Jim Nussle: “I rise in support of H.R. 3057, the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act for…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 3057, the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005, which funds programs and activities carried out by the Departments of State, Treasury and Agriculture, the United States Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Export-Import Bank, among others. This measure is the tenth appropriations bill to be considered under the fiscal year 2006 budget resolution, and provides for the foreign operations and export financing needs of our nation, clearly national priorities in a time of war. I am pleased to report that it is consistent with the levels established by the conference report to H. Con. Res. 95, the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006. H.R. 3057 provides $20.3 billion in appropriations for Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs for fiscal year 2006. The bill provides $571 million in funding above fiscal year 2005, but it is $2.6 billion below the President's request. The bill provides $1.25 billion less then requested for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, $478 million less in Economic Support Funds and $146 million less in Foreign Military Financing funding.…”