Dear Chairman Frelinghuysen, Ranking Member Lowey, and Chairman Rogers.
As you finalize the Fiscal Year 2018 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bill, we write to urge you to allocate no less than the FY17 enacted level of $57.4 billion for America’s critically important development and diplomacy programs.
The challenges the United States faces around the world have intensified in recent years. Our diplomats deserve the full support of our Congress as they promote U.S. interests around the world. As you know, a strong coalition of retired generals and diplomats, Fortune 500 CEOs and faith leaders have come together in support of a robust international affairs budget. We join them in urging that diplomacy and development are amply funded in the FY18 budget.
With changes to the amount of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding potentially available for FY18, we urge you to find the resources needed to ensure that the SFOPS bill is funded at no less than the FY17 enacted level of $57.4 billion. We understand that while OCO funding has been reduced, it has not been eliminated and the international affairs budget may continue to draw certain funds through OCO depending on circumstances. Regardless of the mechanism through which funding occurs, we urge you ensure that the Function 150 account is funded at least at the FY17 enacted level.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Joaquin Castro Eliot L. Engel
Member of Congress Ranking Member
Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee on Foreign Affairs
Permalink: https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/2018/2/castro-engel-urge-house-appropriators-fully-fund-america-s-development-diplomacy.
