10-7-11 Public Policy Update - 0

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PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE October 7, 2011 HEARING SUMMARIES Where is the Peace Dividend?

Examining the Final Report to Congress of the Commission on Wartime Contracting House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Oct. 4, 2011 Witnesses: Christopher Shays, co-chair, Commission on Wartime Contracting Robert J. Henke, Commission on Wartime Contracting Dov S. Zakheim, Commission on Wartime Contracting Charles Tiefer, Commission on Wartime Contracting Katherine V. Schinasi, Commission on Wartime Contracting Clark Kent Ervin, Commission on Wartime Contracting Co-chair Michael J. Thibault and Commissioner Grant S. Green were unable to attend Opening Statements Chair Darrell Issa (R-CA) Defense Department has spent $206 billion in contracts to support wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. o Between $31 billion and $60 billion has been lost to waste and fraud. Moreover, costs associated with contractors are set to escalate. o Coming transition of operations from the Defense to the State Department in Iraq, as well as surge of civilian employees in Afghanistan, will increase U.S. reliance on contractors. U.S. has reached the point at which contractors have become the default option. o This dependence on contractors is not the problemrather, failure in oversight, management, and leadership has led to extreme waste and fraud. Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) U.S. has grown increasingly reliant on contractors. o With increased contracting has come increased waste and fraud. o Not new, but contracting problem has evolved in Iraq and Afghanistan to alarming level. More must be done to prevent waste and fraud from occurring in the first place. o Reforms require increasing competition, oversight, and enforcement. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) In Iraq, the State Department is building a virtual private army of security contractors.

The extravagant waste and fraud in U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to are unacceptable. o Squanders U.S. taxpayer money and undermines U.S. reconstruction and development efforts in these countries. Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) Billions of dollars have been wasted by agencies that have little capacity to manage their contractors or hold them accountable. o Billions of dollars more have been dedicated to projects that were poorly conceived and/or are unsustainable by Iraq or Afghan governments. Introduced legislation to establish special inspector general (IG) for overseas contingency operations. o An inter-agency IG with a flexible cadre of specialists will increase real-time oversight. Joint Statement by the Commission on Wartime Contracting Commissioners have operated as a bipartisan body, and are unanimous in their recommendations. In short, the need for change in wartime contracting is urgent for four reasons: o Reforms can save money, avoid unintended consequences, and improve foreign policy outcomes in host countries. o Dollars wasted are significant, possibly as much as $60 billion lost to waste and fraud. o U.S. government must be able to ensure that taxpayers are getting good value for contract dollars spent. o Failure to enact reforms now will guarantee that in the next U.S. contingency, waste and fraud will again be prevalent. These problems in wartime contracting must be attacked on several levels: o U.S. must hold contractors accountable. o U.S. must competitively bid out contracts to boost efficiency of contractor operations. o U.S. government must be held accountable for decisions to use contractors and subsequent results. o U.S. agencies must pay attention to sustainability of a project before committing funds. For U.S. operations abroad, contracting reform is an essential, not a luxury good. Questioning Chair Darrell Issa (R-CA) 1. Of the five IG positions in Iraq and Afghanistan, three are currently unfilled. What do these vacancies do to the effectiveness of the IG organization? Schinasi: o Having no leader leads directly to weak management and lack of oversight, which are the two most pertinent factors that contribute to contract waste and fraud. 2. The State Department is about to employ a large standing army of contractors. Can these numbers of contractors be reduced? Henke:

