Lowey Hails Reversal of GOP Foreign Aid Cuts
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today hailed the reversal of cuts to diplomacy and development priorities passed in H.R. 1, which would have been counter-productive to our national security.
"National security is a three-legged stool of defense, diplomacy, and development," said Lowey. "H.R. 1 would have chopped two of these legs at the knees. I am pleased the agreement reached by the White House and Congressional negotiators would restore many of the ill-advised cuts passed by the House of Representatives in February."
Prior to passage of H.R. 1, Lowey authored a column published by POLITICO, in which she argued that diplomacy and development are critical to our national security even in a belt-tightening atmosphere and haphazard cuts to the State and Foreign Operations budget put our nation at greater risk.
"Diplomacy and development help avoid military deployments, and civilian aid workers are essential to the success of our Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Lowey. "These limited resources help stabilize conflict zones; expand global markets; respond to humanitarian crises; counter extremism; and protect Americans. I am pleased we will restore funding for vital programs."
The agreement would provide:
· $2.525 billion for Development Assistance, an increase of $752 million over the H.R. 1 level;
· $5.958 billion in Economic Support Funds, an increase of $252 million over the H.R. 1 level;
· $5.345 billion for Global HIV/AIDS, an increase of $500 million over the H.R. 1 level;
Cuts from H.R. 1 to other critical priorities like Global Health and Child Survival, International Disaster Assistance, and Migration and Refugee Assistance were also restored.
Lowey also expressed support for family planning provisions in the final agreement, including an increase over the H.R. 1 level for bilateral family planning, removal of language re-imposing the Global Gag Rule, and restoration of funding for UNFPA.
"While I am still reviewing the budget agreement's impact on priorities critical to New York, I am pleased many of the most draconian and counter-productive cuts to foreign aid in H.R. 1 have been restored," said Lowey. "I look forward to continuing my work to protect diplomacy and development in the 2012 process."
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