International Affairs
Spending for 2006

Citizens for Global Solutions monitors the Congressional Appropriations process to ensure that U.S. lawmakers are providing adequate resources for important foreign policy initiatives. Our priorities include the full payment of U.S. contributions to international organizations, like the United Nations, and UN peacekeeping activities as well as an array of multilateral initiatives involving global health, the environment, regional peacekeeping and the international rule of law.

spending bills:
How do they work?

The Appropriations process begins with the President's Budget request, typically made in February, which provides an estimate for Congress. Over the next several months, the House and Senate debate spending priorities and pass 12 separate Appropriations bills with jurisdiction over various types of spending.  Final totals are determined in Conference Committees, which bring House and Senate lawmakers together to reconcile differences between legislation from both chambers.

The U.S. fiscal year ends on September 30th. If Appropriations bills have not been signed into law by then, which is often the case, Congress must pass Continuing Resolutions, which allow the government to operate temporarily without an approved budget.

Want to Know About this Year's International Affairs Spending Process?
+ CLICK HERE

HIGHLIGHTS OF '06 BILLS

There are two bills that fund U.S. International Affairs (IA) spending – the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill and the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations (SSJC) bill. Total IA spending appropriated by lawmakers in 2006 amounts to $30.585 billion, which was 9 percent below the President’s request. Click below to see highlights and analysis of each bill.

Click for Highlights of Foreign Ops Accounts
+ FOREIGN OPERATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

Click for Highlights of State Department Accounts
+ SSJC HIGHLIGHTS

MAJOR WINNERS
                                  ...AND LOSERS

To recap, the two bills that make up the International Affairs budget, also known as the "Function 150" account, are the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill and the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations (SSJC) bill.  While some global matters fared well and will receive adequate US funding in the coming fiscal year, many other important issues lost out.

Check out the major winners and losers.
+ CLICK HERE                    

Updated December 14, 2005