This week, the House met its goal of completing all action on the FY2006 appropriations bills before the July 4th recess after approving the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Agencies and the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, and the District of Columbia spending bills. The Senate approved the following spending bills: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Programs; Energy and Water; and Legislative Branch. In addition, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs spending bill.
House Action
Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Agencies
On June 29, the House approved, 393-32, the FY2006 Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Agencies spending bill (H.R. 3057). The House Appropriations Committee approved the measure on June 21 (see The Source, 6/24/05).
H.R. 3057 would allocate $20.27 billion in FY2006, a $730 million increase over FY2005, but $2.55 billion less than the administration’s request.
During consideration of the bill, the House approved, by voice vote, an amendment offered by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) that would first reduce and then increase funding for the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative by $1 million.
Rep. King explained that he offered the amendment so that he would have the opportunity to discuss the ABC method for HIV/AIDS prevention: “A” for abstinence, “B” for being faithful, and “C” for condoms. He said that he met with officials implementing the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative in Africa who told him that “it has become not an ABC policy, not a little ‘c’ policy, it has become a big ‘C’ policy, a hand-out of condoms policy,” adding, “When I asked what are you doing to address the promiscuity, they told me, you do not change the culture. Well, they are establishing a condom culture. If you can change it to a condom culture, you can promote the elimination of promiscuity and abstinence until marriage and monogamy after that.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) offered an amendment that would have provided an additional $600 million in emergency funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, bringing the total to $1 billion in FY2006. Because the amendment would change current law, it is considered legislating on an appropriations bill, which is against House rules. A point of order was raised against the amendment and the Chair sustained the point of order.
The House rejected, 87-326, an amendment by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA) that would have provided an additional $750 million for the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund, bringing the total to $2.25 billion in FY2006. The amendment would have been offset by a $750 million decrease in military aid for Egypt.
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA) offered an amendment that would have authorized President Bush to use all necessary means, in accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, to halt the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. A point of order was raised against the amendment and the Chair sustained the point of order.
Under the bill, $1.5 billion would be provided for the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund, $40.6 million less than FY2005 and $245.5 million above the administration’s request. The total would include $347 million for child survival and maternal health, $21 million more than FY2005 and the budget request. Of that amount, $20 million would be recommended for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) activities related to Vitamin A deficiency and $2 million for the Kiwanis/UNICEF [iodine deficiency disorder] IDD partnership.
H.R. 3057 would provide $6 million in FY2006 for obstetric fistula, “which affects an estimated 3 million women in the developing world.” The House Appropriations Committee report accompanying H.R. 3057 notes that “this condition can often be prevented altogether by trained birth attendants and improved medical care.”
The measure would provide $2.7 billion in FY2006 for HIV/AIDS prevention activities, $502 million more than FY2005 and $131 million above the budget request. The total would include $1.92 billion for the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative; $350 million in bilateral HIV/AIDS funding within the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund to finance ongoing programs; and $400 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
According to the report, “The Committee expects USAID to continue its strong support for microbicide research and development. An effective microbicide could be developed by the end of the decade and, once available, could change the course of the epidemic. The Committee recommends not less than $36 million in bilateral HIV/AIDS funds for such efforts, including funding for the International Partnership for Microbicides.”
The committee “understands that physical and sexual violence, coercion, and other factors increase women’s vulnerability to HIV infection and pose barriers for women who are HIV-positive to accessing care and treatment. The Committee notes that programs to address social and societal factors, such as access to employment, income, property and inheritance rights, and attitudes toward violence are core components to addressing the underlying causes of HIV infection. The Committee requests the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, working with USAID and other offices of the State Department, to submit a report…on the funding and range of programs the United States Government is supporting to address gender-based violence and treatment of HIV-positive victims of such violence.
“The Committee continues to strongly support funding for programs to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV as an integral component of a comprehensive approach to fighting HIV/AIDS. To facilitate expansion and to provide more access to MTCT services and expanded care and treatment programs, infrastructure improvements and education and training of health care workers are needed as well as better linkages between MTCT and comprehensive care and treatment services. The Committee urges the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator to continue its work to expand access to MTCT services and encourage stronger linkages between MTCT and care and treatment programs.”