It would take years and decades for State Department to grow its own security force, and it simply does not have that organic capacity. As a result, State has no choice but to contract out for their security. We can all agree that the safety of American personnel abroad is of the utmost importance, and so cutting security contracting is not sound. Zakheim: o But State still has the responsibility to engage in more vigorous oversight of these contracted forces. Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) 1. What is the single most important thing the U.S. can do to tackle waste and fraud? Shays: o The U.S. is trying to do too much. As a result, each project is not given the proper inspection, oversight or evaluation simply because there are so many and simultaneous programs. The U.S. needs to ask more often, Do we need this or not? Tiefer: o The U.S. needs to set a level of competition, competitively bid out contracts to the lowest bidder rather than engage in sole-source contracting. Rep. Justin Chaffetz (R-UT) 1. The commission recommends that we create another IG organization, but the current IGs we already have are failing. Why should we establish this organization? Ervin: o IGs now have jurisdictional arenas in which to act. They are limited in functional authority, geographic location and time. o A permanent contingency IG organization ensures interagency oversight. With a small but deployable, expendable and contingency-trained staff, the proposed IG organization can provide interdepartmental oversight. A permanent organization will provide standards and training between contingencies, making contingency-to-contingency and agency-to-agency operations uniform and seamless. 2. What does the commission recommend to get the IGs to do what they are charged to do? Ervin: o The proposed permanent contingency IG organization will certainly boost the effectiveness of the IGs. Rep. James Lankford (R-OK) 1. How do we avoid the mentality of we hired a bad contractor, and now we have to deal with it? Zakheim: o The U.S. needs to instate competitive contracting, because that is exactly the point:

U.S. should not need to deal with a bad contractor, and with greater competition we could just throw out any poorly-performing contractor. 2. The commissions report notes that some foreign contractors the U.S. employs use victims of human trafficking. How extensive is this? Zakheim: o It is quite extensive, unfortunately. 3. And the U.S. government and people on the ground are aware that the workers of some of these foreign contractors are victims of human trafficking? Shays: o Yes, a lot are aware, but addressing this issue is problematic for three reasons: U.S. uses local contractors to increase the legitimacy of the project in the eyes of the local population; using U.S. contractors undermines this effort. We are still unable to pinpoint which contractors are the main perpetrators. The overseas place of performance entails limited legal jurisdiction over foreign contractors. Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) 1. Commissioner Shays mentioned that U.S. agencies are trying to do too much. Should we rethink some or most of these missions and refrain from trying to accomplish them in the first place? Schinasi: o Yes, the U.S. should evaluate whether current and prospective projects are achievable and sustainable, and terminate those that are not. 2. What has to be done to invest in projects that can be sustained by the host governments? Henke: o Agencies must pay much more attention to the matter of sustainability before committing taxpayer dollars to projects overseas. o Agency evaluations of sustainability must be conducted on every current and proposed project, and agencies must reject or cancel projects that have no credible prospect of survival without long-term U.S. funding. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) 1. 58,000 contracts issued from 2003 to 2010 have not yet been closed out. How important is closing out contracts efficiently and on time in decreasing waste and fraud? Zakheim: o Closing out contracts is extremely important in decreasing waste and fraud, since not doing so means that the contract has not been properly audited. 2. What steps should be taken to mitigate the waste generated by not closing out contracts? Zakheim: o The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) needs to hire more auditors no auditors, no audits. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)

1. The commission estimates that between $31 and $60 billion have been lost to waste and fraud. Why is there such a wide range in the estimated costs? Zakheim: o The commission applied a very broad definition of waste. o Moreover, we simply cannot have all the parameters, particularly with regard to sub-contracting, U.S. oversight of which is particularly poor. Rep. Ral Labrador (R-ID) 1. Can the commission elaborate on Shays comment that were doing too much? Shays: o It first appeared that waste and fraud in wartime contracting could be eliminated, mitigated, through better management and oversight. o It is now clear, however, that agencies are often just beyond the capability to manage so many projects all at once. 2. Do any of the Commissions recommendations address this idea that were doing too much? Shays: o Taking a harder look at what projects and programs to undertake with contractors must also include thinking more carefully about whether to use contractors. Ervin: o In this regard, the present fiscal situation in the U.S. may be helpful. U.S. does not have the economic range it did a decade ago, so the question, Is this necessary? becomes more relevant to contracting decisions. Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CT) 1. The commission noted that the U.S. should cut off programs that are not sustainable by host governments, which may be a drastic policy since most programs cannot function without U.S. funding. What is the commission really recommending here? Zakheim: o Any program or project that is deemed vital to U.S. national security will continue. 2. How do we better control uses of Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP) funds? Schinasi: o Like in contracting decisions, U.S. must weed out which CERP programs are actually necessary, and then discard those that cannot meet this objective. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) 1. How much does the commission estimate would be saved in taxpayer dollars if the U.S. competitively bid out to the lowest responsible bidding contractor? Tiefer: o About 11 percent of contracting money could be saved by competitive bidding. Shays: o Lack of competitiveness in contracting is a real issue.

