Foreign Operations Programs Approved by Senate Appropriations Committee

Press Release

Foreign Operations Programs Approved by Senate Appropriations Committee

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved funding for several international programs included in the Foreign Operations spending bill.

"This bill recognizes that America's strength resonates not only from our military power but from the power of our ideas and our values," Durbin said. "Strengthening and supporting our diplomatic, development, and humanitarian efforts will go a long way to dramatically restore the power of American ideas and values abroad."

Durbin has been a staunch supporter of global humanitarian, development and health care programs. He has increasingly advocated for an increase in the use of smart power - the spread of American hope, values and ideals through global engagement. While American military engagement overseas is at an all time high, our global status has decreased dramatically - a shortcoming that not only threatens our own security, but also who we are as a nation and how we are viewed abroad.

Today's final committee recommendations include significant increases for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) operating expenses and well as overall development assistance. The spending bill also includes funding for water and sanitation programs, the Peace Corps, and the International Broadcasting Board of Governors.

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 appropriations bill for Foreign Operations includes the following programs that Durbin requested:

* The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria: $59 million increase from FY08 and $400 million over the President's request. This increase will bring the US's total contribution to the Global Fund to $900 million. The Global Fund is a public/private partnership developed to raise funds fight three of the world's most devastating diseases.

* USAID Operating Expenses: $171 million over FY08 and $50 million over the President's request. These funds will significantly help USAID rebuild its professional Foreign Service Officer corps.

* Development Assistance (DA): $250 million over FY08 and the President's request for a total of $1.85 billion. This assistance will allow USAID to increase its overall development assistance including:

* Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor: $300 million - same funding as FY08 - for safe drinking water and sanitation supply projects.

* Afghanistan National Solidarity Program (NSP): $25 million for local development projects. The NSP is widely regarded as one of the most successful development efforts in Afghanistan. The program allows residents to work collaboratively with their local governments to identify development needs.

* Migration and Refugee Assistance: $336 million over the President's request for administering U.S. refugee assistance and admissions programs.

* Global Health and Child Survival: $120 million increase from FY08 and $390 million over the President's request. This program works to address issues surrounding health care during childbirth, overall child health and survival and developing world health and nutrition efforts.

* International Peacekeeping: An increase of $150 million above the President's request. These funds would aid US obligations for global peacekeeping missions.

* Peace Corps: $3 million increase over FY08. The Peace Corps is one of the most successful programs working on direct American assistance. The program has seen its budget, in real dollars, cut by almost 40% since its inception in 1967.

* Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG): $5 million increase over FY08. The BBG is an independent, autonomous entity responsible for all US government and government sponsored, non-military, international broadcasting.

* Great Lakes Fishery Commission: $2.6 million increase over FY08 and $6.2 million over the President's request. This will help the Commission address the continued problem of invasive species in the Great Lakes.

* Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Israel: $2.5 billion in funding approved by committee for Foreign Military Financing which refers to congressionally appropriated grants given to foreign governments to finance the purchase of American-made weapons, services and training.

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