FY2012 Foreign Ops Budget Could be Significantly Slashed
As the FY2012 budget looms, Congress is under pressure to enact serious cuts, some of which target the FY2012 State and Foreign Operations Budget. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) have submitted a letter to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of ...
September 26, 2011
Category: Congress, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Featured, Foreign Aid, Government, US foreign policy, US politics
Analysis: “Confirm Robert Ford as Syrian Ambassador”
In an op-ed for the LA Times, Max Boot, Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, arguesthat the Senate should confirm Robert Ford as Ambassador to Syria. Ford has been serving as ambassador since December, ...
Senate Releases State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced S.1601, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2012 and its accompanying report. The press release noted the committee’s difficult task of funding more with less, including “responding to the turbulent events in the Middle East and North Africa,” with a total budget of $44.64 billion, which is $6.15 billion below the President’s request. On the Middle East and North Africa: ...
September 23, 2011
Category: Congress, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Hamas, Jordan, Lebanon, Legislation, Palestine, Political transition, Tunisia, United Nations, US foreign policy
Analysis: Foreign Aid Funds Technology to Protect Protesters
Writing in the Los Angeles Times, Doyle McManus argues that as "Congress is getting ready to make deep cuts in federal spending, including foreign aid, one program it ought to spare" is the State Department's funding of Internet and ...
September 19, 2011
Category: Congress, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Featured, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Protests, Syria, Technology, US foreign policy
Kirk: “Standing for Human Rights” in the Senate
Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) published the first edition of his newsletter entitled "Standing for Human Rights," in which he outlines his efforts, through various programs and legislation, to champion human rights through the United States Senate. Among his initiatives ...
September 15, 2011
Category: Congress, Democracy Promotion, Featured, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Iraq, Legislation, sanctions, Syria, US foreign policy, US politics
New Legislation Demands Cooperation From TNC Before Frozen Assests are Released
In the latest legislation introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the Pan Am 103 Accountability Act calls upon President Barack Obama to "continue any investigative activities of any Federal agencies with regard to the bombing of Pan Am flight ...
September 14, 2011
Category: Congress, Democracy Promotion, Featured, Government, Libya, US foreign policy
Rubio: America Must Champion Democracy Abroad
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations delivered a speech Tuesday at the Jesse Helms' Center emphasizing the need for America to "champion the cause of freedom—not only with the power of our example but also ...
September 14, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Congress, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Iran, Libya, Military, Reform, Syria, US foreign policy
September 12, 2011
Category: Congress, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Featured, Foreign Aid, Government, Legislation, US foreign policy, US politics
Rep. Berman Unveils Foreign Assistance Reform Bill
On Thursday, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Howard Berman (D-CA), unveiled a foreign assistance reform bill. The aim of the bill is reform and shape the obsolete Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Sarah Trister, advocacy officer at ...
Legislation Tying NTC Funding to Cooperation on Lockerbie Bombing is Announced
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced a new piece of legislation entitled the "Pan Am 103 Accountability Act" which requires President Obama to certify that the NTC or "any successor government" in Libya fully cooperates with "any U.S. Government ...
Sen. Graham: “U.S. Should Spend More on Foreign Aid”
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for the U.S. government to spend more money on foreign aid to countries in the Middle East. He noted his work on securing a $1 billion aid package for Egypt before that country's ...
Ros-Lehtinen Introduces Bill to “Slash” U.N. Funding
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Relations, introduced a bill to cut U.S. contributions to the U.N. if certain major changes are not made. The announcement was made ahead of the planned vote for Palestinian statehood, a vote Ros-Lehtinen opposes. Her spokesperson Brad Goehner said, "Chairman Ros-Lehtinen felt it was important to introduce the bill, which includes a title withholding U.S. funding to U.N. entities which ...
Libya: U.S. Reaffirms Commitment to TNC, Speculation on Congressional Support
Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns led the U.S. delegation to the Libya Contact Group meeting in Turkey today. State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said the meeting "was characterized by an upbeat spirit and recognition of what our combined efforts have helped to achieve." Separately, Burns met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to discuss a variety of issues. Commenting at the talks, Burns called on the TNC to live up to ...
August 25, 2011
Category: Congress, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Libya, Multilateralism, Political transition, US foreign policy
Libya: U.S. Works to Release Funds, More Regional Recognition
Events in Libya remain very fluid as the rebels advance further into Tripoli. Claims last night that Saif al-Islam Gadhafi was captured were contradicted by his appearance rallying pro-Gadhafi supporters. There are also reports that Muhammed Gadhafi, captured ...
IFES Announces 2011 Democracy Awards Recipients
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems announced their 2011 Democracy Awards Recipients. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT.), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Judge Johann Kriegler of South Africa have been selected and will receive their awards on September 15 at IFES' annual Democracy Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C. In the announcement, IFES's chairman Peter Kelly said, "Senator Leahy embodies Chuck Manatt’s commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their social status or country, ...
Rep McDermott Introduces Medical Neutrality Bill in House
Last week, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), with Congressmen Walter Jones (D-NC), John Conyers (D-MI), and Keith Ellison (D-MN) introduced H.R.2643, the Medical Neutrality Protection Act "to provide for medical neutrality and to establish accountability for violationsof the principle of medical neutrality, and for other purposes" partly in response to the recent targeting of medical personnel in the Arab Spring uprisings. This bill will require the Secretary of State to maintain, at least annually, a ...
Senate Women Urge Overturn of Saudi Women Driving Ban
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), along with several other Senators, including Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ...
July 27, 2011
Category: Civil Society, Congress, Featured, Freedom, Human Rights, Saudi Arabia, Women, Women's Rights
House State & Foreign Op’s Bill Makes Significant Cuts
On Wendesday, the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee held a markup session and voted to pass the 2012 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, as is, to the full committee. The bill would dramatically reduce funding ...
July 27, 2011
Category: Committee Meetings, Congress, Featured, Foreign Aid, Legislation, US foreign policy