Status Report—International Affairs Budget

From Oxfam America (http://www.oxfamamerica.org):

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee and the full House of Representatives voted on spending bills to fund international anti-poverty programs. As you know, Oxfam and our allies have been pushing against cuts to the most critical anti-poverty accounts and advocating specifically for $60 billion in total funding for international affairs.

The Senate committee approved $53 billion in international affairs spending, and the House of Representatives voted for approximately $48.9 billion.

Both bills rejected most of the Trump administration’s proposed cuts, and the Senate in particular showed a strong rebuke of the administration’s effort to diminish the international affairs budget.

Thanks to your work, we managed to win some votes on key amendments that will help with the continuing negotiations through the rest of the year. The House and Senate will continue to negotiate to achieve a final deal before a December 8th deadline. Results from the amendments we had you reach out about last week are as follows:

• DeSantis (FL) #53 – Prohibits Islamic Relief Worldwide from implementing foreign assistance funding. The amendment was withdrawn, which is a big win for us!
• Grothman (WI) #72 – Reduces the amount appropriated for the Economic Support Fund by $12,000,000. This amendment was rejected. A good thing!
• Frankel (FL) #60 – Increases funding for the Economic Support Fund by $8.5 million. Frankel withdrew this amendment after giving a statement of support for the Economic Support Fund.

We will continue to keep you informed about opportunities to support our work to protect these crucial anti-poverty programs.

It’s a busy time in DC and at Oxfam. Your support on these efforts is so important. Thank you so much for taking the time!

P.S. – Please read and share this op-ed on the foreign aid cuts, written by our very own Sisters on the Planet Ambassadors and former Members of Congress Claudine Schneider, Barbara Kennelly, Lynn C. Woolsey, and Mary Jo Kilroy.