David Obey: “I rise in profound disagreement with the Callahan amendment. Let me first of all explain what it does. Out of the $900…”

“I rise in profound disagreement with the Callahan amendment. Let me first of all explain what it does. Out of the $900 million the administration requested for the former Soviet Union this year, and keep in mind, $2.5 billion was provided last year so this is already a major reduction, but out of the $900 million the administration has requested, 390 million is planned for Russia. The gentleman from Alabama proposes to eliminate all of the aid to Russia except the humanitarian assistance. That is an 89-percent reduction of the funds planned for Russia. It would eliminate every dollar of the money which is meant to help democratize the political system in Russia, and it would eliminate every dollar which is aimed to help Russians privatize their economy. I think that amendment is profoundly not in the national interest of the United States. I respect the motivation of the gentleman from Alabama. He has been consistent in his desire to cut aid to Russia. Last year, he offered his amendment to cut in committee and on the floor. It failed by a vote of 140 to 289 on the floor. It was a bipartisan rejection, because there are good bipartisan reasons to continue this assistance. The gentleman says that we have seen little progress in the Soviet Union in the past year. I would simply suggest that after 70 years of Marxist rule, it is progress when we see mere survival for the reformers.”