EMAIL DETAILS

USGLC


International Affairs Budget Update
July 8, 2016
1. House State-Foreign Operations Bill Moves Forward As
Conversations on a Continuing Resolution Heat Up
2. Standoff over Zika Funding Persists
3. Global Food Security and Foreign Aid Transparency Bills Pass
Congress, Head to President for Signature

1. House State-Foreign Operations Bill Moves Forward As
Conversations on a Continuing Resolution Heat Up

With Congress back in session this week for a two-week sprint before
summer recess, the House State-Foreign Operations (SFOPS)
Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY17 bill by voice vote on
Wednesday. As reported previously, the bill provides a total of $52.0
billion, including $37.1 billion in base and $14.9 billion in Overseas
Contingency Operations (OCO) funding. This is roughly 1% below both
the FY16 enacted level and $100 million below the level recently
approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=tHmx-G4kR_aczvlbEsLv8A

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=bYvrfmxQF6qdXWJCbUArGQ

The bill increases funding for embassy security, international
security assistance, and global health and maintains funding for
humanitarian and development assistance. As mentioned before, the bill
cuts multilateral assistance, economic support funding, and assistance
for the UN and UN peacekeeping. At the markup,

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=yxUHklfN_Ylx2OKcfehUEA

State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX)
noted that the bill supports U.S. national security priorities while
Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) expressed her concerns about the
bill's treatment of family planning, climate change, and
multilateral institutions.

Next Steps

The full House Appropriations Committee will consider the bill
next Tuesday, marking the last congressional action on the bill,
as it is very unlikely to be considered on the House floor. The Senate
Appropriations Committee has also approved its State-Foreign
Operations bill. However, with fewer than 30 days left on the
legislative calendar before the election, House and Senate leaders are
already discussing a Continuing Resolution (CR) that would keep the
government open through the election.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=ZbmKpvW1cGDJ5vjVxQhTHg

This week, conservatives in the House and Senate began pushing for a
six-month CR that would fund the government through March. This would
effectively end the appropriations process for the year and rely on
the new President and Congress to finalize FY17 spending bill. Others,
however, are advocating for a three-month CR that would allow Congress
to finalize spending bills during the lame-duck session. Congressional
leadership has yet to decide a way forward.

2. Standoff over Zika Funding Persists

The Senate remains deeply divided over the negotiated Zika funding
package that the House approved in late June. Senate Majority Leader
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has assured that the funding will be approved
before Congress leaves for recess at the end of next week. While
Democrats continue to oppose the package due to controversial policy
riders and offsets, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
stated this week that the Administration would accept a $1.1 billion
funding package without offsets-a change from the
Administration's previous demand for the full $1.9 billion it
had requested to address the virus-but the path forward remains
unclear as Democrats continue to oppose policy riders included in the
package.

3. Global Food Security and Foreign Aid Transparency Bills Pass
Congress, Head to President for Signature

In a sign of strong congressional support for foreign assistance
legislation amid an otherwise stymied political environment, the
Global Food Security Act (S. 1252) and the Foreign Aid Transparency
and Accountability Act (H.R. 3766) passed Congress this week and are
headed to the President's desk. USGLC President and CEO Liz
Schrayer issued a statement praising Congress for its commitment to
effective foreign assistance legislation, saying "
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=dC2hxJmyjfwBj-bAxJEr7g
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=PE1q04E69PCP-A3tULxbcw

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=lB1LhjuqZN2ZyX9KZjM1LQ

This is smart aid at its best. And it's what the future looks
like as we leverage strategic partnerships between governments,
businesses, and non-profits working together."

The Global Food Security Act, led by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and
Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Betty McCollum
(D-MN), authorizes a whole-of-government global food security strategy
to combat chronic hunger and malnutrition around the world. The
Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act, authored by Reps. Ted
Poe (R-TX) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL)
and Ben Cardin (D-MD), ensures that U.S. foreign assistance programs
will continue to be effective, accountable, and results-driven.


U.S. Global Leadership Coalition

1129 20th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036

Unsubscribe | USGLC.org
http://action.usglc.org/site/CO?i=GO6jX3CLxRKB2I3vvF0KyLugBJ0Vraq3&cid=0
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=gLHSJZKAOwiu8FT_6D_mkg

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=9hIM6_bz_iV3pbQV31iJZg