We present to the House today a conference report on Foreign Operations that represents a truly represents a bipartisan effort and that does respond on many fronts to the nation’s priorities for foreign aid funding without unwise policy restrictions.
I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Callahan as chairman of this subcommittee for the entire six years of his tenure and I want to compliment him on this bill and on his stewardship of the subcommittee over the years. In his last year as chairman we have produced a bill which responds to our national security needs and which will aid the world’s poorest people with economic relief and improved access to health care.
The total funding level in the bill of $14.9 billion is within shouting distance of the President’s request. The bill fully funds the President’s request for $435 million in international debt relief, and the legislative provisions in the bill will enable debt relief to go forward with an appropriate policy framework. This means the United States will finally be able to live up to the pledges made over two years ago to the international community to engage in meaningful debt relief for the world’s poorest countries. Language has also been included to require that the US oppose any loan from the International banks or the IMF that imposes user fees as a condition. The language on user fees in the bill improves on language contained in the original House bill by requiring the US to act this year within these institutions with a specific policy directive from the Congress on this issue. Experience in poor countries continues to indicate that the imposition of user fees for primary education and basic health only serves to deny needy people these essential services. We need to work with these countries to find a better way.
The bill also contains $315 million for HIV/AIDs funding, which is a significant increase over the amount requested. The bill also includes $20 million for the World Bank HIV/AIDs Trust fund as a first step to attract increased resources from other donors throughout the world for combating this epidemic. While I personally had hoped for more funding for HIV/AIDs and for the Trust Fund, the increases provided in this bill along with the increased funding anticipated in the Labor HHS bill will bring about real advances in the fight against this disease.
The bill provides for an increase in international family planning funding from $372 million to $425 million. No funding can be obligated until February 15th , however no Mexico City language has been included. This increase in funding will increase significantly the number of women and children who will gain access to basic child and maternal health services. The elimination of the policy language carried last year will remove the uncertainty that many small foreign NGOs face as they provide basic health services in remote places where there are no other choices. We should all applaud this result, because it is a victory for the poor women of the world, who too often have had to bear the burden of obscure policy debates here in Washington.
The bill contains a total of $963 million for the "Callahan" Child Survival account. This account funds the HIV/AIDs program as well as providing $50 million for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations and $60 million for Tuberculosis and $45 million for Malaria. These are all significant increases above last year.
The overall level of $14.9 billion also enables full funding of the African Development Bank and Fund, increases in funding for Refugee programs and full funding of the Administration’s request economic support funds. Other areas where funding has increased from the original House bill included the Export Import Bank, Development Assistance, Transition Initiatives, the Global Environment Facility, the International Development Association, and the Non-Proliferation/Anti Terrorism account.
This bill represents a lot of bipartisan cooperation, and I want to commend the Chairman Callahan and all members of the Subcommittee for their work.
