Bills
| 3.23.22

The State Department and Foreign Aid Bill for Fiscal Year 2015 (H.R. 5013)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 5013?

(Updated July 13, 2017)

The bill provides annual funding for the surplus of the federal government's international affairs programs. Funding for the State Department makes up roughly one-third of this total, with the remaining two-thirds fund Foreign Operations. Included in the more than 150 different entities the bill funds are the Office of the Inspector General, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the United States Institute of Peace, and the Foreign Military Financing Program. 


According to the House Committee on Appropriations, the bill 

totals $48.3 billion in both regular discretionary and Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding. This total is $708 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $277 million below the President’s request for these programs. Within this amount, OCO is funded at $5.9 billion and will support operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as well as stabilization and humanitarian efforts in areas of conflict around the globe. 

Argument in favor

Large reduction from the previous year's bill. Large dollar amounts for child migrants and refugees.

Argument opposed

Cuts international family planning by 25%. Renaming the embassy street is in very bad taste.

Impact

The bill impacts the State Department and United States' foreign affairs programs.

Cost of H.R. 5013

This cost is as reported by the House Committee on Appropriations.

Additional Info

Media:








Of Note:

-The third amendment (see below) involves renaming the street in front of the Beijing embassy in Washington, D.C. after an imprisoned Chinese dissident. The amendment has drawn fire from Chinese officials. 

-Four amendments were added to the bill before it was approved by the House Committee. They are: 

Rep. Granger – The manager’s amendment makes technical and non-controversial changes to the bill and report, including language related to Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) and Iraq. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Lowey – The amendment adds language to the bill related to health care coverage for Peace Corps volunteers. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote. 

Rep. Wolf – The amendment adds language to the bill renaming a street in the District of Columbia after Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote. 

Rep. Kaptur – The amendment adds report language encouraging USAID to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, with emphasis on agricultural assistance to rural women. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.


(Image Credit: Burlington Public Library)