FY 2012 Budget Materials

FY 2012 Timeline

February 14, 2011 — President Obama releases his FY12 budget request, including $53.1 billion for the “core” International Affairs Budget and $8.7 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). The President’s request continues the bipartisan legacy of classifying the International Affairs Budget as part of national security spending. USGLC released a press release applauding the budget request as well as its signature comprehensive analysis.
April 6, 2011 — House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) releases his FY12 budget resolution, which cut the core International Affairs Budget request to $32.3 billion while fully funding the $8.7 billion OCO account (for a total of $41.0 billion), resulting in an overall 27% reduction from 2010 levels. In addition, Chairman Ryan broke with bipartisan tradition by not classifying the International Affairs Budget as part of national security spending. USGLC expressed “great concern” at the scale of the cut.
April 13, 2011 — The House Budget Committee passes the budget resolution by a 22-16 vote.
April 13, 2011 — President Obama makes a major policy speech on budgets and spending, proposing to reduce future deficits in part by limiting discretionary spending.
April 15, 2011 — The full House of Representatives passes the House budget resolution by a 235-193 vote, while four alternative budget proposals were defeated.
May 11, 2011 — House Appropriations Committee announces its 302(b) allocations, which provide $47.2 billion for the State-Foreign Operations account, including $7.6 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding. This is a 19% cut from the President’s FY12 request and $11.2 billion (-22%) below FY10 levels for core, non-war related programs.
May 24, 2011 – The House Appropriations Committee adopted 302(b) allocations for FY12, including $47.2 billion for the State-Foreign Operations account, which funds most of the International Affairs Budget. The House appropriation allocation will result in deep cuts for non-war related programs, representing nearly a 20% reduction from FY 2010 levels and 22% from the President’s request.
May 25, 2011 – Senate rejects a number of FY12 budget proposals, including the House-passed FY12 budget resolution.
July 20, 2011 – House Foreign Affairs Committee passes H.R. 2583, FY12 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, by a 23-20 vote.
July 27, 2011 – House Appropriations Subcommittee for State-Foreign Operations marks up its FY12 spending bill, providing $47.2 billion for the International Affairs Budget.
July 27, 2011 – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) releases the FY12-13 State Department Authorization Act.
August 2, 2011 – President Obama signs into the law the debt ceiling budget agreement (respectively passed by both the House and Senate), which has implications for the International Affairs Budget.
September 13, 2011 – The Senate Appropriations Committee adopts its 302(b) allocations for FY12, including $53.34 billion for the State-Foreign Operations account. At $5 billion higher than the House allocation, the $44.64 billion for non-war related programs is effectively flat compared to current spending but 9.4% below FY10 levels.
September 21, 2011 – The Senate Appropriations Committee marks up its State-Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, providing $53.34 billion for the International Affairs Budget. The bill was voted out of committee by a 28-2 vote.
September 13, 2011 – The Senate Appropriations Committee adopts its 302(b) allocations for FY12, including $53.34 billion for the State-Foreign Operations account. At $5 billion higher than the House allocation, the $44.64 billion for non-war related programs is effectively flat compared to current spending but 9.4% below FY10 levels.
November 17, 2011 – Congress passes “minibus” appropriations package of three appropriations bills, including the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The bill provides$1.65 billion for international food aid programs, a slight decrease from FY11 levels but a significant improvement over the 28% cut in the House bill. A Continuing Resolution (CR) extending through December 16 is attached to the minibus.
December 17, 2011 – Congress clears for the President the “megabus” FY12 appropriations package that included the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill and the eight other remaining spending measures, finalizing action on FY12 appropriations. Congress approved $54.9 billion for the FY12 International Affairs Budget, $43.7 billion in base “core” spending and $11.2 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account.