William Helms: “this amendment will permit the Department of State to continue to charge and collect a fee for the issuance of machine…”

“this amendment will permit the Department of State to continue to charge and collect a fee for the issuance of machine readable visas in specific countries around the world through fiscal year 1996. The Department may collect up to $125 million worth of fees this year alone. It also authorizes the Department of State to use the moneys collected to offset the costs of diplomatic and consular activities overseas. In the fiscal year 1994-95 State Department authorization bill-- Public Law 103-236--the Committee on Foreign Relations authorized the Department to charge and collect these fees up to a total of $107 million. The Department almost met that ceiling this past year and expects to exceed that amount this fiscal year in as much as this relatively new program is now being implemented in more countries and, is thereby, made available to more people. Therefore, the Department is authorized to collect approximately $18 million more in fees this year. Mr. President, this amendment does not cost the American taxpayer a penny. It is, in fact, a tool for sound fiscal management the Department will be able to utilize this year, especially in light of budget cuts affecting the Department of State.”