Lincoln Chafee: “the EPA portion of this bill includes $12 million for Agency contributions to the Montreal Protocol facilitation fund.…”

“the EPA portion of this bill includes $12 million for Agency contributions to the Montreal Protocol facilitation fund. This funding level is the same as that approved by the Congress last year, but $7 million lower than the administration's request of $19 million. It is my understanding that the House of Representatives approved the full fiscal year 1997 administration request of $19 million for EPA's contribution to this fund. This funding is included in the EPA environmental programs and management account. If I might, Mr. President, I would like to provide some historical perspective on the Montreal Protocol facilitation fund. The fund was created in 1990 through the London Amendments to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. It was created to assist developing countries in their efforts to phase out ozone depleting substances. The United States agreed to participate in the fund after the Senate, on December 18, 1991, voted to approve ratification of the London Amendments. It is important to remember that the Montreal Protocol and the facilitation fund were successfully negotiated by the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George Bush, respectively. The Montreal Protocol facilitation fund was established with the clear understanding that the problem of ozone depletion was global in nature.”