House Subcommittee Bill Cuts International Programs Below Current Levels; Sequestration Presents Major Challenge to Continued U.S. Engagement

Washington With the release of the House of Representative’s State-Foreign Operations Appropriations bill for the Fiscal Year 2016, Liz Schrayer, President and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, issued the following statement:

The Fiscal Year 2016 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill shows the negative impact that sequestration caps present to U.S. engagement with the world. While we appreciate the Committee’s leadership in seeking to protect our national security interests, and continuing our support for humanitarian and global health programs, we are nonetheless concerned about the bill’s overall cut of nearly $1.5 billion from current year levels to the International Affairs Budget, including major reductions to accounts such as multilateral assistance.

The insufficient base funding levels and a large cut to the Overseas Contingency Operations account ultimately result in resources that are far below what’s needed to address the array of challenges the U.S. confronts. Given the number of urgent issues on the global agenda – from Syria and Iraq to Yemen and Ukraine – this budget shortfall would hinder our ability to respond to such crises, and to advance our strategic interests.

We must ensure that all instruments of American influence and power are properly funded to respond to both the dangers and the opportunities that advance our interests throughout the world.

The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (www.usglc.org) is a broad-based influential network of 400 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic, military, and community leaders in all 50 states who support strategic investments to elevate development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.

CONTACT: Sidney Traynham / [email protected] / 202-730-4136
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