Monthly Archives: August 2011
Congress has adjourned for the August recess on the heels of several intense months of budget work and negotiations – all of which have very real impacts on the International Affairs Budget. Before adjourning, Congress passed – and the President signed into law – a budget agreement to raise the debt ceiling. Under this agreement, the International Affairs Budget could face very deep cuts given how security and non-security spending are capped for F12 and FY13. …
Emerging markets are a new and important economic reality American businesses must take advantage of. According to Alexai Bayer’s recent article, Emerging markets: Moving from Threat to Opportunity, investing in these rapidly growing markets, home to 95% of the world’s consumers, is key to creating economic growth and jobs here at home. “Emerging markets are [...]
This morning, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) authored an op-ed for the Washington Post in strong support of U.S. global engagement, even in difficult economic times. Senator Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote “energetic global leadership is a strategic imperative for America, not a favor we do for other countries.” He added “We [...]
1. Debt Ceiling Deal Adopted; Assessing Impact on International Affairs Budget
2. House Appropriations Committee Postpones FY12 State-Foreign Operations Bill Markup
Last night, the House passed the compromise agreement to raise the debt ceiling by a bipartisan vote of 269-to-161. The Senate is scheduled to take up the compromise agreement this afternoon, where it is expected to pass. After approving the deal, Members will head back to their districts for the traditional August recess. Must Reads [...]
A recent report released by the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization reports substantial progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving world poverty. In addition to progress in the MDGs, the report demonstrates that economic engagement with developing countries is successful in lifting millions out of poverty and making the world [...]
1. House State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee Passes FY12 Bill; Full Committee Markup Schedule for Next Week
2. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Kerry Releases FY12-FY13 State Department Authorization Bill
Last night, President Obama and congressional leaders from both parties endorsed a deal to raise the debt ceiling and prevent government default. The agreement, expected to pass both the House and the Senate this week, would set discretionary spending caps of $1.043 trillion for FY12 and $1.047 trillion for FY13, separating defense and non-defense spending. [...]
