U.S. SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY

Leahy Calls For Additional Aid
For Tsunami-Stricken South Asia

[(Wednesday, Dec. 29) – Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) called on the Bush Administration Wednesday to drastically increase U.S. foreign aid to tsunami-stricken South Asia.  In letters to President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell, Leahy called on the U.S. to take a central role in the disaster relief efforts, including offering a reconstruction package of U.S. aid to be included with the Iraq emergency supplemental spending bill expected to be submitted to Congress early in 2005 or the reprogramming of billions of dollars in unspent Iraq funds to South Asia. Leahy is the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee.  The text of Leahy’s letters follows.]

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December 29, 2004

The Honorable George Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing concerning the earthquake and tsunamis which have had a calamitous impact in South Asia.  As you know, more than 60,000 people have died and millions more are at risk of death from exposure and disease.

I believe that the United States, with capabilities far exceeding those of other nations, has an obligation to play the lead role in responding to this humanitarian emergency.  I am confident that Democrats in Congress would strongly support such a response.  In this regard, I respectfully urge your Administration to take the following steps: 

First, in addition to the $35 million pledged by the Administration so far, the White House should direct the State Department and USAID to act quickly to reprogram sufficient additional resources to help alleviate the suffering of the survivors and to reduce further loss of life. 

Second, as Secretary Powell has noted, the cost of the relief effort will ultimately run “into the billions of dollars.” I am concerned about our ability to respond to these needs as the conflict in Iraq is already costing billions of dollars more than the Administration predicted during a time when you have pledged further tax cuts and to reduce discretionary spending.

To ensure that sufficient disaster relief funds will be available without raiding other already under funded foreign aid accounts, the Office of Management and Budget should include a South Asia relief and reconstruction package as part of a supplemental request for Iraq, which is expected to be submitted to Congress early next year.  Alternatively, I would recommend rescinding some of the many billions of dollars for Iraq which remain unspent, in order to help finance the relief operations in South Asia.

Third, I believe the U.S. should play a central role in coordinating the tsunami relief effort.  The U.S. should work with other donor nations, South Asian governments, and relief organizations to ensure that the aid is quickly delivered and effectively targeted. At the same time, I urge you to call for an emergency donors conference with the goal of increasing contributions from other nations.

Fourth, the White House should aggressively pursue an appropriate role for the Department of Defense (DoD) in supporting the relief efforts. I do not believe the role of the DoD should be similar to that which it played in Iraq, where the Department has done a poor job of managing foreign aid programs. Rather, I urge the Administration to aggressively pursue steps that were reported to be under consideration, including the use of P-3 Orion and C-130 aircraft to support rescue and relief efforts, dispatching an aircraft carrier to the region, and the possible deployment of U.S. troops to help with the humanitarian response.

Finally, I would urge you to promptly make high profile appearances to let the world know that the United States Government is deeply engaged on this issue. You and other top Administration officials need to act decisively to improve the international perception of the U.S. response to this immense tragedy.

I look forward to working with you in the coming weeks to alleviate the suffering in South Asia.

Sincerely,

PATRICK LEAHY
Ranking Member
Foreign Operations Subcommittee

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December 29, 2004

The Honorable Colin L. Powell
Secretary of State
Department of State
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Powell:

I am writing concerning the earthquake and tsunamis which have had a calamitous impact in South Asia.  As you know, more than 60,000 people have died and millions more are at risk of death from exposure and disease.

I believe that the United States, with capabilities far exceeding those of other nations, has an obligation to play the lead role in responding to this humanitarian emergency.  In assuming this role, I respectfully urge the Administration to take the following steps: 

First, in addition to the $35 million pledged by the Administration so far, the State Department and USAID should act quickly to reprogram sufficient additional resources to help alleviate the suffering of the survivors and to reduce further loss of life. 

Second, as you have noted, the cost of the relief effort will ultimately run “into the billions of dollars.” I am concerned about our ability to respond to these needs as the conflict in Iraq is already costing billions of dollars more than the Administration predicted during a time when the President has pledged further tax cuts and to reduce discretionary spending.

To ensure that sufficient disaster relief funds will be available without raiding other already underfunded foreign aid accounts, the Administration should include a South Asia relief and reconstruction package as part of a supplemental request for Iraq, which is expected to be submitted to Congress early next year. 

Alternatively, I would recommend rescinding some of the many billions of dollars for Iraq which remain unspent, in order to help finance the relief operations in South Asia.

Third, I believe the U.S. should play a central role in coordinating the tsunami relief effort.  The U.S. should work with other donor nations, South Asian governments, and relief organizations to ensure that the aid is quickly delivered and effectively targeted. At the same time, the U.S. should call for an emergency donors conference with the goal of increasing contributions from other nations.

Fourth, the Administration should aggressively pursue an appropriate role for the Department of Defense (DoD) in supporting the relief efforts. I do not believe the role of the DoD should be similar to that which it played in Iraq, where the Department has done a poor job of managing foreign aid programs. Rather, I urge the Administration to aggressively pursue steps that were reported to be under consideration, including the use of P-3 Orion and C-130 aircraft to support rescue and relief efforts, dispatching an aircraft carrier to the region, and the possible deployment of U.S. troops to help with the humanitarian response.

Finally, I would urge senior Administration officials, including the President, to promptly make high profile appearances to let the world know that the United States Government is deeply engaged on this issue. I applaud your decision to speak on national television, but other Administration officials must forcefully complement your efforts to improve the international perception of the U.S. response to this immense tragedy.

I know that you care deeply about this situation.  I look forward to working with you in the coming weeks to alleviate the suffering in South Asia.

Sincerely,

PATRICK LEAHY
Ranking Member
Foreign Operations Subcommittee

 

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