[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 113 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8623-H8624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REAUTHORIZING DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR AFRICA
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3735) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to
reauthorize the Development Fund for Africa under chapter 10 of part I
of that act, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3735
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR AFRICA.
Section 497 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2294) is amended--
(1) by inserting after the section heading the following:
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this chapter, in addition to amounts otherwise
available for such purposes, $704,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 1997, 1998, and 1999.''; and
(2) by striking ``Funds appropriated'' and inserting the
following:
``(b) Availability.--Funds appropriated''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Engel]
will each control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter].
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this too is legislation introduced by this
Member. Accordingly, I want to thank the distinguished chairman of the
Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from New York [Mr.
Gilman], who is a cosponsor of this legislation and has been extremely
helpful in moving this legislation forward.
In addition, the gentlewoman from Florida [Ms. Ros-Lehtinen],
distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, was instrumental
in ensuring timely consideration of the reauthorization of the DFA.
This Member would also note the efforts of the distinguished gentleman
from New York [Mr. Houghton] who has labored long and hard on a wide
variety of initiatives in response to the suffering in Africa, and has
been very active in assisting in the movement of this act to the House
floor.
This Member would also note the assistance of the distinguished
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne] and the distinguished gentleman
from Florida [Mr. Hastings], both of whom feel very deeply about
continuing United States efforts in Africa. With their assistance, the
committee has reported out a truly bipartisan bill which all Members
can support.
This Member would further assure his colleagues, particularly those
from the other side of the aisle, that he has had an opportunity to
discuss this matter personally with the Secretary of State, Mr.
Christopher, and Secretary Christopher has expressed his support for
the DFA reauthorization.
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The Development Fund for Africa [DFA], was established in the mid-
1980's, under the leadership of the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Wolpe,
a former Member, in order to ensure a relatively predictable level of
assistance for this troubled corner of the world. That legislation had
bipartisan support from the committee. I remember being a cosponsor of
it. It was created in a bipartisan manner and has always received
bipartisan support. Unfortunately, the authorization for DFA has lapsed
and it is in need of reauthorization. H.R. 3735 does just that.
It is important for the Members of this body to understand that
despite being the source of much of the world's most horrific
suffering, sub-Saharan Africa has never been a high priority for the
United States foreign assistance programs. Between 1962 and 1989,
Africa accounted for just 6.7 percent of all United States foreign
assistance, including the United States share of aid channeled through
the multilateral organizations.
Even in recent years, despite the higher profile accorded to Africa
under the DFA, assistance levels rarely have topped 10 percent of U.S.
foreign assistance. Of this sum, approximately 30 percent is provided
in the form of Public Law 480 food security assistance, and the
remainder is allocated largely to development assistance. Thus,
reauthorization of the Development Fund for Africa is essential if we
are to ensure that Africa continues to receive an appropriate level of
assistance.
However, H.R. 3735 does not micromanage. The DFA reauthorization does
not dictate how those funds will be spent, just that the funds will be
spent on programs in Africa. We are not seeking new money in addition
to that which has been authorized within the overall foreign assistance
authorization. I want to repeat that. We are not seeking new money in
addition to that which has been authorized within the overall foreign
assistance authorization. We are simply ensuring that a certain portion
of the normally authorized foreign aid development assistance go to
African programs.
As introduced, H.R. 3735 authorizes $539 million a year for 3 years.
That would mean that 41 percent of the total DA account would be spent
on Africa. However, the legislation was amended in committee,
appropriately, I believe, in order to incorporate the projected Africa
portion of the Child Survival Fund, which this Member supports and
urges his colleagues to support.
This was done in order to avoid confusion because, while the House
has come out strongly in favor of the Child Survival Fund, the Senate
does not include a Child Survival Fund. This legislation simply makes
it clear that a portion of the funds that should go to the Child
Survival Fund will also support programs in Africa.
