Senate Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing on FY2003 Supplemental Appropriations

FDCH TRANSCRIPTS
Congressional Hearings
Mar. 27, 2003

Senate Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing on FY2003 Supplemental Appropriations

KOHL:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Secretary, as ranking member of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I have concerns about the lack of specificity in the supplemental request for food aid to the Iraqi people. There is $8 billion for relief. But the request is vague about how that $8 billion will affect ongoing food aid efforts, including our work in Africa.

The World Food program has said that providing assistance to Iraq could well turn into the largest humanitarian operation in history. While I understand that supplies have started to trickle in, I'd like to hear more about our plans to address this crisis.

Given the resistance that has been encountered so far in Iraq and the problems with the weather, are we concerned, Mr. Secretary, about a humanitarian crisis, as the U.N. seems to be? And if so, do we have backup plans if the resistance continues and food and water shortages become critical?

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KOHL:

Well, I'm glad to hear that. And of course, we all hope indeed that that turns out to be the case.

Mr. Secretary, in the first Gulf War, as you know, 80 percent of the dollar cost was paid by our allies. And we are hearing constantly and happily every day about more and more countries joining our coalition.

The supplemental request includes $1.4 billion to help our coalition partners. But there is no detail on what their contribution to this effort may be.

Do you have any comment on either what has been contributed or what you would hope will be contributed to this effort?