The House Appropriations Committee recently released its proposed bill to fund state and foreign operations in the upcoming fiscal year.
The proposed legislation continues essential security efforts to help protect Americans and U.S. interests abroad while cutting spending for lower-priority international programs. The proposed bill totals $34.1 billion in regular discretionary funding, which is $8 billion, or 19 percent, below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level and approximately $6 billion below the current level caused by automatic sequestration cuts.
Full funding for embassy security is included in the proposed bill, in addition to funding for assistance to key foreign allies, programs to promote democracy abroad, and for refugees and humanitarian assistance efforts. To meet pressing priorities, the proposed bill eliminates or reduces funding for lower-priority international programs.
“Faced with billions of dollars in spending cuts, this bill focuses on national security programs that keep the United States and our allies secure, while anticipating continued change around the world,” State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Granger said. “Funding is prioritized for embassy security, critical strategic partners in the Middle East and Latin America, democracy assistance, and life-saving HIV/AIDS and refugee programs. In order to meet the reduced subcommittee funding levels, some programs had to be terminated, scaled back, or put on ‘pause’ until the United States is in a better financial position.”
In addition to the $34 billion, the legislation includes $6.5 billion for the war-related costs of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as emergency stabilization and humanitarian response efforts.