middle East Assistance

The Administration welcomes the efforts of the Committee to work with us in encouraging changes in traditional levels of assistance to countries in the Middle East. We believe that Israel's initiative to reduce Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance provides an important basis on which to build future assistance programs that meet our needs in the Middle East and beyond. However, due to the very constrained funding levels for international affairs programs, the Administration has proposed an accelerated approach to the reduction of Israel's ESF. We would encourage the Committee to give strong consideration to such an approach as the bill proceeds through the process.

Economic Support Fund

The Administration is concerned with the overall funding level for the Economic Support Fund (ESF) account. At the Committee mark, the account would not nearly have sufficient resources to continue supporting economic and political stability in Latin America, and in other emerging democracies in Africa and Asia. We strongly encourage the Committee to support a higher funding level for the ESF account as the bill moves forward. In addition, the restrictions on assistance to Haiti need to be balanced with a national interest waiver to ensure that the President has sufficient flexibility to pursue our national interests.

Global Environment Facility

The Administration is concerned with the refusal of the Committee to fund the President's request for the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which is helping to reduce long-term environmental risks that will affect all Americans. The $300 million request for GEF (of which $192.5 million is arrears) is needed to assure that the GEF does not run out of resources in FY 1999. Concerns that funding the GEF would prejudge debate on the Kyoto Climate Protocol are misplaced: the new replenishment agreement is funded at the same level as the prior one, and the GEF will continue with precisely the same broad work program that it had prior to Kyoto. The GEF is among the best vehicles that the United States has to encourage developing countries to shoulder greater responsibility for protecting both the local and global environment. It is manifestly in our interests to clear our arrears and keep the GEF running, and the Administration strongly urges the Committee to restore funding for this critical program.

Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs (NADR)

The Administration is concerned with the $64 million, or 30 percent, cut to the $216 million request for NADR. This reduction would undermine the multi-prong effort that NADR supports to reduce the proliferation threat to U.S. national and global security. Lack of funding for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) Preparatory Commission would harm U.S. national security interests as it would eliminate planned improvements in our ability to monitor nuclear testing worldwide. The recent Indian and Pakistani tests are a stark reminder of the importance of this monitoring. As well, we would be forced to reduce support for NIS science centers, demining efforts, and other related activities.

Peacekeeping Operations

The Committee has reduced the $83 million request for Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) by 25 percent. PKO provides vital assistance and support for many important national security and foreign policy activities, including commitments in Bosnia and Haiti, conflicts in Africa, and potential trouble spots such as in the Balkans. This reduction would severely limit the President's ability to respond to these and other evolving events.

Trade and Investment Financing

The Administration appreciates the Committee's effort to increase substantially the funding for the Export-Import Bank and to support the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency (TDA). However, Export-Import Bank funding still falls short of the level needed to meet the expected demand of U.S. exporters in FY 1999. Support for TDA, at 17 percent below the President's request, is insufficient to allow the agency to remain engaged around the world, especially given its growing program in the Caspian region.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

The Administration is concerned with the $24 million cut in the request for USAID Operating Expenses. This reduction would not only make it impossible for USAID to carry out Presidential initiatives in Africa and Latin America, but also would interfere with the agency's ability to manage its ongoing programs effectively, including congressional priorities in areas such as infectious diseases and child survival, as well as to address management priorities. In particular, this reduction, combined with the House action striking the emergency fund in the Treasury and General Government Appropriation bill, would make it difficult for USAID to implement fully its Year 2000 conversion. Even if USAID were to begin closing missions and eliminating additional positions immediately, the fixed costs of doing so would prevent AID from achieving the savings necessary in FY 1999 to respond to this cut. For these reasons, we urge the Committee to restore funding for USAID Operating Expenses.

In light of the continuing needs created by both natural disasters and ongoing civil conflicts, we urge the Committee to provide a higher level of funding for international disaster assistance. The Committee mark would cripple our efforts to respond expeditiously and effectively to countries in transition from crisis caused by political and ethnic conflict and could undercut our ability to address man-made and natural disasters.

