Subject: International Affairs Budget Update 12/18/15
From: "Lindsay Plack, USGLC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 13:15:59 -0600

USGLC

International Affairs Budget Update
December 18, 2015
1.  Congress Approves Spending Bill, Further Analysis
2.  2015 Legislative Wrap-Up

1. Congress Approves Spending Bill, Further Analysis

Today both the House and Senate approved the FY16 omnibus
appropriations bill, which includes the State-Foreign Operations bill.
 The House passed the legislation 316-113 and the Senate
passed it 65-33. Ninety-five House Republicans voted against the
package largely because of the increase in discretionary spending and
lack of certain controversial policy provisions, including a
prohibition on Syrian refugees entering the United States until
increased security measures are in place. The measure will be signed
into law imminently by the President.  
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=ZSYtdcWVaXk43YCWLJELVA

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=DqtlKxq92PzaApmmT0G4GA

As we reported yesterday, while the overall FY16 funding level for
development and diplomacy programs was significantly increased in the
final spending package, the continued erosion of base State-Foreign
Operations (SFOPS) funding has a concerning long-term impact. As the
chart below shows, SFOPS (which funds approximately 96% of the
International Affairs Budget) is the only annual appropriations bill
in the FY16 omnibus that does not receive an increase in base funding;
in fact, base funding is cut by nearly 6%. By contrast, overall base
funding for other Non-Defense Discretionary programs is increased 6%
in the omnibus and base funding for the Department of Defense is
increased by 5%. 

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=EeQwL0oUuLGC6q4lPsb0xA

Percent Change in Base Funding

As seen in the chart below, total funding for SFOPS (and the broader
International Affairs Budget) does increase in FY16 by a significant
level, but only because of growth in its Overseas Contingency
Operations (OCO) budget. In a year when base funding for all other
functions of the discretionary budget has increased, the challenge
will be the long-term consequence of the cut to base SFOPS programs in
the years ahead.  Moving forward, Congress must work to address
this dramatic shortfall in base funding that will be essential for
America to remain a global leader.

Percent Change in Total Funding

2. 2015 Legislative Wrap-Up

As Congress adjourns for the holiday recess, below is a look-back on
the many pieces of legislation introduced related to International
Affairs and where they stand in the legislative process.

This year Congress passed several bills related to development and
trade:

*  Earlier this month Congress approved a long-awaited five-year
reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank (H.R. 22, P.L.
114-94).
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=7BVzBv6dH14O1NWSebXSuQ

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=WgSusXieDuua4J1EAEdPgg

*  The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) passed
as part of a larger trade package (H.R. 1295, P.L. 114-27),
which will help continue to strengthen the U.S.-Africa economic
relationship.
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=Kc-TynQ-5tM_VxXa2XcGhw

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=u9BlbIWNpZpOH9471ss15A

*  In June, Congress also passed the Girls Count Act (S. 802, P.L.
114-24), which authorizes the State Department to support
efforts to prevent discrimination against girls in developing
nations.
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=r09sSUVE8gq9AvizYPJ8Cw

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=hrMvBARB8BsimjWWPnmLKw

Several other bills are still in the mix as the 114th Congress moves
into its second session next year, including:

*  The Electrify Africa Act (H.R. 2847, S. 2152), which will
assist countries in sub-Saharan Africa develop and implement
national power strategies. The Senate passed its version of the
bill today by unanimous consent.
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=D-_rwdM5hiL_gAJU84Eqpg
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=Rbzb4WMhmxgQtS-y5uXcTw

*  The Global Food Security Act (H.R. 1567; S. 1252), which
authorizes a comprehensive U.S. government strategy to promote
global food security. The House Foreign Affairs Committee
approved the bill earlier this year.
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=87bTJ2-ClDYinfMbRV6qbA
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=lOHk2FbemK6C_-RV9vELRA

*  The Food for Peace Reform Act (S. 525), which would reform
international food aid programs. The legislation was introduced
earlier this year, but has not yet been considered by the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee.
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=tGrX3l0h6LVhOlH70lNVYQ

*  The Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act (H.R.
3766, S. 2184), which further improves the transparency,
accountability, and effectiveness of foreign assistance
programs.  As we reported last week, the House unanimously
passed the bill on December 10
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=JRfnR7tNz1FRZHcL4OAuMA
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=NVSrose0qc7FDGdpED5seg

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=KopUuNc3O1zJE-ICmVfyAg

th. The Senate could vote on its version of the bill early next
year. 

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