Today’s release of the FY22 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill provides a much-need increase of an additional 9% for critical development, diplomacy, and global health programs that are essential to the safety and economic interests of all Americans. We are grateful for the thoughtful and strong leadership of SFOPS Committee Chair Chris Coons and Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy.

At the same time, we are very concerned about the growing global challenges impacting America’s economic and health recovery, many of which have accelerated over the past several months – from global COVID-19 vaccination challenges impacting the fight against new variants to responding to rising humanitarian disasters. That is why experts have continued to call for America to step up and do more.

As negotiations between Congress and the Administration on final FY22 spending bills begin in earnest, we urge them to provide no less than the House-approved funding level to ensure our international affairs investments truly meet today’s unprecedented global needs.