Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

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Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to a narrow- minded, shortsighted amendment that is going to be offered to this bill on the National Endowment for Democracy, prohibiting funding for that important organization.

By eliminating NED's appropriation, U.S.-based nonprofit organizations, local partners, and frontline democracy defenders in dangerous contexts will be put in immediate jeopardy, undermining efforts to support emerging democracies and those resisting authoritarian rule like the brave protesters in Iran.

In places like Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, Hong Kong, Tibet, Burma and, as I mentioned, Iran, NED provides vital resources for those advocating for freedom. This amendment would halt efforts to provide citizens with accurate information, exposing corruption and brutality of some of these regimes and kneecapping protesters who are pleading for freedom.

If we withdraw our support and abandon democracy defenders, we cede this ground to autocratic regimes which will eagerly step in to replace us and promote their own interests at our expense. This will devastate U.S. national security and the advancement of our democratic ideals.

Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to reject this terrible amendment when it comes up and show the rest of the world we have not lost our minds nor lost our way.

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