Though exigent wartime circumstances may require sole-source or limited competition awards, it is not acceptable that a decade into it some of the largest billing operations are still sole-source.

The World Bank and Multi-Lateral Development Banks Authorization House Financial Services CommitteeInternational Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee Oct. 4, 2011 Witnesses: Mark Green, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition; former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, former U.S. congressional representative, Eli Whitney Debevoise II, Arnold & Porter LLP; formerly with the World Bank Group Daniel F. Runde, Center for Strategic and International Studies John Murphy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Opening Statements: Chair Gary G. Miller (R-CA) The United States must increase its capital payments to multilateral development banks (MDBs). o If we do not authorize these funds, we will lose our effective veto power in many of these organizations. Reducing our support will have serious consequences for our own national security. o MDBs help nations to develop, and to counter the threat of terrorism. o If we reduce our commitment, other countries, such as China, will take our place and enforce their version of globalization. Effective use of our dollars. o For every $1 given to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development by the U.S., $30 in total are spent on development. Rep. Andr Carson (D-IN) Promoting economic and social development around the world should remain a priority even in these times of financial hardship at home. o Critical not to forget the importance of export markets and good governance abroad in ensuring our own economic security. o Success on the ground in Afghanistan is finally in reach; we should be solidifying, yet the presidents plans will only make the mission more risky. Need to engage in long-term evaluation of how our aid money is spent. o Strategy here will have larger impact upon our national security than anywhere else in the world. Rep. Robert J. Dold (R-IL) Truly a nonpartisan issue, and thus a bipartisan approach is important. Clear domestic economic benefits to our leading presence in MDBs. o Prosperity and job growth in U.S. will only come through stability and favorable investment conditions abroad. Severe cost would be incurred if China were allowed to assume leadership in MDBs.

Rep. David Scott (D-GA) Must see the appropriations process as an opportunity to promote reform of MDBs. o Irresponsible borrowing and lending caused debt in many of these countries. o Need to question the effectiveness of relief in those countries where corruption and nepotism are widespread. Greater access to capital will certainly allow many countries to improve living standards and infrastructure. Mark Green Most U.S. citizens are unaware of the crucial role the World Bank plays. o Development is a lot cheaper than sending soldiers; we must prevent future Afghanistans. o Support for MDBs simply part of our leadership obligations. o Rising powers tend to reflect the values of those countries that helped them; e.g., South Korea is now a key economic and military power thanks to World Bank aid. Withholding funding is akin to giving power directly to China. Eli Whitney Debevoise II MDBs responded very strongly to the financial crisis to save the poor. o Capital from these institutions is depleted as a result. Need to replenish capital of the hard loan windows of the bank. o 25 percent of the worlds poorest live in those countries eligible for hard loans. Must act now. o Inaction will lead to forfeiture of our rights in these institutions. Daniel F. Runde Critical that Congress acts on the administrations support to increase funding. o In competition with other powers offering their darker versions of globalization. Policy-makers in certain countries may be more willing to accept advice from MDBs than directly from the U.S. Inter-American Development Bank. o Funding from other countries is dependent on that provided by the U.S. o Would lead to a much wider decrease in funding, and sent a terrible message to Latin America. o Work in Haiti would be seriously compromised; $2 billion there at risk. John Murphy MDBs vital for U.S. companies to be able to tap foreign markets. o One out of every three manufacturing jobs in the U.S. depends on exports. o One third of produce from each acre of agricultural land in the U.S. goes abroad. Help others to become reliable trading partners. o World Bank project in Ghana. o Built roads and bridges linking major industrial and trading sites. o 300,000 new jobs created. o Tripling of U.S.-Ghana trade over a four year period. Capital increase for MDBs just a small percentage of total international spending. o This in turn is just 1.5 percent of total national expenditure. Questioning:

