Ranking Member Lee Statement on House Passage of FY25 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill

Ranking Member Lee Statement on House Passage of FY25 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill

Washington, D.C. - Today, the House passed Republicans' harmful and extreme 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs funding bill that unravels the hard-fought credibility and influence the United States has earned to be a global leader. The legislation weakens our national security and puts the American people and public health preparedness at risk. It proposes a 12 percent cut below 2024 to the bill's overall funding level.

"As Ranking Member of the State and Foreign Operations Committee, I am deeply disappointed by the bill that passed the House floor today-and concerned for its implications for the United States and our allies should it pass the Senate," State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Ranking Member Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) said. "If enacted, this partisan bill would slash our diplomatic and development programs by a shocking 12 percent-while at the same time seeking to increase military spending by $8.5 billion. Such a drastic cut will weaken America and leave us vulnerable to our adversaries, continuing a dangerous trend that puts the Pentagon on steroids while leaving diplomacy and development on life support. I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to reject this vision of America's role in the world and advance a bill that prioritizes our allies and partners instead of leaving them to fend for themselves."

Congresswoman Lee's full remarks as prepared for delivery are here.

"Much like last year, the 2025 State and Foreign Operations bill resurrects the doomed isolationism of the early 20th century. By proposing a 12 percent cut to the funding level Democrats and Republicans just agreed to, Republicans are promoting extremism and diminishing the United States' global leadership," Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. "This harmful bill weakens our national security, shortchanges foreign assistance, harms women around the world, and hinders our ability to address the climate crisis. I urge my Republican colleagues to stop threatening our national security and our standing on the world stage by pursuing dangerous bills. We must stop this charade and come together to negotiate a bill that rises to meet this moment of historic global conflict and instability, and which can gain the support of Democrats and Republicans in both the House and the Senate."

Congresswoman DeLauro's full remarks as prepared for delivery are here.

A summary of the bill can be found here. A fact sheet of the bill is here.

This bill:

• Threatens national security by abdicating U.S. world leadership at the United Nations (UN) and other multilateral and international financial institutions by not including any funding for the UN Regular budget, the UN Development Program, UN Women, and UNICEF.
• Threatens women's health globally by prohibiting the United States from contributing to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), substantially underfunding bilateral family planning, and reinstating the Global Gag Rule on non-governmental organizations that receive U.S. assistance.
• Hampers the U.S. response to the climate crisis by eliminating support for communities' ability to adapt to weather changes, sustainable landscapes, and clean energy programming.
• Underfunds the operations and staffing of the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).