James T. Callahan: “I agree that assistance to Africa is important. That is why I recommended authority to allow the administration to…”

“I agree that assistance to Africa is important. That is why I recommended authority to allow the administration to forgive government debt owned to the United States by the Ivory Coast. However, the authorizing committee chairman objected to this language and struck it from the bill. Over 41 percent of the development assistance funds would go to Africa under both the President's budget request and under the committee recommendation. In contrast, only 17.5 percent would go to Latin America and to the Caribbean. I would like more money for Latin America, but we have included bill language that states that the President should provide development assistance for Africa and for Latin America in the same proportion as was requested by the President. The language is similar to that included in the 1996 appropriations act. Again, the bill language did not absolutely mandate that funding for sub-Saharan Africa be protected, but the administration followed congressional intent and did not disproportionately reduce funding for Africa. The committee went out of its way this year to protect development assistance; the cut from 1996 is only $25 million. The committee decided that the nearly 25 percent reduction in development assistance from 1995 to 1996 was a sufficient contribution to deficit reduction for the time being.”