US lawmakers have rejected President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts to US foreign policy and assistance programs by advancing a $56.4 billion spending bill, the House Appropriations Committee said in a news release on Friday
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 10th May, 2019) US lawmakers have rejected President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts to US foreign policy and assistance programs by advancing a $56.4 billion spending bill, the House Appropriations Committee said in a news release on Friday."The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs today approved its fiscal year 2020 bill. In total, the bill provides $56.4 billion in base discretionary funding $2.2 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $13.7 billion above the President's budget request," the release said.
Key features of the bill include a close to $886 million funding increase for the US Department of State and related agencies to $17.2 billion, and language that prohibits the use of funds to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.
"This bill reflects Congressional priorities to advance US foreign policy and our foreign assistance programs," House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Chairwoman Nita Lowey said in the release. "It rejects the Administration's unacceptable, irresponsible FY2020 requests and reaffirms strong support for reproductive health, climate change, and multilateral assistance. "
The bill next heads to the full House Appropriations Committee for markup and is expected to reach the House floor in June.
