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.

A summary of the bill is available here.

Bill Report is available here.

Bill Text is available here.

Chairman Díaz-Balart’s opening remarks from today can be read here.

Click here to watch the Full Committee Markup.

“As Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, I am proud of this legislation which funds our national security by drastically reducing wasteful spending overall. There were two critical components I considered within every decision made-our national debt and our national security. This bill includes real cuts with a 24% reduction from the Administration’s request and a 12% reduction from last year’s funding level. I am proud of the hard work that went into this important legislation. We scrubbed every program to ensure efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness.

Directly tied to our national security, is confronting our adversaries. To address the growing national security threat posed by China, this measure prioritizes countering the malign influence of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and for the first time, provides Foreign Military Financing grants to help democratic Taiwan deter PRC coercion and aggression. Additionally, this legislation provides unwavering support for our democratic ally, Israel, and two other vital security partners in the region-Egypt and Jordan.

Just as we must work to counter malign influences, we must also stand with our friends. In our own hemisphere, this bill includes key advancements to promote democracy and human rights. This measure supports democracy programs and informative broadcasts into repressive countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Communist China, Belarus, and Iran. Furthermore, it directs the State Department to strengthen and reward key partners in our hemisphere, such as Panama, the Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. This bill also provides funding to counter fentanyl and other illicit drug trafficking across the southern border, while also providing medical and other humanitarian assistance to Haiti.

This bill represents a significantly different approach, but it is also straightforward. If you are a friend or an ally of the United States, this bill supports you. If you are an enemy or are cozying up to our enemies, then you will not like this bill. Organizations that advance freedom and deliver results favorable to American interests are supported. Organizations that elevate human rights abusers, conspire with autocrats, reject transparency, and tolerate anti-Semitic sentiment do not merit support. This bill represents a significant departure from the status quo as we demonstrate a fresh approach to foreign affairs, one that recognizes the importance of safeguarding American interests, supporting our allies, and ensuring fiscal well-being.”

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 we mark the two-year anniversary 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.