Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007

FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2006 AND 2007 -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 21, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. GWEN MOORE
OF WISCONSIN
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2005

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill. (H.R. 2601) to authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and for other purposes:

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, yesterday I voted in favor of H.R. 2601 which authorizes multilateral aid for the Department of State, the primary diplomatic arm of our government. It is more important than ever that we resolve international conflicts through persuasion and negotiation where it is possible, and I believe this bill, on balance, strengthens our ability to pursue that strategy. I am also pleased that this bill takes much needed steps to dismantle global nuclear black-market supplier networks, which pose a very real threat to our national security.

That being said, I remain concerned about several ill-conceived amendments that were approved by this body. One such amendment attached the United Nations Reform Act, legislation which would almost certainly force the United States to withhold 50 percent of the dues owed the U.N. because the measure's reform benchmarks are simply not achievable within the required timeframe. Even the Bush administration opposes this bill on the grounds that it would handicap our ability to work with other countries to make the U.N. a stronger and more effective organization. I voted against the United Nations Reform Act when it was brought before the full House as a standalone measure last month, and again when it was offered as an amendment yesterday.

I am also disappointed that my colleagues voted to approve an amendment that removes contraception from the fistula-prevention section of the bill. Fistula is a devastating injury that occurs when a woman suffers prolonged, obstructed labor. Very often, this befalls young girls living in impoverished, underdeveloped countries where birth control is unavailable and basic medical treatment doesn't exist. One of the best ways to prevent fistula is to prevent pregnancies from occurring to begin with. That's why H.R. 2601 included a bipartisan fistula prevention section which would, among other things, expand the use of contraception in countries where this injury is prevalent. Unfortunately, this body approved an amendment cutting contraception from this section of the bill, thereby weakening good faith efforts to prevent this terrible condition.

Mr. Chairman, although I have concerns about both of these amendments, I am hopefully optimistic that they will be removed when a House-Senate conference convenes later this year.

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