The Administration is concerned that the Committee has not funded the modest $6 million request for credit subsidy for the Urban Environment (UE) credit program, or provided transfer authority for USAID's Development Credit Authority (DCA). As the Congress and the Administration agreed in the FY 1998 appropriations legislation, USAID has taken substantial steps towards developing the capacity to manage both its existing and future credit portfolios. We urge the Committee to restore the transfer authority for the DCA and the subsidy request for the UE program. Failure to do so would limit the ability of USAID to use credit to promote development in urban areas and to encourage the development of needed private sector financial mechanisms.

The prohibition on the use of funds from the Child Survival and Disease Programs Fund for non-project assistance, which is specifically authorized in the Foreign Assistance Act, would weaken USAID's current leadership position with bilateral and multilateral donors to encourage and support policy reforms in sub-Saharan African countries.

Exchange Stabilization Fund

The Committee bill contains a provision that would limit the President's flexibility to utilize the Exchange Stabilization Fund as necessary to protect America's economic and security interests. For this reason, and because the Exchange Stabilization Fund is not germane to the purposes of this appropriations bill, the Administration opposes this provision.

Treasury International Affairs Technical Assistance Program

The Administration is disappointed that the Committee has not funded the $5 million request for this program, which could significantly enhance the transition to stronger private sector-led growth and more efficient, transparent, and better supervised financial institutions in emerging economies, including reforming countries in Africa and financial crisis countries in Asia. Given the large potential benefits and modest cost of this program, which provides technical assistance in tax policy, development of domestic capital markets, and privatization of state enterprises, we urge the Committee to fund the request.

International Organizations and Programs (IO&P)

The Committee bill reduces the request for IO&P by $55 million and, unfortunately, eliminates funding for the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), which provides support for women in family planning matters in a number of countries not served by U.S. assistance programs. UNFPA does not fund abortions. The overall reduction in IO&P would limit U.S. ability to participate and support a number of international organizations.

Peace Corps

The Administration regrets that the bipartisan Peace Corps initiative to fund 10,000 volunteers by the year 2000 has not received the full request of $270 million from the Committee. However, we are heartened by report language stating that the Committee is prepared to approve a further increase should there be a reallocation of funds later in the appropriations process.

Community Adjustment and Investment Program (CAIP)

The Administration is concerned with the Committee's failure to fund the Community Adjustment and Investment Program, a program initially funded through the North American Development Bank, a multilateral development bank. The CAIP was established to help communities affected by adverse trade patterns associated with implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. To date, the program has assisted in more than 120 loans in 20 states, leveraging private sector financing of over $70 million. The $37 million requested would significantly bolster the CAIP's ability to continue this work, as well as to support technical assistance, grants, and micro-lending. The Administration urges the Committee to restore funding for this innovative program.

Year 2000 Conversion

In the FY 1999 Budget, the President requested more than $1 billion for Year 2000 (Y2K) computer conversion, including specific amounts in the requests for the agencies funded in this bill. In addition, the budget anticipated that additional requirements would emerge over the course of the year and included an allowance for emergencies and other unanticipated needs. On September 2nd, the President transmitted to the Congress a request for $3.25 billion in FY 1998 contingent emergency funding for Y2K computer conversion activities. This supplemental request would create a funding mechanism that is consistent with both the needs anticipated in the President's budget and the Senate's action creating a $3.25 billion contingent emergency reserve to provide the resources and the flexibility necessary to respond to critical unanticipated Y2K-related requirements. It is essential that this contingent emergency funding be enacted as quickly as possible, whether through the Treasury/General Government bill or another legislative measure moving through the process earlier, particularly in light of the decision of several Subcommittees, including the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, not to fully fund the base requests of a number of agencies for Y2K conversion. We urge Congress to leave as much as possible of the reserve unallocated so that funds are available to address emerging needs.