Herbert Pell: “I appreciate and sympathize with the Senator's desire to streamline the Department's operations. Indeed, there is no…”

“I appreciate and sympathize with the Senator's desire to streamline the Department's operations. Indeed, there is no disagreement about that goal between myself and the Senator or for that matter between the Senator and the Department itself. Shortly after taking office, Secretary Christopher announced a major reorganization at the Department, in large part to streamline its operations. But what I think we have here is an unwarranted attempt at congressional micromanagement of the Department of State. Let's look at the overall picture. President Clinton has proposed and the Department is implementing a 14-percent cut in administrative expenses from fiscal years 1994 to 1997; in line with this objective, the fiscal year 1994 budget request represents a 3-percent reduction from the 1993 baseline levels. In addition, the President has mandated a 4-percent cut in personnel over 3 years from fiscal years 1993 to 1995. The committee cut $333 million out of the Department's fiscal year 1994 budget request. Moreover, with the exception of U.S. contributions to International Organizations and Peacekeeping activities, which are not really funding for the Department's operation in any event, the Department's budget is frozen into 1995. At the same time that these cuts are being made, the committee has recommended that bureaus established by Congress in law remain so, and I support that position.”