Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice detailed the administration’s FY2006 budget for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on February 16, and before the House International Relations Committee on February 17.
Secretary Rice began her testimony by highlighting gains made in the Middle East: “From Morocco to Jordan to Bahrain, we are seeing elections and new protections for women and minorities, and the beginning of political pluralism. In support of these hopeful trends, the FY2006 budget request proposes enhanced funding for diplomatic assistance activities in the Middle East, North Africa and other majority Muslim countries. The request includes $120 million for the Middle East Partnership Initiative for reform, $40 million for the National Endowment for Democracy to support the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative, $180 million for Muslim outreach through educational and cultural exchanges, and increases for a wide range of other public diplomacy and broadcasting initiatives geared toward…populations not typically reached by other programs including women and young people.”
Secretary Rice also noted that the United States would continue its work in democracy building, explaining, “In much of Africa and Latin America, we face the twin challenges of helping to bolster democratic ideals and institutions, and alleviating poverty. We will insist that leaders who are elected democratically have an obligation to govern democratically. We will work in partnership with developing nations to fight corruption, instill rule of law, and create a culture of transparency that will attract the trade and investment crucial to poverty reduction.”
Pointing out that the FY2006 budget exceeds the commitment President Bush made in 2002 to increase development assistance, Secretary Rice stated, “We seek $3 billion for the third year of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, our bold, growth-promoting approach to development, which helps countries that govern justly, adopt sound economic policies and invest in the welfare of their people. We also seek $2.4 billion in development, child survival and health assistance.”
Finally, Secretary Rice explained that in order for the United States to remain at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS, the administration is “requesting $3.2 billion in total U.S. funding for care, treatment and prevention efforts,” adding, “We will demonstrate the compassion of the American people in other ways as well. Through our continued support of international and nongovernmental organizations, we will ensure that America remains the world’s most generous food and non-food humanitarian assistance provider. We are requesting $2.59 billion for food aid and famine relief and non-food humanitarian assistance.”
Highlighting achievements in U.S. foreign policy under the Bush administration, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Richard Lugar (R-IN) stated, “The people of Iraq have held successful elections under difficult circumstances. Schools are operating, police and army units are being trained, free media is being established, and women are participating in society in ways that they have not done before.” He explained that Congress worked with the administration to implement the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative, establish the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act, stating, “These and other efforts, including our response to the Tsunami disaster, demonstrate that the United States intends to provide leadership in fighting the poverty and disorder that are so often the root of conflict.”
Pointing out that the international affairs budget has been under-funded since the end of the Cold War, Sen. Lugar stated, “Under President Bush and Secretary Powell, funding for the Foreign Affairs Account has increased substantially. The President has requested increases in each of the last four budgets. In this year’s budget, the President has requested a 13 percent increase for the Foreign Affairs Account the largest percentage increase of any account in the budget. This is a tangible demonstration of the President’s commitment to diplomatic strength. Congress must now do its part by providing the resources the President needs to carry out an effective foreign policy.”
During the question and answer session, Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) expressed his concern that the administration would reduce funding for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund. He asked whether these two programs were cut to provide funding for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which would receive a $1.5 billion increase over FY2005. Secretary Rice explained that the FY2006 funding levels mirror those requested by President Bush last year, stating, “This is what the administration believes is needed in these accounts.”
In his opening statement, House International Relations Committee Chair Henry Hyde (R-IL) did not address the FY2006 budget, but expressed his desire to work with Secretary Rice to conduct “a thorough review and reform of the United Nations and its many agencies.” He added, “This endeavor is not conceived in hostility to the UN but instead stems from the importance we believe that it and its many agencies can play in the world, especially in areas such as the care of refugees and promoting global health.”
Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) focused his comments on the “unconscionable” actions of China with regard to human rights abuses against women and its “One Child” policy, expressing his concern that 500 women commit suicide in China every day because of this policy. Secretary Rice stated that the administration has been “outspoken with China on this issue” and said that the United States would address China’s human rights abuses at the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. She also noted that under current law, the United States does not provide money to organizations that support China’s “One Child” policy.