The report notes that “not less than one-third of all United States funds for the prevention of HIV/AIDS globally must be reserved for ‘abstinence until marriage’ programs. The Committee is pleased to see that the [President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief] already is supporting a wide range of interventions that promote skill-building strategies that empower young people to more effectively practice abstinence. The Committee concurs with the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator’s strategy that United States funds should be available for programs and interventions that most efficiently delay sexual debut and, among those already sexually experienced, increase faithfulness.”
H.R. 3057 would allocate $1.46 billion for development assistance, a $1.68 million increase over FY2005 and $346.8 million more than the budget request. The report states that the committee “continues to believe a Women in Development (WID) office empowered to monitor, assess, and make recommendations regarding the quality of gender integration at USAID could be of great benefit to the agency. The Committee strongly recommends that the Office be funded at $15.5 million in FY2006.”
The bill would provide $30 million for a pilot program “to address the issues caused by fees that many developing countries require of families whose children attend school.” According to the report, “Such fees are a major barrier to school enrollment among lower income children, especially girls. However, removing the fees also reduces the financial resources for education, leading to shortages of teachers and school supplies as well as inadequate school infrastructure.” In FY2005, Congress allocated $15 million for the program.
In FY2006, $200 million would be provided for microenterprise programs, including $30 million for USAID’s Office of Microenterprise. The report states that “in most developing countries, small, informally organized businesses microenterprises constitute the vast majority of business enterprises. Microenterprises are the source of employment and income for hundreds of millions of people in developing countries. To flourish, microenterprises need a supportive policy environment and growing markets, as well as capital and technical assistance. The Committee expects USAID’s programs to reach the largest possible number of microenterprises, whether through grants to private, non-governmental organizations that lend to microenterprises or by sponsoring economic policy reforms that directly stimulate such enterprises.”
Under the bill, $432 million would be included for international family planning programs in FY2006. This amount is $9 million less than FY2005 and $7 million more than the administration’s request. In FY2006, the UNFPA would receive level funding of $34 million, $9 million above the budget request. The administration has blocked the release of all UNFPA funds in FY2002 through FY2004. At this time, it remains unclear as to whether the FY2005 funds will be released.
According to the report, “The Committee has continued prior year language that requires that none of the funds appropriated in this Act, or any unobligated balances, be made available to any organization or program which, as determined by the President, supports and participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. The language also states that funds cannot be used to pay for the performance of abortions as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortion. Further, the language indicates that in order to reduce reliance on abortions in developing countries, population funds shall be available only to voluntary family planning projects that offer, either directly or through referral, information about access to a broad range of family planning methods and services.”
As requested by the administration, the measure would provide $430 million for Afghanistan, $250 million above the FY2005 level. The total would include $50 million to support programs for Afghan women and girls, including $10 million for women’s legal rights and $5 million for programs that provide economic opportunity for women. The report states that the committee “strongly encourages the recipients of these funds to partner with local, women-led organizations in the implementation of these activities.”
The committee “commends the work of the Refugee Women in Development organization. This organization focuses on providing capacity building and strengthening women leaders to advance education, health, advocacy, and human rights programs in Afghanistan.”
H.R. 3057 would not provide the administration’s request of $360 million for Iraq. According to the report, “The Committee has not included these funds based on an understanding that over $5 billion in funds previously appropriated for Iraq reconstruction and relief remain unobligated and could be used to fund the requirements presented in the FY2006 request.”
The Middle East Partnership Initiative would receive $85 million in FY2006, $10 million more than FY2005, but $35 million less than the budget request.
The committee “recognizes that promoting women’s empowerment, education and full participation in the social, political and economic life is a critical part of promoting democracy. The Committee recommends support for programs and organizations that seek to strengthen the role and capacity of women to be full participants in Egyptian society, including $150,000 for the National Council for Women in Egypt.”
The bill would include $67.5 million for Indonesia, an increase of $2.5 million over FY2005 and $2.5 million less than the administration’s request. The report states, “Within the $15 million provided for education programs, the Committee recommends funds be provided as necessary to reestablish midwifery education systems throughout Aceh, Indonesia.”
