Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Ms. MENG. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to the fiscal year 2024 State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.

As a member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, I am appalled by the dangerous cuts and policy riders the majority has attached to this bill.

Yesterday, we heard from our friends across the aisle that the purpose of our military is to deter a war if diplomacy fails. Cutting funding for our State Department to levels not seen since 2009 and proposing eliminating funding for USAID not only cedes America's position as a leader on the world stage but also eliminates funding for the very programs that seek to prevent violence and advance stability in areas vulnerable to conflict. This bill weakens our national security, not enhances it.

This bill also harms women all around the world. From eliminating our contributions to critical multilateral agencies, including U.N. Women and UNFPA, to cutting bilateral and multilateral international reproductive health funding by nearly a third, we are sending a message that the U.S. is willing to cede its role in helping the international community achieve global health targets, address unacceptably high global maternal mortality rates and gender-based violence, support healthy families, or promote gender equity. This is all at the behest of the majority's culture war.

I do not accept the premise that we are willing to risk 8.2 million women and couples losing access to contraceptive services, resulting in 2.7 million more unintended pregnancies leading to 1.1 million additional unplanned births and an additional 4,700 maternal deaths. Women and girls deserve better.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this harmful legislation.

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