Bob Schaffer: “the Conference report related to foreign operations--currently under consideration by the House--contains an improved…”

“the Conference report related to foreign operations--currently under consideration by the House--contains an improved level of funding for Ukraine. These funds move us closer to achieving America's objectives there. The Conferees of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill are to be commended for realizing the strategic and economic significance of Ukraine to the United States and for favorably judging my recommendation for higher funding levels. As you may recall, Mr. Speaker, I rose in opposition to the actions previously taken by this House when it funded America's activities in Ukraine at an amount substantially lower than that recommended by the president. The president's budget called for an expenditure of $169 million for fiscal year 2002. The House approved an amount not to exceed $124 million. Upon passage of the House bill on foreign operations appropriations, I petitioned our colleagues in the Senate to set in its companion appropriations bill a figure for Ukraine in excess of the president's recommendation. My appeal was warmly received, and I am pleased by the Senate's reply in proposing the Ukrainian line be funded at no less than $180 million. The figure proposed in the report before us now is $154 million which, while admittedly subordinate to our president's more prudent recommendation, strikes me as a reasonable compromise between the two chambers of the Congress and certainly worthy of our approval today.”