Byron Dorgan: “I am pleased to bring the fiscal year 1998 foreign operations, export promotion, and related programs appropriations…”

“I am pleased to bring the fiscal year 1998 foreign operations, export promotion, and related programs appropriations bill to the Senate for consideration today. I might say at the outset that we anticipate finishing this bill tonight. There are very few amendments of which I am aware and, hopefully, we can mirror the speed with which the Department of Defense appropriations bill and the energy and water appropriations bill were completed. Senator Leahy and I have worked closely together to produce a bill which effectively serves vital international U.S. political and economic priorities with the $13 billion allocated to our subcommittee. Let me point out right up front that while the bill stands at $13 billion, we are funding $13.2 billion on programs; the difference is due to the Budget Committee's treatment of arrears at international financial institutions. For the first time in more than a decade, the foreign operations account actually experienced an increase.”