Clinton calls for Congress to approve debt-relief package

From CNN Producer Catherine Berger at the White House

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Surrounded by an eclectic group of religious and political leaders, President Clinton made a plea to Congress on Monday to fully fund his request for $435 million to forgive the debt of the world's poorest countries.

"We are talking here about one-five-thousandth of our budget to lift the burden of debt around the world for years to come," said Clinton. "We're talking about giving as many as 33 nations a chance for a new beginning."

So far, Congress has fallen far short of Clinton's request -- with the House of Representatives approving only $225 million and the Senate only $75 million.

Included in the meeting with Clinton were Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson, representatives of the Catholic and Episcopal churches, Rep. John Kasich, R-Ohio, Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, and the rock musician Bono of U2, who called the issue a "no-brainer."

The president noted the "amazing group of Americans" gathered in the Cabinet Room. "It's not often that we find an issue that puts John Kasich and Maxine Waters on the same side, economists and evangelicals in the same room," he said. "All of us feel a common obligation to do the right thing."

Kasich later said approving the request for debt relief would be an "historic act of grace" and that he was optimistic Congress would fully fund the measure. Some Republicans are less concerned with the amount of money than with reforming international lending institutions, like the International Monetary Fund, he said.

But one of Kasich's colleagues, House Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts, R-Oklahoma, said, "Talk about misplaced priorities. The president is putting foreign countries ahead of America by choosing to pay off their debts instead of paying off our own first."