Tina Smith: “I just would like to respond briefly to the last point that Senator McCain made. In the committee bill in question here…”

“I just would like to respond briefly to the last point that Senator McCain made. In the committee bill in question here, the language that my amendment strikes is under the heading "Title II," which is "Bilateral Economic Assistance, Agency for International Development, Development Assistance." This is to furnish assistance to any country. Now, here we have a situation where this is under economic assistance, so it is going directly to Vietnam because that is exactly what the language says. The actual committee language reads: "Funds appropriated under this heading shall be made available to assist Vietnam," et cetera. That is what the language says. So that is what is happening. Maybe the intent is different. I do not question anybody's intent here, but the language says that this money is to assist Vietnam. And that is what I object to.”