In FY2006, the measure would include $12 million for the Trafficking in Persons initiative. According to the report, “The Committee is aware that several countries in [Eastern Europe and the Baltic States] and the former Soviet Union are struggling with sex trafficking. The Committee urges the Department of State to consider funding for groups, such as Different and Equal and MiraMed Institute, that are working to find lasting solutions to this problem.”
The committee “continues to be concerned about adverse maternal and environmental health conditions and the increasing incidence of TB/HIV in Russia, Ukraine, and the Central Asia Republics. The health and child survival sector can effectively absorb increased resources with an immediate and personal impact on the stressed citizens of these nations…In order to demonstrate its support for these high priority activities, the Committee has included bill language allocating not less than $52 million for health and child survival activities.”
The bill would provide $390 million for Sudan, including $69 million for the Darfur region. The report states that “as the humanitarian emergencies in Darfur, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda demonstrate, sexual exploitation and violence against women and girls is a continuing problem among internally displaced and refugee populations. The Committee urges the Department of State to scale up resources to address these critical issues, and requests that the Department provide, not later than 120 days following enactment of this Act, a report on United States Government funding…for programs that target gender-based violence.”
H.R. 3057 would provide $1.75 billion for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), $262 million more than FY2005, but $1.25 billion below the administration’s request. The report states that the committee “believes that the MCC provides the United States with an opportunity to demonstrate global leadership in helping poor countries generate broad-based economic growth and reduce poverty. Within United States bilateral assistance, the MCC provides the strongest opportunity for the United States Government to respond to the need for local ownership in the development process as well as the strongest incentives for encouraging countries to invest in health and education, to strengthen economic freedom, and to govern justly.”
The Peace Corps would receive $325 million in FY2006, an $8 million increase over FY2005, but $20 million less than the amount requested by President Bush.
In FY2006, the measure would provide no less than $127 million for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This amount is $3 million more than FY2005 and $13 million above the administration’s request. According to the report, “UNICEF is an essential partner of the United States in achieving child survival and health objectives, especially those in the areas of immunization, HIV/AIDS, and early childhood development.”
Under the bill, the United Nations Development Fund for Women would receive $5 million in FY2006, $2.02 million more than FY2005 and $4.05 million above the budget request. The total would include a $1.5 million contribution to the Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women.
Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, and the District of Columbia
On June 30, the House approved, 405-18, the FY2006 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, and the District of Columbia spending bill (H.R. 3058). The House Appropriations Committee approved the measure on June 21 (see The Source, 6/24/05).
H.R. 3058 would allocate $66.94 billion in FY2006, a $3.76 billion increase over FY2005 and $6.23 billion more than the administration’s request.
During consideration of the bill, the House approved the following amendments:
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Department of Transportation
The bill would provide $175 million for job access and reverse commute grants, $51 million more than FY2005. The grants would not have been funded under the administration’s budget request. The House Appropriations Committee report accompanying H.R. 3058 states that “the purpose of the job access and reverse commute grant program is to develop services designed to transport welfare recipients and low income individuals to and from jobs and to develop transportation services for residents of urban centers and rural and suburban areas to suburban employment opportunities.”
As requested by President Bush, $900,000 would be provided for the Minority Business Resource Center, a $7,200 increase over FY2005. The center “provides assistance in obtaining short-term working capital and bonding for disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned businesses.” The center also “enables qualified businesses to obtain loans at prime interest rates for transportation-related projects.” In addition, $3 million would be included for minority business outreach, $24,000 more than FY2005 and equal to the budget request.