Chair Gary G. Miller (R-CA) 1. What are the risks to U.S. national security if we cut assistance to the MDBs? Green o Poverty does not cause terrorism; however, absolute poverty leads to despair, which terrorists know how to exploit. o Need to be seen to be proactive in supporting these institutions. o Address conditions leading to conflict; preventive role. 2. What are the consequences of losing our leadership within the MDBs? Runde o The policies promoted by these institutions would change drastically with a reduction in our leadership. o Our influence is already waning, but we do still have control. Ranking Member Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) 1. Which countries do you believe would take over? Runde o China has already expressed an interest in buying more shares. o Would lead to decreased emphasis on government accountability and responsiveness to society. o Exact composition of that presence will be the product of these negotiations. Rep. Robert J. Dold (R-IL) 1. Concern over countries not meeting requirements of MDB loans, for example Argentina. How can we ensure that we do not support countries like this? Murphy o Very concerning, and calls into question the respect for these requirements. o The Obama administration has been using its leverage to articulate that particular concern, and to Argentina in particular. 2. How can we ensure greater transparency in the process? Debevoise o The disclosure policy at the World Bank is a good start; the difference between before and after is akin to night and day. Runde o Equator Principles crucialcame about as result of U.S. leadership. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) 1. Does the multiplier effect we get through these MDBs provide true bang for the buck? Murphy o The World Bank, since its creation, has provided half a trillion dollars in development assistance from the acorn of $25 million of U.S. funds provided in the first. o Remarkable results with regard to child mortality and reducing poverty. o Extraordinary bang for the buck. Green o MDBs allowed us to receive much greater benefit through sharing of the burden. o Our policies can be more effective with a multilateral appearance.

A Comprehensive Assessment of U.S. Policy Toward Sudan House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights October 4, 2011 Witnesses: Panel 1 Princeton Lyman, special envoy for Sudan, U.S. Department of State Panel 2 Ker Aleu Deng, emancipated slave from the Republic of South Sudan Grard Prunier, nonresident senior fellow, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, Atlantic Council John Prendergast, co-founder, The Enough Project Ellen Ratner, news analyst, Fox News; White House Correspondent, Talk Radio Panel 1 Opening Statements Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) The brutality by the Sudanese military has not crushed the desire for freedom in South Kordofan, Blue Nile, Abyei, or Darfur. o International community must use all available diplomatic and economic resources to press for an end to these attacks. Slavery continues to be a pervasive reality in Sudan. o According to the U.S. State Departments Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, Sudan is a Tier 3 country, the bottom rank. To address all of Sudans challenges, the U.S. government must devise a comprehensive and coordinated strategy. Ranking Member Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) The situation on the ground is fast approaching the tipping point and may result in civil war. In light of rising conflict, key priorities include: o Furthering the peace process in Darfur; o Implementing in full the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005; o Containing terrorism; U.S. aid to Sudan, not including humanitarian assistance, is currently conditional on Khartoums effective management in these policy areas. The international community must press Khartoum to address human rights abuses and the growing humanitarian crisis, as well as to support the democratic aspirations of the people. Ambassador Princeton Lyman The time is right to address questions of governance and fundamental issues that have long been at the root of fighting in Sudan. o There is a real need for political, diplomatic, and peaceful dialogue on these issues to find an acceptable constitutional development for Sudan.

Assistance by and/or sanctions from the U.S. and international community can also be effective way to incentivize constitutional development, freedom, and economic growth.

Questioning: Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) 3. Why has implementing the CPA in Sudan been so unsuccessful? What is the U.S. role in this? Lyman: o For all CPA provisions to be fulfilled, Khartoum must address fundamental issues of power sharing and wealth distribution in its government. o As far as the U.S. role in ensuring the CPA is concerned, the U.S. government cannot just reach in and force change. U.S. must promote internal capacity of Sudan to change its own government. 4. What is the role of China in Sudan? Lyman: o China has a very important role in Sudan. The U.S. government has urged China to convey messages of human rights and to press for issues of governance to be addressed. It is unknown how strongly China is conveying these desired messages. China takes a different approach to motivating Sudanese government. 5. How many slaves are there currently in Sudan? And what are we doing to help free them? Lyman: o Slavery continues to be an ongoing issue. o The slavery crisis is directly connected to the fundamental issues of governance. Sudan has no institutions to deal with slavery, and no means of accountability or justice. Khartoum needs to create a legitimate process to address this humanitarian issue that its citizens have confidence in. 6. Sanctions vs. award assistance. What effects have each had on Sudan? Should the U.S. pursue one over the other? a. Lyman: i. There have been criticisms of the draconian sanctions against Sudan. 1. Many claim that a system of rewards for good behavior works better in terms of providing incentives for improvement. 2. There have been calls to ease sanctions, but normalization of relations (i.e., ending these sanctions) depends on the actions of Sudan. Sanctions are meant to hurt so that Khartoum will change. 7. Is instating a no-fly zone over Sudan under consideration? a. Lyman i. The U.S. has indicated it will not go down that path because it could potentially increase hostilities between Khartoum and the international community. Ranking Member Donald M. Payne (D-NJ)

