USGLC Concerned About Funding for International Affairs Budget

Washington, DC — The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition today released the following statement from Executive Director Liz Schrayer on today’s Senate approval of the FY 2011 appropriations 302(b) allocation for the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, which cuts $2.6 billion from the President’s request for the International Affairs Budget:

“Today the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY11 funding allocations that include a $2.6 billion cut to the President’s funding request for the International Affairs Budget.  While we appreciate Chairman Inouye’s efforts to restore some of the cut that came out of the Budget Committee earlier this year,* we are very concerned at the decrease in funding for these critical programs.  The USGLC joins a growing bipartisan group of military, foreign policy and business leaders who have urged Congress to support full funding of the International Affairs Budget request.

“Investing in the non-military tools of development and diplomacy is more important to our national security and our economy than ever before.  As the appropriations process moves forward, USGLC will work to ensure full funding of these vital programs.”

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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 and community leaders in all 50 states who support a smart power approach of elevating diplomacy and development alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.

* On April 21, the Senate Budget Committee approved an FY 2011 budget resolution that cut the President’s $58.8 billion International Affairs Budget request by $4 billion.