Media Contact: Allie Wright, [email protected], (202) 794-1823
Washington, D.C. (July 20, 2017) – The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs) appropriations bill, which includes funding for maternal and child health, nutrition programs, migration and refugees and other critical development programs, including basic education and agriculture.
Despite members of the Committee protecting funding for critical programs impacting children, leaders from Save the Children and Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) have concern about the overall decrease in funding for international affairs.
“At a time when 20 million people are threatened with starvation and more than 1.4 million children are at immediate risk of death, we can’t afford any reductions in foreign aid funding,” said Carolyn Miles, President and CEO of Save the Children. “We understand and are grateful that lawmakers like Representatives Hal Rogers and Nita Lowey worked to protect mothers and children despite a disappointing allocation that is still subject to disproportionate cuts, but we must do more. We call on the Senate to support $60 billion for the fiscal year 2018 International Affairs budget, as well as increase funding for International Disaster Assistance and Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance specifically.”
“As Americans, we must do our part and make robust investments in creating a safer and more secure world, ensuring moms and kids everywhere have the chance to survive,” said Mark Shriver, president of SCAN. “We look forward to continuing our work with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to ensure our country maintains funding for international assistance in the final budget.”
Highlights from the bill include:
· Maternal and Child Health – $814.5 million
· Nutrition – $125 million
· Basic Education – $800 million
· Agriculture/Feed the Future – $1.006 billion
· International Disaster Assistance – $2.821 billion
· Migration and Refugee Assistance – $3.109 billion
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