House Foreign Operations Subcommittee Holds Hearing on MCA

Today the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, one of two subcommittees that will decide FY 2006 funding allocations for the Millennium Challenge Account, held a hearing on the MCA. The sole witness was MCC CEO Paul Applegarth. Both Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) painted a grim picture for MCA funding, citing both the national budget deficit that is squeezing all accounts, and the MCA's slow progress in spending resources it already has.
The hearing was remarkably well attended, with 12 of the 13 subcommittee members staying for the duration of the hearing. Their attention was steadfast and their questions were tough. No wonder, The President's 2006 budget request for the MCA is a 100% increase over the 2005 allocation, at a time when other development accounts are fairing less well and domestic accounts are seeing cuts.
Subcommittee members asked questions on issues ranging from funding levels, pace of progress, and program implementation, to coordination with other donors and the link between economic growth and poverty reduction. One got the sense from the intensity of questioning and reactions to Mr. Applegarth's answers, that the MCA faces an uphill battle with the subcommittee.
Read a summary of the hearing including opening remarks by Mr. Applegarth, Chairman Kolbe, and Ms. Lowey.