With spending caps lifted, SFOPS funding should be restored

WASHINGTON — Now that Congress has lifted the spending caps imposed by the Budget Control Act for 2018 and 2019, The ONE Campaign is urging Congress to invest some of the new non-defense discretionary spending in State and Foreign Operations accounts.

Tom Hart, North America executive director at The ONE Campaign:

“Now that Congress has lifted the spending caps on non-defense discretionary spending, it should restore some of the funding taken from State and Foreign Operations account, which saves innocent lives, helps create jobs here in America, and makes our country safer.

“Last year, no area of non-defense discretionary spending received a larger percentage cut from Congress than SFOPS — 17 percent in the House and 11 percent in the Senate. While ONE and its nine million members appreciate the bipartisan efforts in Congress to spare some life-saving programs from even deeper cuts during the appropriations cycle, we are at pivotal moment when we need more diplomacy and development.

“In the face of alarming new threats to our national security and the worst global food crisis in more than 50 years, now is the time for Congress to restore funding to support the good that America does beyond its borders, and bolster the non-military institutions that help keep America safe. Now that the spending caps on non-defense discretionary spending have been lifted, Congress must not forget about the State and Foreign Operations account and the important, life-saving work it does to advance America’s foreign policy and national security objectives.”