As amended, the authorization figure reflects the administration's
fiscal year 1997 request level. This request level, $704 million, is
straight-lined for 3 years, fiscal year 1997 through 1999. Again this
Member would remind his colleagues that this authorization level
includes some $140 million of the Child Survival Fund.
It is also important to remember that even at this level, support for
the African programs has been reduced dramatically from a few short
years ago when we were considering a $1 billion DFA. Thus, this
legislation keeps faith with the ongoing effort to reduce Federal
spending, but it is consistent with the administration's request. H.R.
3735 falls within the parameters of the much reduced overall foreign
assistance authorization levels that this body voted and approved
earlier this year.
Mr. Speaker, finally, this Member would take a moment to recognize
the efforts of the committee staff who have been instrumental in moving
this legislation forward. In particular, this Member would express his
personal thanks to Mr. Walker Roberts, Mr. Mark Kirk, and Mr. Michael
Ennis, who have done all that was requested of them and more. They are
key members of a truly exceptional staff that Chairman Gilman has
assembled.
This Member would also note the assistance of Maricio Tamarago of
Chairman Ros-Lehtinen's staff, as well as the bipartisan assistance
from the staff on the other side of the aisle, and I am sure my
colleague will want to mention them directly. Their help is sincerely
appreciated.
Mr. Speaker, this Member would urge his colleagues to support H.R.
3735.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bill, and I want
to commend my friend from Nebraska for his diligence and hard work in
bringing this bill to fruition.
There are compelling reasons to keep the Development Fund for Africa
separate from other development assistance and funded at as high a
level as possible. Africa has special development needs. We all know
that. The continent has a unique combination of war-related
humanitarian requirements and traditional sustainable development
needs. Many observers feel that Africa
[[Page H8624]]
remains the world's greatest development challenge.
The DFA has proven to be an effective mechanism in providing foreign
assistance to Africa. Its flexibility and orientation toward
establishing measurable results distinguish the DFA.
The Development Fund for Africa was cut from $781 million in 1995 to
$675 million in 1996, a cut of 13.6 percent, which was very regrettable
because we know that this is where the humanitarian funds are needed.
I had occasion to visit West Africa along with other members of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and we saw firsthand how these countries
are crying out to us for assistance. I have long said on this floor
that despite the pleas for assistance, we have indeed been falling
short in recent years.
I think again it is very shortsighted because the world looks to
America for leadership, the world looks to America for assistance, and
if we want to see democracy flourish in these countries, we want to see
people not suffer, we need this kind of humanitarian assistance. So
restoring a line item at $704 million is an appropriate policy response
to the challenge facing United States policy in Africa, sort of a
midway point between restoring most of the money that has been cut.
There are many of us that believe it should be more, but I think that
this is a very, very important step in the right direction.
I urge adoption of this bill.
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R.
3735, legislation reauthorizing the Development Fund for Africa [DFA].
By supporting the DFA, the House is sending an important message that
Africa does matter and that the United States must remain engaged
through the flexible and effective mechanism the DFA provides.
Africa continues to present significant development challenges to the
United States and to the world. According to the 1995 World Development
Report, 22 of the world's 30 poorest countries are in Africa. When
compared to Asia or Latin America, life expectancy in Africa is
shorter; infant and child mortality is greater; adult literacy in
lower; fewer children are enrolled in primary and secondary schools;
and population growth is higher. Obviously there is a tremendous amount
of work to be done.
Reauthorizing the DFA will protect funding levels for Africa that
might otherwise be diverted to short-term foreign policy crises
elsewhere; it will continue to provide flexibility in designing and
developing effective strategies for the region; and it will sustain the
performance-based, results-oriented system for sub-Saharan Africa where
aid resources are concentrated in countries that show the most
commitment to developing their economic and political systems, and to
addressing serious social problems.
Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Bereuter for introducing the bill and Mr.
Gilman for bringing it before the House today, and I urge all my
colleagues to vote to support the DFA.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership of the House
for scheduling floor action so quickly on this bill to reauthorize the
Development Fund for Africa.