H.R. 3058 would include $136 million for occupant protection incentive grants, approximately the same amount as FY2005. The total would include funding for outreach initiatives to increase seatbelt use and $10 million for national paid media to support national safety belt mobilizations. In addition, $6 million would be earmarked for child safety and booster seat grants.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Under the bill, $1.34 billion would be provided for homeless programs, $99.5 million more than FY2005, but $100 million less than the budget request. The total would include no less than $238 million to renew all expiring Shelter Plus Care contracts. In addition, $11.7 million would be provided for the national homeless data analysis project.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness would be level-funded at $1.5 million in FY2006. This amount is $300,000 less than the administration’s request. The report states that “the failure of the Administration to put forth a comprehensive funding plan for the elimination of chronic homelessness, which includes other mainstream programs in other Departments, indicates that the Council is not being successful in developing a government-wide response to this national problem. Therefore, the Council is instructed to work closely with HUD’s Homeless program and present to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees…a comprehensive funding strategy that demonstrates that the President’s initiative to end chronic homelessness will achieve its result within the 10-year timeframe originally stated.”
In FY2006, the HOPWA program would receive $295 million. This amount is $13 million above FY2005 and $27 million more than the budget request. The program “provides States and localities with resources and incentives to devise long-term comprehensive strategies to meet the housing needs of persons with HIV/AIDS and their families.”
The measure would include $15.63 billion for Section 8 voucher renewals, $865 million more than FY2005, but $214 million below the administration’s request.
Fair housing activities would receive $46.5 million in FY2006, $100,000 less than FY2005 and $7.7 million more than the amount requested by President Bush. Of that amount, $26.5 million would be provided for the Fair Housing Assistance Program and $20 million for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program.
H.R. 3058 would provide level funding of $166.7 million for the Lead Hazard Reduction Program, $47.7 million more than the budget request. The total would include $92.6 million for the lead-based paint hazard control program to provide assistance for lead-based abatement in private low-income housing. In addition, $8.8 million would be provided for the Healthy Homes Initiative “to address lead-based paint poisoning and other housing-related diseases and hazards.”
In FY2006, the American Dream Downpayment Assistance Initiative would receive $50 million, $400,000 above the FY2005 level, but $150 million less than the administration’s request.
Under the bill, $41.7 million would be provided for housing counseling programs in FY2006. This amount is $300,000 less than FY2005 and $1.7 million above the budget request.
The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation would receive $118 million in FY2006, a $3.9 million increase over FY2005 as requested by the administration.
The measure would provide $60.8 million for the Self-Help Opportunity Program, a new account “proposed by the Administration to fund programs that previously have been funded as set asides within the Community Development Fund (CDF).” The total would include $23.8 million for the Self-Help Homeownership Program, a $1.2 million decrease below FY2005 and $6.2 million less than the amount requested by the administration.
The bill would provide no funding for the Youthbuild program. Under the administration’s budget request, the Youthbuild program would be transferred from HUD to the Department of Labor. The program received $62 million in FY2005.
District of Columbia
H.R. 3058 would allocate $604 million for the District of Columbia in FY2006, a $48 million increase over FY2005 and $30.6 million more than the budget request.
As requested by the administration, the bill would provide $221.7 million in FY2006 for the operation of the D.C. Courts, $32.5 million more than the FY2005 level. The total would include funding for the Family Court, which handles all cases in the District pertaining to child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, adoption, and foster care.
In FY2006, $41.6 million would be included for D.C. schools. This amount is $1.9 million more than FY2005 and equal to the administration’s request. Of that amount, $13.5 million would be provided to improve public school education, $14.6 million for private school vouchers, and $12.5 million for charter schools. Included in the bill is a provision that would maintain current law prohibiting the use of federal funds to implement a D.C. law that permits municipal employees to purchase health insurance benefits for their domestic partners, regardless of gender or marital status. H.R. 3058 also would maintain current law with respect to the prohibition on the use of local and federal funds for abortion coverage for low-income women on Medicaid. Exceptions for abortion coverage would be made in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment. In addition, the measure would maintain current law prohibiting the use of local and federal funds for a needle exchange program.
Office of National Drug Control Policy
The bill would provide level funding of $120 million in FY2006 for the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.
According to the report, “The Committee has supported past education efforts to demonstrate the consequences of using performance-enhancing drugs. Although this program was successful, all professional sports, including Major League Baseball, must undertake a comprehensive campaign to educate youth on the dangers of steroid use. Professional sports must work closely with the U.S. Anti-Doping Administration (USADA) to educate high school, middle school and grade school children on the dangers of performance enhancing drugs.”
