Senate Gives Final Passage to 2002 Foreign Aid Bill

(Legislation cleared for signature by president) (690)


By Kathryn McConnell


Washington File Staff Writer





Washington -- The Senate has passed by voice vote a $15,400 million


bill for foreign aid and other international programs in fiscal year


2002, which began October 1.





The conference-cleared measure passed in the Senate December 20 had


won approval in the House of Representatives 357-66 the previous day.


It now goes to President Bush for signature.





The bill would relax restrictions on aid to Azerbaijan to allow U.S.


military and intelligence agencies to work more closely with the


mostly Muslim state. It would suspend drug-trafficking penalties to


make it easier for the Bush administration to work with Central Asian


nations.





It includes $446.5 million for international family planning,


including $34 million for the U.N. Population Fund, an increase of $9


million. Opponents had objected to the UNFPA funding, arguing the


agency's programs support abortions in China.





The bill, $403 million over last year's total, would also provide:





-- $2,239.5 million in economic support including $720 million for


Israel, $655 million of Egypt, $150 million for Jordan, $25 million


for East Timor, $12 million for Mongolia and $10 million to the


National Democratic Alliance of Sudan.





-- $3,674 million in military assistance, including $2,040 million for


Israel, $1,300 million for Egypt and $75 million for Jordan.





-- $140 million for peacekeeping operations.





-- $318.5 million for non-proliferation anti-terrorism and de-mining


programs.





-- $75 million to provide military training to civilians.





-- $235 million for debt restructuring.





-- $615 million for assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic


States.





-- $795.5 million for the independent states of the former Soviet


Union of which $180 million will be for Ukraine and $90 million each


for Armenia and Georgia.





The measure says funds may be withheld from Russia until the president


determines the country has terminated arrangements to provide Iran


with nuclear-related technology or training, is cooperating with


international efforts to investigate war crimes in Chechnya and is


providing nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) access to internally


displaced persons in Chechnya.





-- $275 million for the Peace Corps.





-- $727.3 million for the Export-Import Bank for loans, loan


guarantees and tied-aid grants through fiscal year 2005.





-- $50 million for the Trade and Development Agency (TDA).





-- $38.6 million for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation


(OPIC) to carry out credit and insurance programs.





-- $1,430 million for child survival and health programs, $371 million


more than in fiscal year 2001 and $443 million more than the


administration's request.





-- $435 million for HIV/AIDS programs, $160 million more than in 2001.





-- $660 million for counter-narcotics operations in Latin America, $71


million less than the president's request.





-- $735 million for migration and refugee assistance.





-- $6 million to provide technical assistance.





-- $30 million for biotechnology research and development.





--- $5 million to reintegrate child-soldiers and other war affected


youth in Central Asia.





-- $10 million for programs aimed at stopping trafficking in persons.





-- $295 million to protect tropical forests and biodiversity and to


promote the sustainable use of natural resources.





-- $109.5 million for the U.S. contribution to the Global Environment


Facility.





-- $775 million for payment to the International Development


Association.





-- $35.8 million for the European Bank for Reconstruction and


Development, $103 million for the Asian Development Fund, $20 million


for the Inter-American Investment Corporation and $5.1 million for the


African Development Bank.





-- $218 million for the United Nations Environment Program and $6


million for the U.N.'s World Food Program.





-- $16.5 million for the African Development Fund and $13.1 million


for the Inter-American Fund.





-- $135 million in economic support for Indonesia, $15 million for


projects aimed at the reunification of Cyprus, $35 million for


education support for Lebanon and $6.5 million to support democracy


and humanitarian activities in Burma and $5 million for Laos.





-- $52.5 million to support countries in transition to democracy and


countries in crisis.