Congressman Pat Harrigan Votes to Support National Security and America First Foreign Policy Priorities

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) voted in favor of H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, legislation that funds our nation's diplomatic and national security priorities while restoring accountability to how American taxpayer dollars are spent overseas.

"This is what it looks like when foreign policy is built around a simple question: does this make America safer and stronger? If the answer is no, we shouldn't be paying for it," said Congressman Harrigan. "This legislation directs real resources toward countering China's global influence, stopping the flood of fentanyl killing Americans in every corner of this country, and cutting off funding to biased international bodies that have failed to earn our trust. At the same time, it eliminates wasteful and politicized spending that never should have been funded in the first place."

The legislation includes a number of provisions Congressman Harrigan has consistently pushed for, including:

• Countering China's Global Influence: Dedicates no less than $400 million to counter Chinese Communist Party influence worldwide, prohibits funds from supporting the Belt and Road Initiative, and blocks any assistance to the government of the People's Republic of China or the CCP directly.
• Fighting the Fentanyl Crisis: Dedicates no less than $175 million specifically to counter the flow of fentanyl and fentanyl precursors into the United States from China, Mexico, and other source countries.
• Ending Wasteful and Ideological Spending: Blocks funding for the Green Climate Fund, the Paris Agreement, gain-of-function research, and any programs that promote gender ideology or discriminatory DEI practices, consistent with the President's executive orders.
• Putting America's Interests First: Prohibits contributions to the UN Human Rights Council, UNRWA, the International Criminal Court, and the World Health Organization, redirecting those resources toward America's own strategic priorities.

Congressman Harrigan will continue working to ensure these America First priorities are fully funded and enacted as the legislation moves forward.