Rep. Subramanyam’s Statement on State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) released the following statement after the House vote on the partisan National Security and Department of State government funding bill:

"As the War in Iran drags on for the 5th month, House Republicans pushed a funding bill to the floor for the State Department that further isolates our country.

It contains 20% less funding for our diplomatic and international development work and it doesn't include any funding for UNICEF or the United Nations, which will allow our adversaries to fill in the gaps. It cuts $500 million for global health programs, including HIV/AIDS prevention and health security, which means we will see more outbreaks and deaths.

The House also voted on several partisan, 'gotcha' amendments but failed to take up bipartisan amendments. For instance, while we need to have a serious conversation about our financial support for Israel and other countries in the region given the Iran war, these amendments were poorly conceived and would have undermined peacebuilding programs and embassy operations.

My own amendments on humanitarian aid to Gaza as well as Sudan, USAID, and preventing corruption in foreign policy were all ruled out of order by House Republicans and did not even get a vote.

The Trump administration and House Republicans have been a complete failure on foreign policy."