H.R. 3058 would maintain current law requiring health plans participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) to cover prescription contraceptives if they cover other prescription drugs. Physicians and others who provide contraceptives are exempted from the requirement if they object based on religious beliefs. Religiously affiliated health plans also are exempt. Additionally, the measure would prohibit abortion coverage under FEHBP, except when the life of the mother is endangered or in the case of rape or incest.
The measure also would maintain current law permitting breastfeeding in a federal building or on federal property if the woman and child are authorized to be there.
Senate Action
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
On June 29, the Senate approved, 94-0, the FY2006 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies spending bill (H.R. 2361).
The measure would allocate $26.3 billion in FY2006, a $700 million decrease below FY2005, $600 million more than the administration’s request, and $100 million above the amount approved by the House on May 19.
During consideration of the bill, the Senate approved, 60-37, an amendment offered by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using funds in the bill to accept, consider, or rely on third-party intentional human dosing studies for pesticides; or to conduct intentional human dosing for pesticides.
In offering her amendment, Sen. Boxer said that “at the urging of the pesticide industry, the EPA has reversed a moratorium on the consideration of studies in which humans are intentionally dosed with pesticides. In addition, the administration will soon propose a regulation that will greatly expand the funding and the use of such studies.” She further explained that the EPA is considering a number of scientific studies involving pregnant women, fetuses, “neonates of uncertain viability” or newborn babies who are ill, and “nonviable neonates” or newborn babies who may not live. Sen. Boxer argued that her amendment “is about ensuring we protect our children and ourselves from the adverse effects of pesticides that could be administered through these testing programs,” adding, “We need to ensure that any studies that Congress sanctions are conducted in a safe and ethical manner.”
Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) opposed the amendment, stating, “This is not like the testing of prescription drugs. Having no tests on chemicals, no information on chemicals that we use in the production of food and fiber and shelter in this country is not a very good idea.” He added that the amendment “is so far reaching that between 60 and 70 chemicals and 1,300 tolerances, or the allowable pesticide residue on foods, would be affected. It would mean taking those [peer-reviewed] reports, putting them away, and never referring to them again. That does not make a lot of sense. Not only is there the time, money, and effort involved, but some of the results we know of today we would not have known this morning in order to make this debate.”
Senate Committee Action
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
On June 30, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved, 28-0, the FY2006 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs spending bill (H.R. 3057). A Senate Appropriations subcommittee approved the measure by voice vote on June 29.
H.R. 3057 would allocate $31.8 billion in FY2006, a $1.2 billion decrease below FY2005 and $1 billion less than the administration’s request. Of that amount, $9.7 billion would be provided for the Department of State, $1.1 billion less than FY2005 and $201 million below the budget request. The House-approved version of the bill would provide $20.27 billion in FY2006, but would not include funding for the Department of State. Funding for that agency is included in the annual Science, State, Justice and Commerce spending bill.
During consideration of the bill, the committee approved, by voice vote, a manager’s amendment that would include a provision offered by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to amend report language concerning HIV/AIDS, family planning and child health and survival funds, and a provision offered by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to include report language concerning the importance of child survival and maternal health programs.
Department of State
As requested by the administration, the measure would include $5.6 million for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.
Foreign Operations
Under the bill, $1.6 billion would be provided for the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund, $60 million more than FY2005 and $350 million above the budget request. The Senate Appropriations Committee report accompanying H.R. 3057 states that “pregnancy-related deaths exceed 600,000 annually, most of which are preventable.” The total would include $375 million for child survival and maternal health, and the committee recommends “that additional funding be made available specifically to reduce pregnancy-related deaths.” This amount is $30 million more than FY2005 and $49 million above the administration’s request.
The committee “is also aware that deaths among newborn babies exceed 4 million annually, most of which are preventable. As the Committee has increased funding for child survival and maternal health activities by $30 million above the fiscal year 2005 level, the Committee expects [the U.S. Agency for International Development] USAID to use an appropriate portion of these funds to reduce newborn deaths.”
In FY2006, at least $3 million would be provided for the Kiwanis/UNICEF [iodine deficiency disorder] IDD partnership. The bill also would include $30 million for the USAID micronutrient program, of which at least $20 million would be earmarked for programs related to Vitamin A deficiency.
