WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Subcommittee, issued the following statement after House passage of legislation that includes the remaining six appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024: Defense; Financial Services; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services; Legislative Branch; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. “This critical legislation fully funds our national security and defense, while safeguarding U.S. taxpayer dollars by significantly reducing wasteful spending. The confused policies of the Biden Administration have been disastrous for global security. In contrast, this bill stands with America’s closest friends and allies while countering adversaries such as Communist China, Russia, and the terrorist states of Cuba and Iran. The SFOPS legislation provides non-defense topline resources totaling $58.346 billion, which is $3.412 billion (6%) below the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level and $10.581 billion (15.4%) below the President’s Budget Request. “As chairman of the subcommittee that provides funds for national security and foreign policy, I am proud this legislation ensures that taxpayer money prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our national security, uphold our values, support our allies and partners, and promote democracy and freedom abroad.” Here are some key highlights of the legislation from my Subcommittee: - Promotes freedom and democracy in the Western Hemisphere, while strengthening our national security by:
- Prohibiting funds to NGOs that facilitate and encourage irresponsible and illegal migration in the Hemisphere.
- Including additional resources to counter fentanyl trafficked through Mexico.
- On specific countries in our Hemisphere:
- Colombia:
- Applying stringent conditions with a ten percent cut in allocated funds, and conditions tied to cooperation and countering narcotics.
- Cuba:
- $25 million for funding to promote democracy (25% increase).
- $25 million for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti).
- Clear instruction on denying visas to governments and international organizations involved with the trafficking of Cuban doctors.
- Strong restrictions to prevent the Biden Administration from using democracy funding for unauthorized purposes, including to promote so-called “entrepreneurship programs”.
- Additional funding for the Open Technology Fund (OTF) for internet freedom technologies to address censorship threats.
- Nicaragua:
- $15 million to promote democracy and religious freedom
- Venezuela:
- Demonstrates support for democracy for Venezuela, directing not less than $50 million for human rights and civil society.
- Predicates electoral-support funding on a determination by the Secretary of State that Maduro is allowing free opposition competition, a condition that will force the Administration to put any “soft-brushing” of Maduro in writing.
- Central America and the Caribbean:
- Increases funding and strategic focus toward allies in the Hemisphere, including the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, who are working on common goals to combat narcotics trafficking, fight international crime, control migration, and counter authoritarian threats.
- Funding for security and development assistance for Haiti.
- Requiring that the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator to consult with the Committee on Appropriations on Haiti and regional efforts, including the Multinational Security Support mission, to restore law and order, establish an interim government and to schedule elections by January 2025.
- Stands with our friend and ally, Israel by:
- Providing unwavering support for Israel by fully funding the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at $3.3 billion.
- Prohibiting funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the United Nations Commission of Inquiry against Israel.
- Imposing new conditions on any assistance to Gaza, including mechanisms for coordination with Israel, prevention of diversion to Hamas or other terrorist entities, and requirements for third-party monitoring.
- Requiring the United Nations and other international organizations funded in the bill to assess and report on their efforts to combat anti-Israel bias and antisemitism, and to vet personnel to exclude those with connections to terrorist groups.
- Prohibiting the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps from being removal from the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list.
- Withholding funds to the UN Human Rights Council to:
- Hold the Council accountable for its blatant anti-Israel actions; and
- Reform the Council’s election process to prevent the world’s worst human rights abusers, such as Iran, from membership.
- Prohibiting funds to move the U.S. embassy from Jerusalem.
- Strengthening vetting related to the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, including new requirements on political neutrality and imposing new transparency requirements on the Office of Palestinian Affairs.
- Bolsters our national security and counters foreign adversaries by:
- Prohibiting funds to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) directly and indirectly, including a prohibition on any repayment of debts owed to the PRC from other countries.
- Prioritizing funding for United States national security interests in the Indo-Pacific and strengthening the defense needs of Taiwan, including $300 million in Foreign Military Financing and $400 million for the Countering PRC Influence Fund.
- Strengthening the prohibition on sending taxpayer dollars to the Taliban, whether directly or indirectly.
- Prohibiting implementation of a nuclear agreement with Iran without Congressional approval.
- Countering the fentanyl crisis with $125 million.
- Cutting spending on burdensome climate accounts spearheaded by the Administration while requiring that programs seek an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy production.
- Including a new provision to favorably resolve commercial disputes involving Americans abroad, and the promotion of U.S. business interests overseas.
- Demanding accountability at the United Nations by:
- Ensuring the State Department’s Inspector General has access to agreements with the United Nations and other international organizations funded in the bill.
- Requiring the Secretary of State to consider a country’s voting practices at the United Nations in relation to U.S. interests in determining bilateral assistance.
- Requiring a report on reforms at the World Health Organization (WHO), including efforts to regain observer status for Taiwan.
- Supports American values and principles by:
- Maintaining all longstanding, pro-life protections: Helms, Kemp-Kasten, Tiahrt, and Siljander.
- Increasing funding for religious freedom programs abroad and faith-based organizations that deliver foreign aid.
- Refocusing programs on women and girls instead of “gender” programs.
- Protecting free speech by limiting how funds can be used under the pretext of “countering disinformation.”
- Refocuses Washington spending and cuts wasteful bureaucracy by:
- Prioritizing limited resources for critical diplomatic functions, such as addressing the backlog of passport applications and ensuring the safety and security of U.S. embassies.
- Requiring the public posting of reports to increase accountability to the American taxpayer and to promptly inform Congress of aid diversion.
- Requiring the State Department and its agencies to report their telework policies.
- Requiring a report from the State Department, in coordination with the Department of Interior, on what is being done to maximize available domestic resources that are necessary for U.S. national security, before spending money on foreign mineral extraction.
Congressman Díaz-Balart, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, and a member of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations, included the following legislative priorities in the appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024. A summary of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act is available here. Further Consolidated Appropriations Act Bill Text is available here. State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Joint Explanatory Statement is available here. Click here to view Chairman Díaz-Balart's remarks. ### | | |
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