In this era of declining real foreign aid appropriations, it is
important that Congress help set our foreign aid priorities by
legislation and through negotiations with the executive branch.
Foreign aid needs in Africa are one of our highest priorities and
deserve some legislative protection from the other demands upon the
foreign affairs budget.
The money we invest today in promoting economic development, private
enterprise development, and democratization in Africa is a wise
investment.
As we have been in recent years, the lack of economic development and
economic opportunities and the lack of democratic political systems has
led to some extremely expensive humanitarian crisis and costly U.N.
peacekeeping operations--such as those we have faced in recent years in
Somalia, Rwanda, Angola, and Liberia, to name only a few countries on
the continent.
While other regions of the world have shown economic progress, sub-
Saharan Africa continues as a region with the least economic
prosperity.
Given the lack of economic development, we should continue our
efforts in Africa while phasing out our programs in the countries where
they have now achieved their objectives.
I therefore strongly support the reauthorization of the DFA and an
authorized level of $704 million--which is the administration's
requested level for the next fiscal year--with the hope that the
Appropriations Committees will be able to find the resources to meet
the needs of Africa.
This is a bipartisan effort, and I urge all Members of the House to
support this bill.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Mr. Bereuter and his bill,
H.R. 3735, to reauthorize the Development Fund for Africa for fiscal
years 1997-99. As our chairman of our Africa Subcommittee, Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen, will attest, while other regions of the world have improved
their economic growth, sub-Saharan Africa remains far behind the rest
of the world in per capita GNP. Given the lack of progress, there is a
strong case for continued aid to Africa while other aid programs may be
phased out. To reflect this strong sentiment behind continued aid to
Africa, the committee will mark up this bill to reauthorize the main
United States development aid program for that region.
I will note that from 1962 to 1989, Africa only received 6.7 percent
of United States foreign aid. This increased to 10 percent in the early
1990's. This bill reflects the consensus that percentage should
increase. While other regions have managed to attract private capital,
Africa's share of the world trade has declined to just 1.6 percent,
including South Africa. Infant mortality on the continent remains at
twice the rate of other developing regions. Many countries need to
graduate from aid, including South Africa, as AID plans. Others, many
others in Africa, have a long way to go and this bill recognizes that
fact.
Originally, the bill was drafted to reflect funding for Africa
included in the House-passed version of the fiscal year 1997 Foreign
Operations Appropriations bill (H.R. 3540). Under that measure's bill
and report language, Africa was set to receive $539 million in
development assistance, reflecting 41 percent of the worldwide
development assistance account (the same percentage used in the
President's request). In addition, the appropriations bill contained a
child survival account that CRS projected would contribute $140 million
to Africa. Therefore, under the fiscal year 1997 House appropriations
bill, a total of $679 million in development assistance would go to
Africa.
In negotiations, representatives of the administration urged our
committee to put aside the House appropriations figures because the
Senate did not duplicate them and could provide a higher total number
for Africa, especially since the Senate also did not have a child
survival fund. Therefore, I offered a compromise amendment to the bill,
authorizing the DFA at the administration's fiscal year 1997 request
level of $704 million for 3 fiscal years, fiscal years 1997-99. We hope
to provide a steady base of funding to slowly improve Africa's lot.
This bill has the support of the administration and major outside
foreign assistance groups such as InterAction and Bread for the World.
I want to specifically thank Carolyn Reynolds of InterAction and Cathy
Selvaggio of Bread for the World for their support. I also want to wish
the Acting AID Administrator for Africa, Gary Bombardier, well in his
new position. While I have been critical of some actions taken by AID
in South Africa, much of our sub-Saharan African aid program enjoys
strong support. Gary was instrumental in starting the DFA during his
service in Congress and our action today underlines that continuing
support for the continent.
With that, I commend the bill to the House and urge all Members to
support its passage.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Calvert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3735, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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