WASHINGTON – On Thursday night, the House of Representatives passed one of the lowest levels of the State-Foreign Operation Appropriations bill in nearly a decade at 14% lower than the current FY23 enacted level. USGLC’s President and CEO, Liz Schrayer, released the following statement:

At a time when competition with China and others is on the rise, and Putin’s war in Ukraine has created one of the most severe global food crises, it is stunning that the House just passed one of the lowest funding levels for America’s civilian footprint around the world in nearly a decade. This will have a significant impact on our nation’s ability to protect and advance our economic and security interests. It’s not surprising that America’s military leaders once again reminded us recently that we cannot “shortchange our nation’s diplomacy and development tools.”

While the broad and swift bipartisan rejection of draconian cutting amendments to State-Foreign Operations on the House floor was not insignificant and was certainly welcome news, it is now even more imperative that the Senate advance a bill at no less than the current FY23 enacted level. We look forward to working with policymakers in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle as the negotiations continue, particularly at a time when global instability, humanitarian crises, democracy concerns, and global hunger continue to impact real kitchen table issues here at home.

See USGLC’s statement here on the defeat of numerous amendments that would have cut the FY24 House State-Foreign Operations Appropriations bill even further.