WASHINGTON, D.C.– Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) and House Appropriations Subcommittee Republicans released the fiscal year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs funding Bill. The legislation would channel funds to pro-America initiatives whilst gutting programs that surreptitiously aid Communist China and other international adversaries. As such, the move would reduce federal spending requested by the Biden White House by 24%, but House Democrats have taken the position that the appropriations measure threatens national security and women's rights around the world.
“This bill prioritizes America’s national security interests by: countering Communist China’s malign influence throughout the globe; prohibiting all funding for any Iran deal that is not approved by Congress; providing funds to combat narco- terrorism and stop lethal drugs such as fentanyl from crossing the southern border; supporting democracy programs and informative broadcasts into repressive countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Communist China, Belarus, and Iran,” said Rep. Diaz-Balart.
Additionally, Rep. Diaz-Balart also underscored the bill’s impact on funding for international organizations such as the United Nations (U.N.) or the World Health Organization (W.H.O.). Both have been accused by conservatives of capitulating to the demands of Russia, China, and progressive lobbies.
“The State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs bill, of the subcommittee that I chair, will ensure that the American taxpayer does not foot the bill for overseas abortions, controversial climate change programs that have no hope of actually impacting climate change and bloated international organizations such as the United Nations and World Health Organization which have lost all credibility and failed in their core missions,” said Diaz-Balart.
Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, I am proud of the @HouseAppropsGOP FY24 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee appropriations bill which ensures American taxpayer funds do not support foreign organizations involved in promoting…
— Mario Diaz-Balart (@MarioDB) June 24, 2023
House Appropriations Committee Democrats were quick to denounce the proposed bill. A press release subsequent to that of Republicans condemned the Bill as one “that threatens our national security and puts the American people and public health preparedness at risk”.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee expressed her disdain regarding the bill’s authors’ attitude toward the WHO and UN.
“The world is full of threats that don’t respect borders, from climate change, to pandemics, to assertive dictators. We can’t stick our head in the sand and think it will all go away. We need to work with partners to address these challenges. This Republican bill leaves America vulnerable and shirks our commitments,” said Rep. Lee.
The UN and WHO have been under strict scrutiny by Republicans for increasingly adopting and endorsing progressive values and initiatives. Among other reasons, Republicans have criticized the UN and WHO for endorsing the fundamentally socialist idea of Universal Health Care access. Republicans also expressed concern over the WHO’s calling for the inclusion of publicly funded abortion and gender affirming care for individuals suffering gender dysphoria within such Universal Health Care.
“American taxpayers cannot be expected to shoulder every burden, pay controversial “woke” programs abroad, or be expected to fund the lion’s share of multilateral institutions that actively work against their interests,” remarked Diaz-Balart.
The bill’s enactment could lead to a further breakdown between US-China relations, as the latter has tightened its grip over the UN and WHO in recent years. Republicans will nonetheless point to the Biden White House's failure to compete with China internationally, notwithstanding this administration's extensive cooperation with the UN and WHO, as proof that involvement in such agencies is antithetical to America’s goals and desires.
