April 28, 1976
Page 11584
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I rise in support of the conference report on the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976. This legislation, as I mentioned earlier, cuts to the core of Congress' rightful role in foreign policymaking. At long last, S. 2662, reforms the country's policy of arms transfers abroad, and the conferees are to be commended for their work.
I especially want to single out Senator HUMPHREY for his leadership on this critical foreign policy issue. He has been responsible and reasonable in the manner in which he has pursued and developed this legislation; I salute him for his vision.
I also commend him for keeping the conference report budget authority levels in the national defense function in accord with the fiscal year 1976 second budget resolution. In the international affairs function, Senator HUMPHREY held budget authority to within $0.1 billion of the resolution assumptions. The $0.4 outlay overage is not due to congressional spending beyond the resolution, but to inadequate estimates which were made last year by the Office of Management and Budget.