Over the past few months, lawmakers have scrambled to wrap up policy and spending agendas before adjourning the first session of the 109th Congress. While the overall political climate has remained relatively hostile to such foreign policy tracks as United Nations funding and support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), Citizens for Global Solutions was able to help secure a number of important legislative victories.

In October, the Senate approved an amendment offered by Senator John McCain, (R-AZ), condemning acts of torture and inhuman treatment of detainees under U.S. custody. Approved by a 90 to 9 vote, the amendment still faces opposition from the Bush Administration, which has sought to exempt the CIA from its provisions. Nonetheless, the Senate’s action illustrates an increased desire to shore up America’s standing as a leader in international human rights. 

Successful battles were also waged over an amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which called for removing $4 million in funds to study a Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator. Despite pressure from the President, Congress voted against research and development of a new “Bunker Buster” nuclear weapon. The administration has since backed off from the initiative and is unlikely to push it in the future.

An important step forward was made with the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, which passed unanimously in the Senate in November and aims to combat genocide in Darfur. The act grants increased authority to the President to take concrete steps towards addressing the ongoing genocide in the region and calls for much needed support for the African Union Mission in Sudan.

Progress, it should be noted, was also seen in the promotion of health and environment practices throughout the developing world. In November, Congress passed “The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act,” which seeks to halve the number of people worldwide living without clean water and safe sanitation by 2015. The act passed the House of Representatives by a 319 to 34 vote, was approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President.

Despite these legislative successes, the overall foreign policy landscape remains tenuous. Foreign aid spending for the next fiscal year limits Economic Support Fund assistance to countries that support the ICC but have not signed a Bilateral Immunity Agreement with the U.S. Moreover, Congress has failed to authorize the full payment of UN peacekeeping dues and, as a result, the U.S. is now accruing arrears to the UN.

Funding issues weren’t all doom and gloom, especially for a tight budget year. Legislators allocated $258 million more than the president requested to combat HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Breakthroughs such as these bring hope that there will be more victories and fewer defeats over spending priorities in the future. The next big test will be the President’s fiscal year 2007 budget request slated to come out in February 2006. Citizens for Global Solutions, as always, will be watching and waiting.
 

Updated December 15, 2005