Jul 13, 2000 - 08:25 PM House Passes Foreign Aid Bill By Pauline Jelinek Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The House passed a foreign aid bill Thursday after adding money for the world's indebted nations and the global battle against AIDS. But Democrats said it still won't help millions who suffer in poverty, hunger and sickness. The 239-185 vote approved $13.3 billion for next year for a range of economic, military, development and other programs. The total package was still a half billion dollars less than approved for this fiscal year. And it was $1.8 billion less than President Clinton had requested, leaving it a candidate for presidential veto. "We have obligations to our constituents, our taxpayers and to the fellow human beings with whom we share this planet," said Rep. David R. Obey, D-Wis. He said the proposed spending "does not meet our obligations on all three fronts" and falls "far short of what is required for a presidential signature." The Senate has yet to complete work on its version of the bill. The final version of the House bill increased money that had earlier been cut from two programs Democrats were particularly attached to - debt relief for the world's poorest nations and AIDS treatment to combat the epidemic ravaging Africa. "Those were significant (but) we certainly did not go the full distance," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. On one amendment, lawmakers voted to restore $42 million that the House Appropriations Committee had cut from Clinton's request of $244 million for combating AIDS. With another, they raised from $69 million to $225 million the money that would be spent for debt forgiveness for the world's 40 poorest countries next year. But they didn't give the administration the $110 million it had sought for debt relief in this fiscal year - meaning Clinton got only $225 million of the $435 million he had sought for the two years. And the money added for both AIDS and debt relief was taken from other funds - mostly from funds for foreign military aid and training. Rep. Sonny Callahan, R-Ala., said the bill was "the best that we can do," given budgetary restraints Congress has imposed on itself to hold down spending. "We have now a good bill," he said, later admitting the legislation had "some deficiencies." Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and Gene Sperling, head of the president's National Economic Council, told reporters Wednesday that cutting Clinton's request for debt relief would prevent the United States from meeting its obligations under a program launched last year by the world's richest industrial countries. At last year's G-7 summit of the world's seven richest countries - the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada - pledged to write off $50 billion in debt owed by poor nations. The vote Thursday comes as Clinton prepares to attend the annual summit again - next week in Japan. "Without American leadership, debt relief will never become a reality," said Rep. Maxine Waters, the California Democrat who sponsored the amendment restoring some of Clinton's debt request. Other money in the bill included: - $2.8 billion in economic and military assistance for Israel, the largest single recipient of U.S. aid every year. - $2 billion in economic and military assistance for Egypt. - $2.9 billion for programs run by the U.S. Agency for International Development. - $834 million for child health programs. - $160 million for emergency disaster aid for Southern Africa including flood-ravaged Mozambique. - $40 million for land mine removal. --- The bill is H.R. 4811 On the Net: Congressional summary http://Thomas.loc.gov http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGI503H3NAC.html --------------------------------------------------- Let's terminate their addiction to our fiat-currency come November! This is nothing more than monies for foreign regimes who suck up to the international bankster cartel. Nothing but theft of the American taxpayer! Bard <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
