The Department Of State, Foreigh Operations And Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - June 21, 2007)

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Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of this amendment offered by Mr. Wolf of Virginia to restore $158 million to this bill for democracy, governance, rule of law and human rights programs. In addition, it will fund nonproliferation and anti-terrorist programs.

Mr. Chairman, the debate in this Chamber over the future of Iraq and the best course of action has been passionate and divisive. Each Member of this Hou se has their own opinion, yet the one thing we should be united on is that our end goal should be the same, a secure and stable Iraq.

Unfortunately, this bill predetermines failure by cutting off all funds to important democracy-building programs in Iraq. The majority has chosen to use this bill, as they have attempted several times already this year, to force a premature end to Iraq's pursuit of freedom and democracy. This will only lead to chaos and instability in the region.

As a consultant to th e Iraq Study Group, along with Mr. Wolf of Virginia, we introduced a bipartisan bill, the Iraq Study Group Recommendations Implementation Act of 2007 which provides a comprehensive set of recommendations and a plan of action to succeed in Iraq. Included in these recommendations are suggestions for funding democracy, governance and rule of law, all the items that are funded by this amendment.

This bill has garnered 52 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, who have recognized the potential we have by implementing these recommendations together and moving forward as a united Congress. If we allow this bill to pass without the money for building an Iraq democracy, we condemn our mission to failure and declare that the sacrifices we made over the past several years were in vain. It will also squander any opportunity we have to give the Iraq Study Group recommendations a chance to succeed.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support the Wolf amendment.

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Mr. McCAUL of Texas. I thank the chairman.

I rise today to offer an amendment that will p artially restore the administration's funding request for the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account in the FY08 State Department and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. This amendment would add $30 million to the account, halfway between the committee funding level and the President's request. This is a bipartisan amendment. I would like to thank my colleague on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Cuellar, for his support as an author and cosponsor.

Earlier this month I atten ded the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group in Austin, Texas, and for 3 days we talked about issues important to the United States and Mexico. The major topic discussed was the issue of increasing violence and lawlessness along the U.S.-Mexico border. The drug cartels have taken control over northern Mexico and law enforcement has become corrupt and ineffective. Since his inauguration earlier this year, President Calderon has begun a renewed effort to reestablish law enforcement's control over his country and their borders. However, the drug kingpins are ruthless in their efforts to retain control and the Mexican Government's law enforcement capabilities are sorely outdated. Just recently, the drug cartels brazenly ordered the assassination of a Mexican state legislator.

I would like to take a moment to commend Chairwoman Lowey and Ranking Member Wolf for including $27.5 million in the bill for this effort and for recognizing in the report language of the bill the need to address this problem w hich so devastatingly impacts our southern border, our national security and the citizens of this country. However, I believe that additional funding would go a long way to eradicating the drug cartels.

The offset in this amendment is a $30 million reduction in the contributions to the international organization's account. I believe it's a worthwhile transfer of funds that will benefit not only our border with Mexico but also our counterdrug efforts worldwide. One of the most important international pea cekeeping efforts today should be on the southern border against the violent criminal enterprise of the narcotraffickers.

The cartels control the corridor routes into this country, exporting drugs and human trafficking across our southern border. The intersection between these criminal enterprises and potential terrorists could be deadly. In the post-9/11 world, we can no longer continue to ignore this threat.

At a time when the newly elected Mexican Government has stepped forward and made a commitm ent to reform its law enforcement and combat the drug cartels, it is important that we provide as much funding and resources as possible to the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement program.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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Mr. McCAUL of Texas. I will consider withdrawing the amendment. I would like to get a few assurances from the gentlelady, if I may, and that is that this funding would be directed primarily, would be targeted towards the problem at the U.S.-Mexico border with the drug cartels who have controlled these corridors that I mentioned.

If I could just add, my subcommittee on Homeland Security issued this report on the border last conference confirming the threat . This was given to President Calderon by Secretary Chertoff.

He understands this. I have met with the Mexican Congress. They understand it. Our State Department actually does understand this. While they may not ask overtly, they really could use these funds to confront this threat.

I would ask, in exchange for withdrawing, that we try to come as close as possible to the number I have requested and that that money be directed towards the threat that Mr. Cuellar and I see so often down in a bord er State.

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