Harry Johnston: “I address this bill on two levels: No. 1, my interest in Africa; and, No. 2, just general foreign policy. First, the…”

“I address this bill on two levels: No. 1, my interest in Africa; and, No. 2, just general foreign policy. First, the bill cuts back the development funds for Africa. There is $800 million for 600 million people, and now that is gone. Next, the bill does not want to send peacekeeping forces to Africa, and we saw 400,000 people die in Rwanda because of that. Next, in spite of what the gentleman said, and I am sure the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Roth] will address this, too, the housing development funds are not there for future operations in South Africa. Now, by not addressing the problems created in the foreign ops appropriations bill, we are going to cut back population assistance funds, family planning. As the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Wynn] said, 7 million couples in the world in developing countries will not have any access to family planning information. People will starve in Africa because of this, and unwanted babies will be born. Now, let us talk about foreign policy. I almost feel that I am in a time warp going back to 1919 when they were voting to get out of the League of Nations here. Mr. Speaker, we are slipping into isolationism, if there ever was one. There are more provisions in this bill that will stymie the President from having and operating foreign policy, and we cannot operate with 435 Secretaries of State here. We cannot micromanage foreign policy. This was not done by this body during the Bush administration.”