It looks like the Senate Budget Committee may be moving forward as early as next week with the mark-up of its FY11 Budget Resolution.  This is an important step in the annual budget process, and for the past several years Senate Budget Chairman Conrad (D-ND) has consistently cut the International Affairs Budget. Last year his Chairman’s mark cut International Affairs spending by $4 billion (10%). The USGLC is working with key allies on the Hill – including Sens. Kerry (D-MA), Lugar (R-IN), Feinstein (D-CA), Voinovich (R-OH), Durbin (D-IL), and Menendez (D-NJ) – on a bipartisan letter from Senators urging Chairman Conrad to fully fund the International Affairs Budget at the President’s request of $58.5 billion.

In related news, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) CEO Daniel Yohannes is testifying this morning before the House State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee in support of the President’s $1.28 billion request for the MCC. This afternoon, the subcommittee is also hosting a hearing on Security Assistance contained in the International Affairs Budget.  Witnesses from the State Department’s Bureau of International and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and the Coordinator for Counterterrorism will be testifying.