2. What should the U.S. do about the fighting in Sudans border states? Lyman: o The U.S. does not want border state conflicts to become another all-out North-South war. o We have asked South Sudan to be vocal about not wanting a military solution. We have encouraged South Sudan to open a political dialogue rather than escalate military operations. 3. Where are the Ethiopian troops at this point? a. Lyman: o Ethiopian troops are stationed in Abyei, not in South Kordofan or Blue Nile, where there is no international presence. Humanitarian pressures in these states are building, but access is limited because the international community has no presence there. To get humanitarian help to the victims in these regions, there needs to be at least some protection from a neutral party. Panel 2 Opening Statements Ker Aleu Deng Slavery is an unimaginable experience: o Lived in North Sudan with mother, who served as a masters concubine; o The master was cruel, and often used a camel whip to beat us; o The master blinded me by hanging me upside down from a tree and rubbing chili pepper in my eyespunishment for not doing work properly. Slavery has not affected me alone. There are many people still in this situation who need U.S. attention and help. Grard Prunier A constructive U.S. approach to the crises in Sudan must include seven provisions: o Aid programs conditional on improvement of regimes human rights record in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile, as well as peaceful relations with South Sudan; o U.S. support of initiatives by affected neighboring governments to attenuate the humanitarian crises in Sudan; o Ways and means to help Sudanese victims, particularly the internally displaced; o Continuing consultations with Juba to avoid South Sudans destabilization by Khartoum-sponsored rebels; o Deterrence policies towards Eritrea to prevent the Eritrean government from aiding and abetting Khartoum-based destabilization plans; o Contact with representatives of Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM)North to heighten their degree of visibility; o Consideration in creating a no-fly zone to mitigate Khartoums air superiority. John Prendergast The successful policy model for the U.S. in Sudan is for the U.S. to be supportive of active opposition demands for change, not to find ways to mitigate or undermine the strength of opposition. Areas that the U.S. should be focusing on, and polices U.S. should be pursuing within these areas are:

o Ellen Ratner

Facilitating democratic transition by: Strengthening opposition; Building unified, global support for elections that are internationally monitored; Folding peace efforts into national strategy that addresses all core issues at once. Enduring civilian protection by: Instating harsh sanctions against military-industrial complex; Looking at how to protect the population from aerial attacks; Establishing a cross-border program of humanitarian assistance. Supporting justice by increasing support for apprehension of those already identified in international arrest warrants.

Despite official condemnations, there has been little done by the U.S. government or United Nations to ameliorate suffering of Southern Sudanese slaves. Effective, affirmative action by the U.S. and international community on the issue of slavery in Sudan is long overdue. Questioning, Panel II Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) 1. Mr. Prendergast mentioned that in mere months, the number of deaths from starvation in areas where humanitarian access is hampered will skyrocket. Does the global community grasp that? Prendergast: o No, the international community is not prioritizing something over the next horizon. o But there is an opportunity now to take bold actions on the humanitarian front to get ahead of the issue. 2. Has this panel seen the African Union (A.U.) be uncooperative on the issue of Sudan? Prendergast: o The A.U. has been difficult on issue of Sudan, including South Africa and Nigeria. o Senior emissaries from the White House should be sent to the countries to talk frankly about shared interests in Sudan. Prunier o The A.U. has been difficult on the problem of Sudan because it takes the indictment of President Bashir as an insult. There is a sense that Africa is being targeted by the ICC. o It would be tricky for the U.S. to try to dictate another position. Prendergast: o Quiet diplomacy by the U.S. in support of specific interventions could still yield fruit. 3. Would Bashirs indictment be considered more legitimate if it was handled by a regional court? Prunier: o Yes, but who would be part of that regional court? That such an institution could be established is highly unlikely. 4. Would the panel recommend that U.S. impose harsher, more focused sanctions to increase accountability of individuals in Khartoum?

