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Note: This document is from the archive of the Africa Policy E-Journal, published
by the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC) from 1995 to 2001 and by Africa Action
from 2001 to 2003. APIC was merged into Africa Action in 2001. Please note that many outdated links in this archived
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USA: Africa Funding
USA: Africa Funding
Date distributed (ymd): 980919
Document reposted by APIC
+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: Continent-Wide
Issue Areas: +economy/development+ +US policy focus+
Summary Contents:
This posting contains a special action alert from the Washington Office
on Africa, calling for support for higher levels of funding for Africa-related
budget items in the Fiscal Year 1999 congressional budget. The appropriations
bills have now been passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
House and Senate conferees are expected to meet soon to reconcile the versions
passed by the two houses.
+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Note: This posting, as particularly applicable for US residents, is
being distributed only to the addresses on the Africa Policy Electronic
Distribution List that are identifiable as on US-registered host computers.
It is not possible to filter by address non-US residents on such computer
hosts as compuserve.com and other US-registered hosts that have overseas
subscribers.
SPECIAL ACTION ALERT on FUNDING FOR AFRICA
Washington Office on Africa
September 18, 1998
For more information contact:
Leon Spencer, Executive Director
Washington Office on Africa
212 East Capitol St.
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-547-7503; Fax: 202-547-7505
E-mail: [email protected]
Please note that the Washington Office on Africa, which formerly shared
offices and staff with the Africa Policy Information Center, now has its
own offices and staff, in a separate location. Communications intended
to reach both organizations should be sent both to WOA and to APIC.
ISSUE:
Congress is working to pass foreign operations appropriations bills
for fiscal year 1999 that will directly affect development funding and
debt relief for Africa. The Senate has passed a bill, and the House is
expected to approve its version soon. Africa-related funding levels in
the bills are far below the Administration's requests, with the Senate
making much deeper cuts than the House. It is important that lawmakers
hear now from those who support greater funding for Africa.
ACTION:
Contact the chairs and ranking minority members of the Senate and House
Appropriations Subcommittees on Foreign Operations. Emphasize that funding
levels for Africa are already far too low, and urge them to support the
highest possible funding levels when the House and Senate reconcile their
versions of the foreign operations appropriations bills.
WHEN:
Immediately!
WRITE, PHONE OR FAX:
Senator Mitch McConnell, Chair
Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee
Dirksen SOB, Room 142
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2451; Fax: 202-224-2499
E-mail: [email protected]
Representative Sonny Callahan, Chair
House Foreign Operations Subcommittee
The Capitol, H-150
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4931; Fax: 202-225-0562
E-mail: [email protected]
Senator Patrick Leahy
Russell SOB, Room 433
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4242; Fax: 202-224-3595
E-mail: [email protected]
Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Rayburn HOB, Room 2457
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4965; Fax: n/a
E-mail: [email protected]
BACKGROUND:
The Senate passed its FY 1999 foreign operations appropriations bill (S.
2334) on Sept. 2. The bill provides approximately $12.6 billion, close
to the overall spending level for FY 1998. However, it severely cuts all
Africa-related accounts, including a 43 percent funding reduction for the
African Development Foundation.
The House of Representatives approved a $12.5 billion foreign operations
bill on Sept. 17. Despite the overall reductions from the President's request,
the bill provides more for Africa-related accounts than the Senate version,
with a 6 percent reduction in funds for the African Development Foundation.
A House-Senate conference committee will next attempt to reconcile the
differences between the bills. The compromise bill will then be voted on
by each chamber, and if passed, will go to the President for his signature.
If a bill is not signed into law by Sept. 30, the last day of the current
fiscal year, a continuing resolution will be needed to keep the government
running pending further negotiations.
A presidential veto is possible. The House bill includes the controversial
Mexico City language on international family planning and abortion, which
has triggered a presidential veto of other legislation in the past. Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright continues to urge a presidential veto of the
foreign operations bill because of the overall low levels of funding.
Specific Africa-related appropriations for FY 1999 are as follows:
- African Development Foundation (ADF): Administration requested $14
million; Senate appropriated $8 million, House $13.16 million. The Administration's
request keeps ADF funding stable at the 1998 level with no increase, while
the Senate appropriation would cut the 1998 funding level by 43 percent.
ADF, a small U.S. government agency, supports nongovernmental grass-roots
development efforts in Africa.
- Debt relief: Administration requested $72 million, including $35 million
earmarked for African countries that have implemented economic reforms.
Senate appropriated $25 million, House $36 million. The House committee
report recommends that $31.7 million of the appropriation be made available
for concessional debt relief in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Development assistance to Africa: Administration requested $730 million.
This reflects suggested funding for development activities in Africa, but
does not include a separate account or earmark for the Development Fund
for Africa. The Senate advised a minimum of $500 million in their report
language. The House has set funding at last year's level of $700 million.
- African Development Bank/Fund: Administration requested $155 million;
Senate appropriated $5 million, House $28 million. The African Development
Fund works with the World Bank to provide multilateral lending for infrastructure
and other projects in Africa, including power plants, road building and
education.
Additonal on-line action resource from InterAction.
http://www.interaction.org/pizza
Interaction, "a coalition of over 150 US-based non-profits working
to promote human dignity and development around the world," notes
that "less than half of one percent of the federal budget goes to
world hunger and poverty." Illustrating the point with a pizza pie
chart, the site also provides a sign-up for a letter to the President and
Congress, and other background information.
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the Africa
Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC's primary objective is to widen
the policy debate in the United States around African issues and the U.S.
role in Africa, by concentrating on providing accessible policy-relevant
information and analysis usable by a wide range of groups and individuals.
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