Alcee Hastings: “Firstly, let us have it clearly understood that foreign assistance is an aid to America, it is not a hindrance. When we…”

“Firstly, let us have it clearly understood that foreign assistance is an aid to America, it is not a hindrance. When we came to Congress, those of us in 1992, we spent $18 billion in America on foreign assistance. Now we propose in this measure less than $12 billion. Overall, the bill cuts programs which benefit Africa and Latin America by 15 percent. The bill also cuts nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, de-mining, and related programs by 32 percent from the administration's request, and it cuts 27 percent from funding for Eastern Europe and the Baltic states. ... I hope none of our colleagues from those parliamentary bodies are watching the procedures in this House today, because I am embarrassed. ... the underlying bill itself is weak to the point of impotency.”