Tony Hall: “I consider these programs funded by this bill to be our first line of national defense. I believe the goodwill and…”

“I consider these programs funded by this bill to be our first line of national defense. I believe the goodwill and friendship created by these programs helps prevent international tensions that, if left unresolved, might lead to more serious conflict. I think that we have many, many examples like this. I think the greatest example before us today is North Korea. Mr. Speaker, I was saying a little bit about North Korea that it is a great example of what this bill is all about, because we, over the past 4 years through the world food program, have donated somewhere between 70 percent and 75 percent of all food aid, and humanitarian aid has brought us a tremendous amount of goodwill in North Korea. It has really eased tensions, and I think it has, it has brought peace to a peninsula that has not had peace in a long time. That is an example of goodwill. That is an example of foreign aid that goes to save lives, that has really caught the attention of North Korea, South Korea, and so many countries of the world. Mr. Speaker, moreover, this bill represents the spirit of American generosity and our commitment to the welfare of our fellow world citizens.”