H.R. 3057 would provide $2.9 billion in FY2006 for HIV/AIDS prevention activities, $700 million more than FY2005 and $203 million above the budget request. The total would include $2 billion for the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative (GHI); $350 million in bilateral HIV/AIDS funding within the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund to finance ongoing programs; $400 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria; and $35 million for UNAIDS.
The committee “recommends that not less than $42 million should be made available to USAID for research on, and development of, microbicides as a means of combating HIV/AIDS, of which up to $4 million should be made available to the International Partnership for Microbicides.”
The report states that GHI funds should “be made available to develop vaccines and microbicides, and to support vaccine and microbicide clinical trials, including support for treatment for those who become infected with HIV during the trials.”
The committee “continues to strongly support programs to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV as an integral component of a comprehensive approach to combat HIV/AIDS. Due to cost and infrastructure limitations, MTCT services are only available to less than 10 percent of the women who need them worldwide. Additional resources are required for infrastructure improvements, as well as education and training of health care workers. Further, linkages between MTCT and comprehensive care and treatment services must be created for women, children and families.”
According to the report, “The Committee is aware that malaria kills an estimated 2.7 million people each year, three-quarters of whom are African children under the age of 5. The Committee recommends not less than $105 million for programs to combat malaria. The Committee supports a comprehensive approach to combat malaria, including long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets, artemisinin combination therapies, and indoor residual spraying.”
The measure would allocate $1.7 billion in FY2006 for development assistance, a $227 million increase over FY2005 and $571 million more than the amount requested by President Bush. Of that amount, $11 million would be provided for the Office of Women in Development.
In FY2006, $350 million would be included for children’s basic education. The committee “expects USAID to emphasize programs that expand access and quality of education for girls, enhance community and parental participation in schools, improve teacher training, and build local management capacity.” In addition, “The Committee supports efforts to address the problem of public school fees in poor countries, especially in Africa. These fees are a significant impediment to the attendance of poor children in school, particularly girls, who are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. The Committee supports a multilateral, multi-year strategy and funding mechanisms to support the elimination of school fees in these countries and to strengthen the capacity of schools to respond to the increased enrollment.”
The bill would include $200 million “for microenterprise development programs for the poor, especially women.” The committee “expects USAID to preserve the viability of the leading private [nongovernmental organization] NGO microfinance networks and [private voluntary organizations] PVOs in order to maximize assistance to poor clients. The great majority of microenterprise development resources should be used to support the direct provision of services to the poorest microentrepreneurs through these networks. The Committee supports the implementation of poverty measurement methods as a means of verifying that at least half of these resources are targeted toward the world’s poorest people. The Committee believes that funding for administrative, procurement, research and other support activities not directly related to the delivery and management of services should be kept to a minimum. The Committee recommends $20 million to increase incentives for microfinance service providers to accommodate people infected with HIV/AIDS.”
H.R. 3057 would provide $5 million “to expand community-based efforts to combat female genital cutting in African countries where the practice is prevalent.”
The committee “is concerned with the needs of the large number of orphans, displaced and abandoned children in developing countries, particularly countries that have been affected by conflict and natural disasters. The Committee recommends $3 million to support pilot projects in up to three countries to improve the capacity of local government agencies and nongovernmental organizations to prevent abandonment, address the needs of these children and provide permanent homes through family reunification, guardianship and domestic adoption.”
Under the bill, $450 million would be included for international family planning programs in FY2006. This amount is $9 million more than FY2005 and $25 million more than the administration’s request. In FY2006, the UNFPA would receive level funding of $35 million, $10 million above the budget request. The administration has blocked the release of all UNFPA funds in FY2002 through FY2004. At this time, it remains unclear as to whether the FY2005 funds will be released.
The measure would allocate $920 million for Afghanistan, equal to the budget request. Of the total, no less than $10 million would be made available for Afghan women’s organizations. According to the report, “The Committee supports programs to directly address the needs of Afghan women and girls. The Committee believes that a central goal of United States assistance for Afghanistan should be to strengthen and support Afghan women’s organizations (many of them small and located outside of major urban areas) that have established themselves as effective advocates for women’s rights and as trusted providers of assistance.”
