William Helms: “Mr. President, the Senate now has before it the conference report accompanying H.R. 1561, which, of course, is the…”

“Mr. President, the Senate now has before it the conference report accompanying H.R. 1561, which, of course, is the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for fiscal year 1996 and 1997. This bill authorizes $6.5 billion for the operation of the Department of State, the U.S. Information Agency, and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency for 1996 and 1997. That represents a $500 million cut from fiscal year 1995 spending. After 1996, the bill authorizes funding for the State Department and requires the President to abolish at least one of the three anachronistic foreign affairs agencies: Either the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development, or the U.S. Information Agency. During the course of this debate, some may attempt to portray this legislation as isolationist. I hear that all the time. But you better not go out and ask the taxpayers of America what they think of it, because they do not agree with these people who cry isolationism.”