September 10, 1976
Page 29680
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the Senate is now considering H.R. 14260, the foreign assistance and related programs appropriation bill for fiscal year 1977. I support this bill. I would like to comment briefly on its relationship to the Senate passed second budget resolution for fiscal year 1977.
H.R. 14260 appropriates funds for bilateral economic development assistance, the Peace Corps, development assistance through multilateral banks, security supporting assistance, and military assistance. This bill provides $5.4 billion in budget authority and $6.3 billion in outlays for fiscal year 1977, including $4 billion in outlays from prior year appropriations.
The foreign assistance appropriation bill is consistent with the assumptions made in the second budget resolution functional ceilings for National Defense and International Affairs within which this bill falls. When the full Appropriations Committee revises its allocation to the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations pursuant to section 302(b) of the Congressional Budget Act, the outlay overage of $0.1 billion shown on page 29 of the latest Senate Budget Scorekeeping Report, September 7, is likely to disappear.
Mr. President, while there are several possible requirements not covered by this bill which may require later funding, we believe that they can be accommodated within levels provided in the second budget resolution. This does not signal however, an open season for floor amendments and supplemental requests — the budget is very tight, particularly on the outlay side. It will be essential for us to approach any possible later requirements with great restraint if we are to stick to the second budget resolution spending ceilings.
I wish to extend my appreciation to my good friend, the distinguished Senator from Hawaii, Senator INOUYE, chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, for his efforts in bringing before us a bill which is consistent with the second budget resolution. I believe the bill funds adequately our several essential development assistance — both bilateral and multilateral — programs.
I note that Senator INOUYE has included language in this bill, as he did in last year's bill, that would require Appropriations Committee approval of new projects not previously justified, or increases in previously justified projects. I strongly support this congressional control; it is an important asset to the congressional budget process. I ask unanimous consent that a memorandum on this subject from the chairman of the subcommittee be printed in the RECORD at this point.
There being no objection, the memorandum was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows
U.S. SENATE,
Washington, D.C.,
June 30, 1976.
DEAR COLLEAGUE: I want to call to your attention a most important administrative or "housekeeping" amendment to the fiscal year 1977 Foreign Assistance and Related programs Appropriation Bill which restores to the Congress control over administrative reprogrammings of appropriated funds. Under the present schedule this bill will be taken up on the Floor on Thursday, July 1.
The Administration has historically contended that its annual presentation of foreign assistance to the Congress is only "illustrative" and therefore, once approved, can be altered at will between countries and projects. We saw this happen a few years ago with worldwide Public Law 480 programs being concentrated into Southeast Asia when appropriations for programs in that area were reduced. We saw it again last October when the Administration sought to push through a $22.7 million loan to Zaire as an addition to its fiscal year 1976 program.
The bill before you includes the same provision as the fiscal year 1976 bill and simply requires the Appropriations Committee's approval of new projects or increases in projects not previously justified to the Committee. If we are to control the ultimate allocation of the funds we appropriate, we must control reprogrammings. I am convinced this provision is both a reasonable and effective means of dealing with this age-old problem. Any Member of the Senate who believes in Congressional control over spending can enthusiastically support this provision. I personally urge you to do so.
Sincerely,
DANIEL K. INOUYE,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Foreign Operations.