As requested by President Bush, the measure would provide $459 million for relief and reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
Stressing the importance of civic education, the committee “recommends [that] the State Department and USAID continue to support the civic education programs of Voice for Humanity (VFH) in Iraq and Afghanistan, and recognizes the strong support by senior Iraqi and Afghan officials for the high-tech, small media devices that educate illiterate and semi-literate populations. The committee notes that the Afghan Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs credits the devices with increasing the number of women voting in the country’s presidential elections. The Committee believes that in addition to activities to support the upcoming elections in Iraq and Afghanistan, VFH’s programs should be expanded to include information on counter-narcotics and women and children’s health issues.”
H.R. 3057 would include $900 million for migration and refugee assistance, a $136.2 million increase over FY2005 and $7.2 million above the administration’s request. Of that amount, $42.5 million would be provided for programs and activities to combat trafficking in persons, especially those that focus on prevention and the protection of victims.
The report states that the committee “notes the State Department’s recent determination that the Cambodian Government ‘does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of [human] trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so.’ The Committee holds Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior officials directly responsible for the lack of social, economic, and political reforms in Cambodia today.”
According to the report, the committee “recognizes issues of common interest to the United States and Vietnam, including combating HIV/AIDS, narcotics trafficking, trafficking in persons, and other regional security threats. However, the Committee remains concerned by reports of human rights abuses, including religious persecution, directed at ethnic minorities and other individuals within Vietnam, particularly in the Central Highlands. The Committee recommends $4 million for programs to address the needs of affected communities and individuals in the Central Highlands.”
The report notes that the committee “believes that more needs to be done to address sexual exploitation and violence against women and girls, particularly among displaced and refugee populations. The Committee directs the State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration to submit a multi-year plan…to expand support for NGO programs that target gender-based violence in humanitarian and conflict settings.”
The committee “remains concerned with the slow pace of the democratic development of Pakistan, and expects the State Department and USAID to continue to make democracy and governance programs a priority. The Committee urges the Government of Pakistan to protect and respect human rights and the rule of law, particularly for women.”
The committee “deplores the policies of the Government of Sudan, which have resulted in the systematic destruction of villages, the deaths of tens of thousands of people, the displacement of more than 1 million people in Darfur, and have impeded the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the region. The Committee supports…aid to the National Democratic Alliance of Sudan to strengthen its ability to protect civilians from attacks, slave raids, and aerial bombardment by the Sudanese Government forces and its militia allies. The Committee notes that such aid includes non-lethal, non-food aid, such as blankets, medicine, fuel, mobile clinics, water drilling equipment, communications equipment to notify civilians of aerial bombardment, non-military vehicles, tents, and shoes.”
The measure would allocate $120 million for the Middle East Partnership Initiative, $45 million more than FY2005 and equal to the budget request.
In FY2006, $25 million would be included “for programs and activities which foster democracy, human rights, civic education, women’s development, press freedom, and the rule of law in countries outside the Middle East region with a significant Muslim population.”
The report states that the committee “supports leadership development programs, particularly those targeted toward women and youth in the Balkans. The Committee recommends $3.5 million for the Hope Fellowship Program, which has provided leadership training to 130 women in Kosovo since 2001.”
H.R. 3057 would provide $1.8 billion for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in FY2006, $312 million more than FY2005, but $1.2 billion below the budget request. According to the report, “The Committee unequivocally supports the foreign assistance objectives of the MCC: to provide such assistance in a manner that promotes economic growth and the elimination of extreme poverty and strengthen good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people.”
The Peace Corps would receive $320 million in FY2006, a $3 million increase over FY2005, but $25 million less than the administration’s request.
In FY2006, the measure would provide $128 million for the United Nations Children’s Fund. This amount is $4 million more than FY2005 and $14 million above the administration’s request.
Under the bill, the United Nations Development Fund for Women would receive $2.5 million in FY2006, $480,000 less than FY2005 and $1.55 million above the budget request. The total would include a $1.5 million contribution to the Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women.
