WASHINGTON – USGLC President and CEO Liz Schrayer issued the following statement on the House Budget Committee passage of the FY17 Budget Resolution:

The FY17 House Budget Resolution’s attempt to dramatically cut core international affairs programs by 10 percent is unthinkably dangerous at a time of unprecedented global crises. This proposal would tie the hands of our diplomats and development professionals working tirelessly to advance our national security and economic interests throughout the world.

Under the resolution, core international affairs funding would be down 36 percent over the last six years. With the historic number of refugees, ISIS, and now Zika, we simply can’t combat 2016 crises with budget levels from the last decade.

In addition to the crippling funding trends, the resolution’s provisions for wartime accounts are of great concern. As House and Senate Appropriators take the mantle for the next stage of the budget process, we urge them to provide no less than current levels to maintain America’s global leadership.

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.