1. House Passes Deeming Resolution, Kicking off FY22 Appropriations Process

In a late start to the FY22 budget and appropriations process, earlier this month the House approved a “deeming” resolution – allowing House Appropriators to draft spending bills in the absence of a formal budget resolution. Consistent with the Administration’s FY22 budget request, the deeming resolution sets a $1.5 trillion topline discretionary spending level (also known as the 302(a) allocation) for House Appropriators, but it does not break out specific levels for defense and non-defense discretionary spending.

The House Appropriations Committee wasted no time in getting to work and is scheduled to complete action on its twelve FY22 appropriations bills – including the State-Foreign Operations bill that funds the vast majority of the International Affairs Budget – by mid-July.

2. House Agriculture Appropriations Bill Approved by Subcommittee
On Friday, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY22 spending bill by voice vote. The bill provides strong funding for two important international food assistance programs as COVID-19 continues to have a devastating impact on global hunger and food insecurity. Specifically, the bill includes:

• $1.74 billion for Food for Peace, equal to the FY21 non-emergency enacted level.

• $245 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, an increase of 7% ($15 million) compared to the FY21 enacted level.

Agriculture Appropriations International Programs Snapshot

3. House State-Foreign Operations Bill Boosts Funding by 12%
As COVID-19 continues to surge in hotspots around the world, last night the House State-Foreign Operations (SFOPS) Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY22 SFOPS bill by voice vote.

House Appropriators included a total of $62.2 billion for the SFOPS bill – a 12% ($6.7 billion) increase compared to the FY21 non-emergency enacted level and 0.5% ($294 million) above the Administration’s FY22 request. Consistent with the Administration’s request, the House SFOPS bill provides all funding through the base budget.

State-Foreign Operations (SFOPS) Budget Snapshot

*Excludes $16.1 billion in primarily COVID-related FY21 emergency funding

USGLC released a statement welcoming this important commitment to strengthen overall funding for America’s development, diplomacy, and global health programs at a time of unprecedented global challenges that directly impact all Americans’ health and economic interests.

As the FY22 appropriations process moves forward, USGLC urges Congress and the Administration to use this funding level as the floor to ensure our international affairs investments match what is truly necessary to advance the health, safety, and economic interests of American families.

Select Highlights
We will share more details when the House Appropriations Committee releases its report to accompany the SFOPS bill in the coming days, but the bill text and committee summary provide important details on funding levels for specific programs and accounts.

• Development and Economic Assistance: The House bill includes a 16% ($575 million) increase for Development Assistance (DA), a 15% ($483 million) increase for the Economic Support Fund (ESF), a 2% ($19 million) increase for Assistance to Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia (AEECA), and a 5% ($20 million) boost for the Peace Corps, while maintaining funding for the Democracy Fund and the Millennium Challenge Corporation at their FY21 enacted levels.

• Global Health: The bill increases funding for Global Health Programs by 16% ($1.45 billion) compared to the FY21 enacted level. This includes an $810 million increase for Global Health Security – consistent with the Administration’s FY22 request – to help combat counter COVID-19 and prevent future pandemics as well as a $150 million increase for HIV/AIDS programs.

• Humanitarian Assistance: The House bill provides $8.5 billion for humanitarian assistance, a 9% ($700 million) increase compared to the FY21 enacted level and in line with the Administration’s FY22 request.

• Peacekeeping: Compared to the FY21 enacted level, the House bill increases funding for UN Peacekeeping by 32% ($472 million) to $1.9 billion, while providing growth of 5% ($20) million for non-UN peacekeeping programs.

• UN and Other International Organizations: Consistent with the Administration’s FY22 request, the House bill increases funding for U.S. assessed contributions to the UN and other international organizations by 10% ($157 million) compared to the FY21 enacted level. The bill boosts funding for the International Organization and Programs (IO&P) account, which covers voluntary contributions, by 23% ($90 million) – $20 million above the Administration’s request.

• Climate Change: The House bill provides over $3 billion to address climate change and other environmental programs, including $1.6 billion for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – $350 million more than the Administration’s FY22 request for the GCF.

• U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC): Consistent with the Administration’s FY22 request, the House bill includes $601 million for the DFC, including $598 million for administrative and program costs, and $3 million for the Inspector General. This marks a 5% ($30 million) increase from the FY21 enacted level.

• International Financial Institutions (IFIs): Funding for U.S. contributions to the World Bank and other IFIs sees a 98% ($1.8 billion) increase in the House bill compared to the FY21 enacted level, with most of this growth focused on the GCF.