Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2020 State and Foreign Operations Funding Bill

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2020 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill on a vote of 29 to 23. The legislation funds the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and other international programs and activities.

In total, the bill provides $56.4 billion in base discretionary funding—$2.2 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $13.7 billion above the President’s budget request. This includes $48.4 billion in base discretionary funding for the State Department, USAID, commissions and related agencies under the jurisdiction of the subcommittee – $2.2 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $5.7 billion above the President’s budget request. The bill provides $8 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism (OCO/GWOT) funding for base requirements that would otherwise go unfunded in the President’s budget request.

“This bill reflects Congressional priorities that advance United States foreign policy. It upholds many bipartisan positions of this Committee and of Congress, and supports important investments to protect our national security, fund our commitments, and repair America’s reputation internationally,” said House Appropriations Committee and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey. “Additionally, the bill reverses the President’s Global Gag Rule and stops unnecessary restrictions on family planning and health funding, reaffirms longstanding support for multilateral organizations, and provides the necessary resources to restore our diplomatic and development capacity. This is a smart, responsible bill that will enhance our national security, expand U.S. influence and effectiveness, and ensure we maintain our responsibilities as a world leader.”

The following amendments to the bill were adopted by the full Committee:

Rep. Lowey – The manager’s amendment makes technical and noncontroversial changes to the bill and report. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Fortenberry #1 – The amendment includes new language supportive of conservation programs in Kenya. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Stewart – The amendment strikes the permissive authority included in the bill to fund the Indo-Pacific Strategy and inserts a directive for $160 million to be made available for implementation of the strategy. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

A summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill is here. The bill report is here.

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