DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, A

STATE,

THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATI AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISC YEAR 1998

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1997

U.S. SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS,

Washington, DC

The subcommittee met at 2:04 p.m., in room S-146, the Capi Hon. Judd Gregg (chairman) presiding.

Present: Senators Gregg, Domenici, Campbell, Hollings, Bu ers, Lautenberg, and Mikulski.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

SECRETARY OF STATE

STATEMENT OF HON. MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT, SECRETARY STATE

OPENING REMARKS

Senator GREGG. We'll call this hearing to order, and we obviou want to thank the Secretary for joining us. This is her first appe ance before the committee as Secretary.

Of course, we had the pleasure of having a number of chan to meet with the Secretary when she was Ambassador, and it always a privilege and a very worthwhile event for us.

I am going to withhold my opening statement, and I would h that we could shorten our opening statements so that we can on with the questions.

There are a couple of members who have expressed an inter in making opening statements, but I will not make mine.

Senator HOLLINGS. I agree with the distinguished gentlem We'll just withhold them and file them for the record, and hear Secretary.

Senator GREGG. The Senator from New Mexico asked for the portunity to make a quick statement.

Senator DOMENICI. Excuse me, Madam Secretary. I wanted share with all of you a request. I have pretty good evidence t a number of cases are being filed in the State district courts garding an immigration issue that I think is rather deplorable. And I was going to ask the chairman if he might have the s investigate this and bring it to our meeting when we have the I up here. Could I lay that before you in a minute here?

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Senator DOMENICI. Let me just tell you, we 1990 to make it possible that an alien that's came disabled or extremely sick and needed g to court and have a court determine them to b ian, and thus in need of foster care.

That would then permit that person, that card and become a permanent resident. There the lawyers and families have found that t 18-, 19-, or even 20-year-old student who is

Before they have to go home, they file a pet alien is in need of a guardian and foster care. trict courts in America are determining that with no advocacy. The courts are determinin these aliens are entitled to a permanent green

I believe we're either in the middle of a we're catching it in its early stages. Nonethe we have a situation where a lawyer filed a supposedly was entitled to be a ward, and t appointed, and thus be entitled to foster care, card permanently.

It was filed 8 days before the person arri they arrived, were determined to be subject t got a green card. All of this occurred 9 days came 21 years of age, which would have disqu opportunity to do this.

So I would clearly think this is something would ask that we look into it, and ask that th tell us about it, and do a little investigating they might suggest to us how we might fix thi

Senator GREGG. We'll do exactly that, Sena obviously raised a very legitimate concern wh tion of this committee: one which we will pur and Naturalization Service [INS], as you k bane of our existence. There have been a num Senator DOMENICI. I thank you very much. Senator CAMPBELL. Do you wish to ask u opening statements?

Senator GREGG. I would appreciate it.

Senator CAMPBELL. And then have the S and go to questions?

Senator GREGG. That's my plan, unless son have to make an opening statement, I woul could just submit them for the record.

Senator CAMPBELL. I'd just like to welcome Chairman, a former resident of Denver.

Senator MIKULSKI. Mr. Chairman, I, too, w opening statement into the record, and welc our Secretary of State, and look forward to make sure our State Department is as modern

Senator LAUTENBERG. I, too, Mr. Chairma statement that commends the Secretary for he the forward position she's put forth for our

she brings to the job. I would have said all of this in my stateme which I would like to include in the record as if read.

Senator GREGG. I appreciate that.

[The statement follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR FRANK R. LAUTENBERG

Madame Secretary, I am pleased to have the opportunity to join my colleag in welcoming you to this subcommittee and to congratulate you publicly on your m post. I am sure we will be able to work together to maintain American leaders and diplomatic readiness as you have so correctly suggested should be our goals. I agree with those goals completely, and am glad that the budget you have p sented supports them by restoring some of the cuts of recent years.

I am glad, for example, that the State Department does not now anticipate a additional post closings or the need to reduce further the number of person Without sufficient people and posts, the work of the Department cannot be do While it is my firm belief that all of the work of the State Department helps citizens of this country, I note also that much of the Department's work dire helps U.S. citizens and businesses abroad-issuing passports and visas, assist U.S. citizens in distress overseas, helping U.S. businesses deal with a foreign ture. This, along with traditional diplomacy, is critical work that must be suppor with adequate resources.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT'S OPENING STATEMENT

Senator GREGG. Before we go to questions, what I would like do is hear from the Secretary.

Secretary ALBRIGHT. Thank you, very much, Mr. Chairman. I very glad to be with you and members of the subcommittee.

As you have said, this is really the first time I am here in new capacity. I think we were able to develop a really good re tionship in our previous dealings, and now we have a chance broaden the dialog, and I am really looking forward to it.

Our ability to work together successfully matters because th subcommittee really does provide many of the resources by whi American interests are protected, and American leadership is su tained. This matters because in our era we are deeply affected events overseas.

I have my testimony here, my statement, divided into two par basically where I can give you an overview of the types of issu that we are dealing with, and then get more specifically into t resource question and how they link up.

Our workers and business people compete in a global mark place. Our citizens travel, our students are measured against tho from around the world, our borders are vulnerable to illegal imm grants, drugs, pollution, and disease.

And our children will do better and be safer in a world where r tions are working together to set high standards, contain confli and enforce the rule of law. It was with these considerations mind that I left Washington last month for my first trip overse as Secretary of State. I think that the message that I was givi there is important to be heard here also.

In Europe I discussed a variety of issues with our key allies, cluding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's [NATO] plan

invite a number of Europe's new democracies to begin talks abo

NATO will continue its process of internal accept new members, and keep open the doo ship. We will coordinate with all of Europe's develop an enhanced relationship with the U strive to forge a long-term strategic partners this way we will ensure NATO's continued role ment for peace, stability, and freedom through

In Moscow, I emphasized to the Russian lead have created a new Russia, we have created a NATO is not arrayed against any country. It racy and for integration.

Russia's own security will be enhanced in walls, with a transformed NATO as its partn with President Yeltsin and Russian Foreign was able to outline the concrete possibilities o and I very much welcome President Yeltsin's s that he will seek to make progress during the dent Clinton in Helsinki later this month.

In Europe, the central question we face learned the right lessons from history. The s where much depends on whether choices are picion or current hope.

The message I conveyed during my trip is to build a secure and peaceful future for Asia affirmed our strong security relationships Japan and the Republic of Korea, and I empha of proceeding with the agreed framework tha ultimately dismantle North Korea's nuclear w

I discussed the President's proposal for our cerning the future of the Korean Peninsula. A ject in which both Koreas participated was h York. I also discussed our decision to contribu lief to the starving people of North Korea.

During my meetings with the Chinese lea broad range of issues, including nonprolifer trade, Taiwan, and the future of Hong Kong. willingness to receive me, despite the death flects a mutual determination to maintain our

Our goal is to identify and build on areas seeking through candid discussion to narro doing, we hope to develop more extensive are and thereby serve the interests of both countr Although our interests demand that we di quently to Europe and Asia, we cannot and a responsibilities elsewhere. For example, we gional leaders and the United Nations to fir to ease the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Za

In the wake of the President's decision t operation in the drug war, I am working with and Director McCaffrey to encourage further both short term and long term. And I rec those who disagree with the President's decis be the right one.