Date: 1981-04-01
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. since last Thursday. the Senate has been considering legislation to reconcile the Federal budget for fiscal years 1981. 1982. and 1983. During the course of the debate. the Democrats have attempted to restore modest amounts to deep cuts in programs. which most Americans strongly supportprograms providing lunches for schoolchildren. social security for the old folks. and health care for veterans. However. while the administration has called upon the American people to accept sacrifice as a means of balancing the Federal budget. it has asked the Congress to approve a $350 million contingency funda "slush fund"-to meet socalled emergency requirements for military assistance to countries friendly to the United States. We are told that the fund Is necessary because the congressional authorization and appropriation process is so slow that it is difficult to meet legitimate security needs of friendly countries should an emergency occur. The Congress is being asked to give the executive branch a $350 million blank check. Of this amount. $100 million would be in the form of grant military assistance and $250 million In foreign military sales creditsor loans. However. I must point out that Congress will not have any control over how these moneys will be spent. Congress will simply be notified when funds are expended for emergency purposes. Yet. Congress has already given the executive branch sufficient authority to meet legitimate emergency requirements. This authority totals $300 million in assistance which can be made available when unforeseen circumstances arise. Under section 506 of the Foreign Assistance Act. $50 million in authority is granted the President to draw down on defense articles from the Department of Defense. to provide defense services from the Department of Defense. or to provide military education and training. I repeat. under section 506 of the Foreign Assistance Act. the President can provide up to $50 million a year in weapons and services to friendly governments on an emergency basis. Under section 614 of the Foreign Assistance Act. the President has available to him up to $250 million In transfer authority from the foreign military sales program to provide credits. make sales. or Issue guarantees for military equipment provided a friendly government. No more than $50 million of the funds available under this provision can be allocated to any one country in any fiscal year. unless the country is the victim of active Communist or Communistsupported aggression.Thus. at present. the President has discretionary authority to provide up to $300 million a year in weapons and services to friendly countries threatened by emergencies. Some $250 million is transfer authority from foreign military sales programs already approved by the Congress. and the amount available for transfer would depend upon the time of year in which such emergencies occur. However. I believe the Congress. in an effort to maintain proper control over these programs. has given the executive branch the necessary flexibility to meet unforeseen needs. Therefore. I do not see any reason why the Congress should approve an additional $350 million for the executive branch to use as It sees fit. I. for one. am opposed to what would amount to a slush fund. with no congressional control and no strings attached. I yield my remaining time to the Senator from California and he may yield time to other Senators If he wishes.