On the evening of July 9th, the House passed by a vote of 318 to 106 the FY10 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill, the largest component of the International Affairs Budget.  Four cutting amendments were defeated leaving intact the full $48.8 billion provided in the bill. The USGLC issued a statement praising Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY-18), and Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX-12), for shepherding through this bipartisan bill that supports the Administration’s “smart power” agenda of elevating the importance of diplomacy and development in U.S foreign policy and national security. Special thanks to Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI-07), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA-07), and Republican Floor Manager Mark Kirk (R-IL-10). The final vote included 242 Democrats and 76 Republicans in favor, while 9 Democrats and 97 Republicans voted against final passage.