Prendergast: o Yes. U.S. credibility is undermined when we speak of accountability but do not back it up with draconian sanctions or refusing to instate no fly zone. 5. The issue of slavery seems to be at the sidelines. Why is this? Prunier o A lot of people who are enslaved remain in areas that are part of current conflict. Their plight is often obscured by sentiments that their enslavement is just the nature of war. Prendergast o Khartoums current regime uses slave raiding, with starvation, aerial bombing, and ethnic conflict as tools to fight war. So while it is important to highlight individual abuses, the U.S. needs to be more focused on ending the regime that perpetuates these atrocities. Ranking Member Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) 1. What is the panels solution to protecting civilian population? o Prendergast: o Protecting the civilian population requires aggressive action supported by the U.S. government. o We need to get the Executive branchs attention and action on these issues; press the administration to get the U.S. to take strong stance. o Ratner: o S. Sudan will follow the path of Eritrea, Africas last state to gain independence, if the U.S. government does not pay more attention and take stronger action on the countrys issues. What happens in Sudan and South Sudan now will affect the U.S. for generations.

Markup of HR 2059: To prohibit funding to the United Nations Population Fund House Foreign Affairs Committee Oct. 5, 2011 Comments: Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has refused to provide detailed information on what it doesand it supports coercive abortion in China. President Obama claims Kemp-Kasten amendment does not apply. UNFPA does not need U.S. funding. Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) This bill will undermine U.S. position in the worldand leave poor women subject to rape. UNFPA does not support abortion, as is stated on its website (http://www.unfpa.org/public/). Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) Defunding UNFPA cuts $50 million from International Affairs budget.

The Kemp-Kasten amendment says taxpayers should not be forced to pay for abortion. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) This bill is a smear campaign against an organization that protects women. Members of this committee who champion the rights of unborn do not support the rights of the born. Child survival rates have improved; by removing funding, we will turn our backs on progress. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) In China, siblings are illegal, single moms are illegal. All UNFPA programs incorporate and defer to Chinese law. No transparency in UNFPA operations. Consequence is exploited women and dead babies. Rep. Theodore Deutch (D-FL) UNFPA stands up for human rights, combats female genital mutilation (FGM), which is form of extreme discrimination against women: o Because of UNFPA, 6,000 communities in Africa have abandoned the FGM practice. UNFPA is a leader in stopping obstetric fistula, which is preventable and treatable. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) UNFPA refuses to provide detailed info on their operations to hard-working American taxpayerstherefore, funding should be taken away. Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) Women in rural communities experience lack of family planningand overstretched health systems. UNFPA funding is .01 percent of International Affairs budget. UNFPA provides post-rape care, ending FGMand unsafe abortion. Why not ask the business community to exit China? Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) Facts matter, UNFPA does not support one-child policy of China. This bill ends all funding; if it passes, it will harm women. Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) Facts do matterand this committee does not have all the facts. Forced abortion is a form of FGM. USAID has program that prevents fistula, so there are other programs that the United States could fund other than UNFPA. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) Although there are legitimate complaints about the United Nations itself, UNFPA does good work. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) Introduced amendment 648 that this bill will not apply to obstetric fistula:

Affects 50-100,000 women, result of prolonged labor without assistance.

Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) Amendment assumes this will stop without U.S. money, but USAID already ahas program. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) Passed amendment on the USAID fistula program. Massive crime of forced abortion in China should not be overlooked. This amendment was defeated by a roll call vote of 12-21. Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) Amendment 654 to re-establish maternal health after natural disaster. Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) Why should the U.S. continue to pay when there are other sources of funding? Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) What information are you unable to get from UNFPA? Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) A UNFPA official said that Chinas was the most successful population control policy in world, and it has done the world a favor. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) Family planning must be voluntary, not abortive. This amendment was defeated by a roll call vote of 13-21. Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) Amendment 647 for providing access to healthcare for the internally displaced. Amendment 658 to support the UNFPAs work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) If none of this money is going to abortion, why not pass amendments? Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) Human rights abuses in one area of world do not offset help in other parts. Amendment 647 was defeated by a roll call vote of 13-23. Amendment 658 was defeated by a roll call vote of 14-23. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) Amendment 649 to allow the U.S. to continue to contribute to emergency delivery and hygiene care. Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) Only evidence of support of Chinas policy is an employee from 1999 who was let go.

Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) Colin Powell in 2008 said that UNFPA was complicit in policy. Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) 2009 report said there was no violation. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) Should we withhold funding from Google because they operate in China? This amendment was defeated by a roll call vote of 13-22. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) Amendment 650 to allow U.S. to support UNFPA in ending FGM. This amendment was defeated by a roll call vote of 13-21. Rep. William Keating (D-MA) Amendment 652 to end practice of early forced marriages. This amendment was defeated by a roll call vote of 15-20. Rep. Christopher Murphy (D-CT) Amendment 651 to keep funding dedicated to family-centered family planning as a means to combat Chinas policy. It is a shame that this bill is based on an internet vote. This amendment was defeated by a roll call vote of 14-22. Rep. William Keating (D-MA) Amendment 1 to not use any funds for Chinas coercive policy. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) Administration supported UNFPA without investigation. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) Not a penny of tax-payer money is spent in China. This amendment was defeated by a roll call vote of 16-22. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) Amendment 656 that this bill would not apply to Haiti. This amendment was defeated by a roll call vote of 16-22. HR 2059 passed the committee by a roll call vote of 23-17.

Markup of HR 2830, To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and for other purposes House Committee on Foreign Affairs Oct. 5, 2011

Comments: Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) Introducing bipartisan legislation with Howard Berman (D-CA) to end human trafficking. Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) Human trafficking should be called slavery: o Young women learn about employment and are promised a job, but are sold into prostitution without their consent; o Have to acknowledge that it happens in the United States. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) In Nepal, citizens are aware and grateful for Rep. Chris Smiths (R-NJ) efforts. Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) The House Foreign Affairs will vote by unanimous consent on the following four amendments: o Amendment 30, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), one time report on internet trafficking; o Amendment 59, Rep. Edward Royce (D-CA), end trafficking in Cambodia; o Amendment 49, Rep. Christopher Murphy (D-CT), requiring large businesses to disclose anti-trafficking efforts; o Amendment 82, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), concerning child soldiers. Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) Rep. Fortenberrys (R-NE) amendment is a worthy one, will support it. Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) The State Department will run an interdepartmental study on internet crimes, done under the cloak of anonymity. Rep. Edward Royce (R-CA) Cambodia is a magnet for those preying on the youngest: o Important to reestablish Cambodia as a Tier 3 country on trafficking watchlist: Countries assessed as neither complying with the minimum standards nor making significant efforts to do so are classified as Tier 3. Rep. Christopher Murphy (D-CT) The government, specifically the State Department, can do so much more: o Corporate community such as JP Morgan, Coca-Cola, Body Shop and others signed pledge to put the steps they have taken to combat trafficking on their websites. HR 2830 passed the committee by unanimous consent

ARTICLES AND REPORTS AlertNet Oct. 7: Nobel Peace Prize honours African, Arab women The Nobel Committee awarded its annual Peace Prize to three womenPresident Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and peace activist Leymeh Gbowee of Liberia and Tawakul Karman, a Yemeni journalist who has played a key role in the countrys protest this year. New York Times Oct. 6: Detecting a Thaw in Myanmar, U.S. Aims to Encourage Change The Obama administration is considering relaxing restrictions and sanctions on Myanmar as a result of the new ruling regime making what some U.S. officials are describing as substantive steps to ease its restrictions on basic freedoms and to cooperation with long-time opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. New York Times Oct. 6: Kenya: Aid Has Blunted Famine in Horn of Africa USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah spoke in Nairobi about U.S. humanitarian efforts in the Horn of Africa. According to Administrator Shah, the U.S. has contributed more than $600 million to the relief. Washington Post Oct. 7: 10 years of the Afghanistan War This photo exhibit comes on the heels of the 10th anniversary of the beginning of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan. The photos trace the operations throughout the 10 years.

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