Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, providing critical security assistance to allies, promoting democracy abroad, and continuing lifesaving humanitarian and global health assistance.
The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 24-5, provides $61.6 billion in discretionary funding.
“Recognizing America’s leadership in the world, this legislation invests in programs that play a critical role in our national security,” said Senator Collins. “This bill also provides funding to combat the flow of fentanyl, its precursor chemicals, and other synthetic drugs into the United States.”
“The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act is one percent of the federal budget that provides assistance for our friends in Israel and is the chief funding source to protect all of our consulates and embassies throughout the world. We live in very dangerous times. Iran is up to no good across the globe. We owe it to our men and women of our diplomatic corps to provide them with the tools they need and the safety they deserve to represent America,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, Ranking Member of the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
Bill Highlights:
Department of State and USAID Operations: $11.6 billion for Department of State operations, including $5.8 billion to strengthen embassy security and ensure the safety of U.S. diplomats and development specialists around the world, and $2.1 billion for USAID operations.
International Security Assistance: $8.9 billion for foreign military training and education programs, peacekeeping operations, counterterrorism and nonproliferation programs, and financing for military equipment for U.S. partners and allies.
Supporting Key Allies: $3.3 billion in military assistance for Israel; $1.65 billion in economic and military assistance for Jordan; and $100 million in military assistance for Taiwan.
Global Health Programs: $9.7 billion to bolster global health and prevent future pandemics, including $3.8 billion for USAID and $5.6 billion for State. The bill includes a reauthorization of the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief through 2026.
Countering Russian Influence Fund: $300 million to counter Russian influence and its attempts to sow distrust in democratic institutions worldwide.
Countering PRC Influence Fund: $1.9 billion for implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and $420 million for the Countering PRC Influence Fund to combat malign Chinese influence and promote transparency and accountability in projects associated with the People’s Republic of China’s debt-trap diplomacy.
Democracy Programs: $2.9 billion for democracy programs and $315 million for the National Endowment for Democracy.
Humanitarian Assistance: $8.9 billion to maintain the long-held U.S. commitment to protection and addressing the needs of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Countering the Flow of Fentanyl and Synthetic Drugs: $170 million for programs to counter the flow of fentanyl, fentanyl precursors, and synthetic opioids into the U.S.
Multilateral Assistance: $2.7 billion for multilateral assistance to meet U.S. commitments to international financial institutions.
Food Security: $1 billion for food security and agricultural development programs.
UNRWA Funding Prohibition: Led by Senators Collins and Graham, the bill includes an amendment to continue the prohibition of funding for UNRWA to any funds provided in the bill for Fiscal Year 2025. The prohibition is also restated for all prior appropriations acts.
Reforms, Savings, and Reducing Government Waste: Includes numerous oversight provisions to ensure proper use of taxpayer funds and accountability of the administration. The bill meets or exceeds requested levels for the Department of State, USAID, and U.S. Development Finance Corporation Inspector Generals.
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