Originally published on the CGS blog on May 3, 2007.
The appropriations process is now in full swing. For those of us who support a more balanced approach to U.S. global engagement; i.e. it’s not all about defense; this process is an opportunity to make the case that how we engage the world and how the world views us matters and is just as important to our national security. Our diplomatic efforts can help promote peace, our embassies are the public face of the United States in a country, our humanitarian and development assistance saves lives and helps people pull themselves out of poverty and our contributions to international institutions strengthen those institutions to address global challenges and help fund UN peace keeping, global efforts to halt the spread of AIDS and vaccinate children against preventable diseases.
The funding for all of these things falls within the international affairs budget and are decided in the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. And despite all these laudable priorities, the international affairs budget represents only 1.2% of the overall budget.
Yesterday I participated in theUS Global Leadership Campaign’s second lobby day of the year. The timing was perfect as the leadership of the appropriations committees in the House and Senate are making decisions this week about the allocations to each of the appropriations subcommittees, including the State, Foreign Ops subcommittee. Once the allocations are set, they establish a ceiling under which the subcommittee can make spending decisions. President Bush has requested $36.5 billion for the FY 2008 international affairs budget, an 11% increase over last year. If the appropriations leadership allocates less than that for State, Foreign Ops; the subcommittee will be forced to make difficult choices in an already tight budget and cut funding for important programs. The good news is that in the Senate, for the first time,a majority of Senators have signed a letter to the appropriations leadership calling for an allocation of $39.8 billion for the State, Foreign Operations subcommittee, a funding level for international affairs approved in the Senate version of the budget resolution. This is a powerful demonstration of support for the international programs and activities funded by our government.
