The Department Of State, Foreign Operations And Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008--Continued

Floor Speech

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

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Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Chairman, let me thank the gentlewoman and commend the gentlewoman for her good wisdom and excellent intentions behind section 699 which would conditionalize aid to Egypt. However, I must rise in support of the amendment that has been brought by Mr. Boustany because I believe that the impact of this piece in the bill would signal to the region a very hostile and unhealthy message.

The message that we should be sending to allies in the region is that we want to work constructively and productively to seal that border. I would point out that sealing borders is no easy enterprise. But I also believe that with a greater amount of help and with proper resources that the border could well be sealed between Gaza and Egypt.

This conditionalizing sends a signal that Egypt, that it is criticism of Egypt, that Egypt is somehow not putting forth the proper effort. Given that Egypt is such a long-standing and important ally, I think this is not the right message to send.

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