Diaz-Balart Releases FY24 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, issued the following statement after the release of the fiscal year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs funding Bill.

"Today, I am proud to be part of the Republican Majority in bringing back fiscal sanity to the appropriations process. This bill includes real cuts, with a 24% reduction from the administration’s request, and a 12% reduction from last year’s funding level. The State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs bill, of the subcommittee that I chair, will ensure that the American taxpayer does not foot the bill for overseas abortions, controversial climate change programs that have no hope of actually impacting climate change and bloated international organizations such as the United Nations and World Health Organization which have lost all credibility and failed in their core missions. This bill prioritizes America’s national security interests by: countering Communist China’s malign influence throughout the globe; prohibiting all funding for any Iran deal that is not approved by Congress; providing funds to combat narco-terrorism and stop lethal drugs such as fentanyl from crossing the southern border; supporting democracy programs and informative broadcasts into repressive countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Communist China, Belarus, and Iran; providing key allies such as Israel and Taiwan with the tools they need to defend themselves; and eliminating absurd climate change restrictions on impoverished countries so that they can meet their energy needs without relying on Communist China or Russia.  

I am proud of the hard work that went into this important legislation. We scrubbed every program to ensure efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness. Just as Americans in Biden’s economy are forced to streamline their budgets and cut back on inessentials, the Republican Majority is committed to ending the out-of-control spending that characterized the previous Democratic Majority. American taxpayers cannot be expected to shoulder every burden, pay controversial “woke” programs abroad, or be expected to fund the lion’s share of multilateral institutions that actively work against their interests. As chairman of the subcommittee that provides foreign assistance, I will continue to judiciously ensure that every dollar expended in our bill promotes our national security interests and upholds our values. We will spend what we must to accomplish these fundamental goals – but not a penny more."

FISCAL YEAR 2024 STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS BILL

The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that strengthen our national security, counter the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Communist Party of China (CCP), provide support to our allies, and promote American values at home and abroad, while cutting the spending for low-priority activities and programs.

Supports our National Security

• Promoting freedom in the Western Hemisphere, including $30 million for democracy programs for Cuba, as the two-year anniversary approaches of the historic uprising by the people of Cuba to demand freedom;
• Prioritizing funding and policies to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States;
• Prohibiting funds for the PRC and the CCP, prohibiting funds for international financial institutions from loans to PRC;
• Provide unwavering support for Israel by including $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing Program; and
• Fully supporting other key allies in the Middle East, such as Egypt and Jordan.

Promotes Freedom

• Encourages our European partners who want our help with Ukraine to support us in defending freedom and democracy in our hemisphere as well, particularly in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua;
• Exposes the trafficking of doctors from Cuba and conditions aid to countries participating in this form of modern slavery;
• Strengthens language that directs USAID and the Department of State to regain programmatic management focus on core democracy issues vs. non-core issues;
• Defer funding on Colombia as the current trajectory of Colombia under President Gustavo Petro is increasingly at odds with the United States' security and economic interests. The Committee will continue to assess as the actions of the Petro Government and its relations with Venezuela, Cuba, and Russia, as the process moves forward. With previous assistance amounting to $500 million annually, the Committee wants to watch how events unfold in Colombia;
• The bill strongly supports democracy programs in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua and outreach efforts that provide information to people living under authoritarian dictatorships; and
• The bill also forces the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to deal with Cuba as it does other rogue states by directing funding of $35 million for the operations of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti)

Protects life, supports American values, and enhances economic competitiveness by:

• Prioritizing diplomatic engagement to favorably resolve commercial disputes abroad and to promote American business interests overseas;
• Refocusing attention on critical diplomatic functions, such as addressing the backlog of Passport applications and ensuring the safety and security of our embassies;
• Maintaining all long-standing, pro-life protections;
• Supporting religious freedom programs abroad and religious freedom protections for faith-based organizations delivering foreign aid; and
• Banning “disinformation” and “misinformation” programs that violate the free speech rights of American citizens.

Support Israel and Addresses Hostile Nations in the Region

• Fully funds the United States-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at $3.3 billion;
• Prohibits funding to implement or enforce any agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear program or a renewal of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; and
• Expands and strengthens vetting related to the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement and engagement in political advocacy.

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