From cincotta@popact.org Mon Dec 1 08:32:22 1997 Received: from popact.org (popact.org [205.197.158.2]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) with ESMTP id IAA23073 for ; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 08:32:14 -0700 (MST) Received: from cincotta.popact.org (dyna181.popact.org [205.197.158.181]) by popact.org (8.8.4/8.7.3) with SMTP id KAA25700 for ; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 10:35:14 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <3.0.32.19971201103725.00a70c9c@popact.org> X-Sender: cincotta@popact.org Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 10:37:26 -0500 To: ppn@csf.colorado.edu From: Richard Cincotta Subject: U.S. Congress and Intl family planning assistance Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by csf.Colorado.EDU id IAA23083 FROM: http://www.popact.org/news/1197pr.htm ----------------------------- Resolution on Family Planning Assistance; "Unhappy Compromise" says Population Action International November 13, 1997 — Washington, DC —Population Action International (PAI) today released the following statement by vice president Victoria Markell in the wake of House and Senate passage of the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill: "Faced with the promise of a presidential veto, those brokering this agreement apparently realized the futility of seeking to attach anti-democratic principles to the U.S. foreign aid program. The Gag Rule was clearly intended to stifle free speech and to prevent the exchange of potentially life-saving information. It had to be rejected. Unfortunately, they exacted a heavy price by threatening this country’s role in the United Nations and the international financial system and its ability conduct a coherent foreign policy. "We are thankful that, for the first time in two years, U.S. international family planning funds will be released at the same time as the rest of development assistance. However, we cannot applaud the continued underfunding of this crucial health program—at a time when other programs are receiving increases—nor the doling out of its money by the teaspoon. This is an unhappy compromise all round and still no way to fund the world’s leading bilateral family planning program; rather, it is a way to cripple it. "After two years of damaging spending restrictions, the pipeline of available funds for the U.S. international family planning program is reaching critically low levels. And millions of dollars are being wasted in carrying out the additional administrative work required to disburse small amounts of money, each month, to the many projects supported by USAID. "U.S.-supported family planning projects provide services to tens of millions of couples around the world. Given the role of contraceptive use in preventing abortion and preserving maternal and child health, any unnecessary loss of funds is a human tragedy." Contact: Andrea Calise, PAI Washington, Tel: 202-659-1833, Ext. 141. E-mail: acalise@popact.org From cincotta@popact.org Mon Dec 1 08:36:43 1997 Received: from popact.org (popact.org [205.197.158.2]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.8.4/8.8.4/CNS-4.1p-nh) with ESMTP id IAA23391 for ; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 08:36:41 -0700 (MST) Received: from cincotta.popact.org (dyna181.popact.org [205.197.158.181]) by popact.org (8.8.4/8.7.3) with SMTP id KAA25737 for ; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 10:39:46 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <3.0.32.19971201104154.00a76678@popact.org> X-Sender: cincotta@popact.org Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 10:41:57 -0500 To: ppn@csf.colorado.edu From: Richard Cincotta Subject: Signing of Foreign Operations Bill Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > THE WHITE HOUSE > > Office of the Press Secretary >________________________________________________________________________ >For Immediate Release November 26, 1997 > > >STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT > > > Today I have signed into law H.R. 2159, the "Foreign Operations, >Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1998." > > I am pleased that the Act contains funding for many key >international affairs programs at or near the amounts requested. The >Act contains vital funding and other needed authorities in support of >the Middle East peace process. It also provides for contributions to >the multilateral development banks, including a down payment on the >clearance of arrears, notably to the International Development >Association; assistance to Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, as >well as New Independent States of the former Soviet Union; >international narcotics control; development assistance; and migration >and refugee assistance. I am also very pleased that the Congress has >fully funded my request of $222 million for the Peace Corps. > > In addition, I commend the Congress for funding international >family planning programs without the misguided "Mexico City" >restrictions. My Administration continues to oppose these >restrictions, which would deny funding to the most experienced and >qualified family planning and maternal-child health care providers. >I am also pleased that the Congress has reduced the number of other >restrictions on assistance, such as earmarks, that have hampered my >ability to carry out U.S. foreign policy. > > I deeply regret that the Congress did not include funding for the >International Monetary Fund's New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB) program. >The NAB is needed to ensure that sufficient resources are available to >respond to monetary crises in a world of rapidly expanding trade and >finance. Recent events in southeast Asia only underscore the threat of >shocks to the global financial system and the need for a strong and >responsive IMF. The decision by the Congress not to provide this >authority is irresponsible. I call on the Congress to provide funding >for the NAB, and my Administration stands ready to work with the >Congress to overcome obstacles to funding this important program. > > My Administration is concerned that Russia's new law on religion >be implemented in a manner that is consistent with international >obligations and that fully respects religious freedom. We are watching >carefully to assess Russian implementation of this law. At the same >time, my Administration continues to oppose legislating limits on >assistance, especially without the possibility of a presidential >waiver. American assistance to Russia, including to the Russian >government, serves important U.S. interests. Technical assistance >that promotes tax reform and aids in removing obstacles to investment >and assistance in nuclear reactor safety are two good examples. > > While H.R. 2159 does contain a national security waiver related to >Russian assistance to the Iranian missile program, my Administration >still opposes in principle legislating limits on assistance to the >Russian government because this assistance serves U.S. interests. The >United States is conducting critical discussions with Russia on missile >technology aid to Iran, and legislated assistance cutoffs could harm >this process. > > This Act contains several provisions that raise constitutional >concerns, such as requirements that the United States take particular >positions in international organizations. I will apply these and >other provisions in the Act consistent with my constitutional >responsibilities. > > > > > WILLIAM J. CLINTON > > > > THE WHITE HOUSE, > November 26, 1997.