Funding bill advances despite criticism of Benghazi provision

The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday unanimously adopted a nearly $48 billion bill to fund the State Department and foreign operations in 2016, despite objections by the White House and panel Democrats.

{mosads}The legislation, passed by voice vote, approves funding that is 11 percent below President Obama’s budget request.

The proposed measure also contains a policy provision to withhold 15 percent of the State Department’s operational funds, unless it turns over documents faster to the congressional panel investigating the assault on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Another directive blocks the use of funds for a new U.S. Embassy in Cuba in an effort to undercut the president’s executive actions normalizing relations with the communist nation.

Panel Democrats repeatedly offered amendments to raise funding for pet issues, such as family planning and anti-Russian propaganda efforts in Eastern Europe, and to remove some of the more contentious policy riders but were defeated time and again in roll call votes.

An amendment by ranking Democrat Nita Lowey (N.Y.) to strike the language related to the House’s investigation into Benghazi sparked the markup’s most heated debate.

Lowey said the provision is “merely latest effort in the Republican crusade to profit politically from the tragedy of Benghazi.”

Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) admitted that 15 percent is a “pretty severe” amount but said the State Department “doesn’t recognize they are responsive to the American public through the Congress.”

Jamal Ware, a spokesman for the Select Committee on Benghazi, chided Democrats for their opposition.

“Democrats continue to oppose government transparency for the American people and attack the Select Committee. What is it exactly they are afraid the people will find?” he asked in a statement.

“All this provision does is withhold some non-security related funds until State Department implements a plan to assure policy decisions are transparent,” Ware added.

On Wednesday, White House budget chief Shaun Donovan said the bill would hamper U.S. diplomatic efforts around the globe. 

The funding level “will pose a significant constraint on USAID and the Department of State’s ability to conduct diplomatic engagement. Taken together, these cuts would impede our ability to conduct effective diplomacy and development, essential components of our national security,” he wrote in a letter to Appropriations Committee leaders.

However, the missive did not implicitly state that the president would veto the bill.

The spending bill will likely reach the House floor next week.

— This report was updated at 1:19 p.m.