On the recordJune 8, 2012
I thank my friend from Florida very much. Mr. Chairman, not only do I oppose the amendment, I don't think we should be shutting down this program. This was a bipartisan program one of whose principal sponsors was Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska. What it does is to give voice to leaders within countries who are suffering under oppressive forms of government. I just met with the Ukrainian delegation. My friend, Mr. Crenshaw, may have had an opportunity to meet with them as well. They come through the Congress of the United States and the executive branch. They learn how our government works. And at a time when we are spending two-thirds of a trillion dollars on military security, this is the kind of program that can promote smart power by working with leaders in other countries. They want freedom of the press. They want democracy. They can't stand what communism did to their countries, but they don't want the kleptocracy of Russia. They don't want Russian domination. They want to be like the United States, and they want to come here and learn how to adopt the best principles that empower our democracy. It's a good program. It's not much money, and the dividends that it yields are far greater than anything it costs us. I certainly agree we ought not eliminate the $1 million placeholder, but I wish we would not eliminate this program at all because it's a program we ought to be proud to fund.
