Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on the Approval of the Fiscal Year 2021 State and Foreign Operations Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Vice Chair of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee, yesterday released a statement in response to the approval of the subcommittee’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 bill.
In total, the bill provides $65.87 billion in funding for State Department, USAID, and related programs, an increase of $8.467 billion above the FY 2020 enacted level and $21.158 billion above the request.
“This legislation restores funding for diplomatic, development, and humanitarian programs and priorities, including providing funding to the World Health Organization, whose expertise is so desperately needed during this time of global public health uncertainty,” said Congresswoman Lee. “I applaud Chairwoman Lowey for her service to this committee and to the American people over the span of decades. She will be dearly missed in these halls.
“This administration has neglected the need for diplomacy and engagement with key international partners for far too long; not to mention their dangerously inept response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill reflects congressional priorities to advance the U.S. foreign policy agenda and rejects Trump’s consistently irresponsible budget cuts to critical foreign assistance programs. And it emphasizes the need for strong partnerships with people and countries in Africa and the Caribbean.
“Despite Trump’s traditionally unilateral approach, we are continuing our commitment to investing in democracy and diplomacy as an answer to some of our most pressing challenges, like global peace and security, reproductive health and safety, the climate crisis, and global public health.”
A summary of the bill is here. The full text of the bill is here.
As Vice Chair of this subcommittee, Rep. Lee continues her long-time advocacy for international peace and diplomacy, human rights, HIV/AIDS treatment, global health and the United Nations.
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