House panel defies Trump, approves $56B foreign ops spending bill
A House subcommittee on Friday advanced a $56.4 billion spending bill for the State Department and foreign operations, rejecting President Trump’s proposed budget proposing $11.5 billion in cuts.
The bill included provisions that would block funds from being used to withdraw from the Paris climate accord and restrict the Trump administration from selling nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia.
{mosads}“This bill reflects Congressional priorities to advance U.S. foreign policy and our foreign assistance programs,” Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), who chairs both the subcommittee and the full Appropriations Committee, said in a statement.
“It rejects the Administration’s unacceptable, irresponsible fiscal year 2020 requests and reaffirms strong support for reproductive health, climate change, and multilateral assistance,” she added.
The full House Appropriations Committee is expected to take up the bill as soon as next week.
While it is not unusual for recommendations in presidential budgets to be ignored, the subcommittee’s passage of the funding bill underlines the battles to come between the administration and newly elected Democratic House majority on spending.
Republicans objected to the bill’s repeal of the Mexico City policy, or “global gag rule,” which blocks U.S. funding from organizations that provide counseling related to abortions.
“Two appropriations bills have now targeted pro-life initiatives,” said Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), the full committee’s ranking member.
“Unfortunately, the Democrats continue to include partisan riders aimed at weakening important measures that protect life,” she added.
The bill adds funding to the State Department, USAID, Peace Corps, President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and humanitarian assistance, among other programs.
It is the fourth spending bill for fiscal 2020 to pass a House subcommittee. The three others, covering Labor, Health and Human Services and Education; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and the Legislative Branch, have all been approved by the full committee.
The House is expected to take up the measures in June.
The Senate, under Republican leadership, has refrained from introducing spending bills until a deal is agreed for budgetary ceilings.
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