Benjamin Gilman: “I rise in strong opposition to the rule, which regrettably precludes Republicans from having any real say with regard to…”

“I rise in strong opposition to the rule, which regrettably precludes Republicans from having any real say with regard to the foreign assistance policies contained in this appropriations bill. More specifically, it denies many of us the opportunity to offer any of the three amendments--proposed by Republicans and Democrats alike--to restore the more than 35 percent cut from the President's international narcotics control budget for the State Department for fiscal year 1995. The last foreign assistance authorization bill was enacted in 1985. Republicans have been promised for more than a year that we would have an opportunity to join in a bipartisan reform of the foreign assistance program. Regrettably, this bill will likely be the only foreign assistance bill this Congress will enact. As a result of the proposed cuts in the international narcotics funds in this bill, domestic consequences will be severe, allowing more and cheaper drugs on our streets, and in our schools. Inevitably, there will be increased crime, health care costs and a significant loss of worker productivity. Our costly efforts for community policing provided for in the crime bill, will be adversely affected as well.”