State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
On July 9th, the House voted 318-106 in favor of the FY 2010 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (HR 3081) to fund operations protecting our national security and combat terrorism; reforming and rebuilding America’s diplomatic and development capacity; providing critical resources to meet global health and development challenges; and ensuring adequate oversight and accountability of our foreign assistance. The bill is also fiscally responsible at $3.2 billion less than the President's request and reverses a decade of reliance on supplemental appropriations-- providing an honest accounting of the true cost of critical national security initiatives.
Read a list of programs cut or terminated in the bill>>
Rebuilding Our Diplomatic and Development Capacity
- For Years, Diplomatic and Development Activities Have Been Underfunded: Since 9/11, it has been apparent that our nation’s first line of defense, our diplomatic and development agencies, have been underfunded and not able to meet the 21st century challenges facing our nation. In July 2008, Defense Secretary Robert Gates pointed out in a speech, “It has become clear that America’s civilian institutions of diplomacy and development have been chronically undermanned and underfunded for far too long.”
- President Obama Had Laid Out A New Foreign Policy Vision: Now, President Obama has laid out a vision for reinvigorating U.S. diplomacy and development. He is calling for a balanced foreign policy that will strengthen our national security by giving prominence to diplomacy and development – as well as defense. This bill takes steps in helping to implement this vision.
- Strengthening Diplomatic Capacity: To rebuild our diplomatic capacity, provides $8.2 billion, $1.2 billion above 2009 and $731 million below the President’s request, for diplomatic operations at the State Department and to hire more than 1,000 additional Foreign Service Officers.
- Strengthening Development Capacity: Provides $1.39 billion, $330 million above 2009, to strengthen development capacity at AID (Agency for International Development) and to hire 300 additional personnel at AID.
- Investing in Well-Trained Diplomatic and Development Personnel Will Yield Significant Dividends Over Time: Using diplomacy and development to prevent conflict and failed states is much more cost-effective for U.S. taxpayers than providing massive humanitarian aid, funding peacekeeping operations, or putting U.S. boots on the ground once a major crisis occurs.
Protecting National Security and Combating Terrorism
- Key Funding to Protect National Security and Combat Terrorism: Provides a total of $13.4 billion to protect our national security and combat terrorism.
- Assistance to Frontline States of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq: Provides assistance to the frontline states of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, in order to help stabilize, strengthen and rebuild these critical countries, as follows:
- Afghanistan: Provides $2.695 billion in assistance for Afghanistan, building on the assistance provided in the FY 2009 Supplemental (PL 111-32), for economic development, strengthening governance, and expanding the rule of law.
- Pakistan: Provides $1.519 billion in assistance for Pakistan, building on the assistance provided in the FY 2009 Supplemental (PL 111-32), for economic development and strengthening governance.
- Iraq: Provides $484.3 million in assistance for Iraq, for economic development and strengthening governance.
- Assistance for Key Middle East Partners: Fully funds our commitments to key allies and partners in the Middle East, as follows:
- Israel: Provides $2.22 billion for Israel, which combined with the $555 million of forward funding in the FY 2009 Supplemental is the same as the $2.775 billion in the President’s request and consistent with the second year of the 10-year Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Israel.
- Egypt: Provides $1.29 billion for economic and security assistance for Egypt, which when combined with the $260 million in forward funding in the FY 2009 Supplemental is the same as the President’s request.
- Jordan: Provides $513 million for economic and security assistance for Jordan, which when combined with the $150 million in forward funding in the FY 2009 Supplemental is the same as the President’s request.
- Combating Drug Trafficking: Provides funding to fight narcotics and criminal gangs and promote alternatives to drug production in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia, as follows:
- Mexico and Central America: Provides $318.8 million for counternarcotics programs in Mexico and Central America.
- Colombia: Provides $520 million for counternarcotics programs and alternative livelihoods assistance for Colombia.
Addressing Global HIV/AIDS and Other Global Challenges
- Global Health: Provides $7.78 billion for global health priorities, including strengthening the global public health infrastructure and surveillance network in order to save lives overseas and to protect the health of Americans, as follows:
- Global HIV/AIDS: Provides a total of $5.75 billion for total funding for Global HIV/AIDS programs, which is $250 million above 2009 and $150 million above the President’s request. This includes $750 million for multilateral programs through the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
- Global Health and Child Survival: Provides a total of $2.38 billion for the Global Health and Child Survival account, which is an increase of $470 million above 2009.
- Basic Education: Provides $1 billion, $300 million above 2009, to improve access to quality education and provide alternatives to schools where youth are exposed to extremism.
- Agriculture and Food Security Programs: In light of increased food shortages in many developing countries, which are exacerbated by the global financial crisis, provides $1 billion for food security and agricultural development, $550 million above 2009.
- Protection of Environment/Fighting Climate Change: To preserve and protect our environment and fight global climate change, provides $1.2 billion in bilateral and multilateral funds for clean energy, biodiversity, and climate change initiatives, $643 million above 2009.
- General Development Assistance: Provides $2.465 billion for various forms of development assistance, in countries that face a complex range of long-term development challenges.
Other Key Provisions
- Peace Corps: Provides $450 million for the Peace Corps in FY 2010, $110 million above 2009, in order to jump start President Obama’s promise to double the size of the Peace Corps.
- Educational and Cultural Exchanges: Provides $600 million, $62 million above 2009, to fund educational, cultural and professional exchange programs worldwide.
- Broadcasting: Provides $746 million, $31 million above 2009, for broadcasting programs critical to the nation’s overall public diplomacy efforts.
Fiscal Responsibility
- The 12 Appropriations Bills Are Fiscally Responsible -- $10 Billion Below the President’s Proposed Budget: The budget conference report adopted by the Congress in April required a cut in discretionary spending in FY 2010 of $10 billion below the funding requested by President Obama in his budget. As a result, the FY 2010 appropriations bills overall must be $10 billion below the President’s budget.
- This Bill Is $1.2 Billion Below the 2009 Enacted Level, When 2009 Supplemental Funding Is Included: The State-Foreign Operations bill is fiscally responsible, targeting dollars to high-priority needs, while eliminating 2 programs and cutting funding below 2009 for another 9 programs. Overall, the bill is $1.2 billion below the 2009 enacted level, when 2009 supplemental funding is included. It is also $3.2 billion below the President’s budget request.