U.S. Global Leadership Campaign ACTION ALERT

Action needed at Critical Decision Point for Appropriations Allocations

Congress Poised to Cut International Affairs Budget; Immediate Calls Needed
May 22, 2003

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED

Senate and House leadership and Appropriations Chairs are making final decisions this week to determine the amount of money each of the 13 appropriations subcommittees will be allocated this year. This is the critical step in determining the final level of funding for the Foreign Operations and Commerce Justice State bills that fund the U.S. International Affairs Budget.

Campaign officials are extremely concerned about numerous reports that indicate a substantial reduction in spending for the International Affairs account of $1 to $2 billion below the Administration’s request. It is essential that you call key legislators in the next 48 hours and urge their support for no less than the Administration’s request for the Foreign Ops allocation and the State Operations allocation.

BACKGROUND

Senate and House Leadership and Appropriations Chairmen are attempting to resolve a deadlock on dividing $785 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal year 2004 among the 13 appropriations subcommittees. These subcommittee allocations (known also as 302(b) allocations) will essentially set a ceiling on the amount of money each Appropriations subcommittee can spend for FY2004. As you will remember, the Administration requested $18.8 billion for Foreign Ops and $8.5 billion for State Operations in the CJS bill. Because the $785 billion overall discretionary spending cap came in more than $2 billion below the Administration’s overall spending request, allocations for both Foreign Ops and CJS are under extraordinary pressure.

CONTACT 6 KEY CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TODAY:

In the next 48 hours, contact the offices of six key Members of the House and Senate to urge support for no less than the full allocations for both the Foreign Operations bill and State Operations (under Commerce Justice State).

HOUSE

Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) – Speaker of the House Phone: (202) 225-2976 Fax: (202) 225-0697 Staff Contact: Jake Abel

Rep. Bill Young (R-FL) – House Appropriations Committee Chair Phone: (202) 225-5961 Fax: (202) 225-9764 Staff Contact: Brad Stine

Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) – House Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Phone: (202) 225-2542 Fax: (202) 225-0378 Staff Contact: Sean Mulvaney

SENATE

Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) – Senate Majority Leader Phone: (202) 224-3344 Fax: (202) 228-1264 Staff Contact: Andy Olson

Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) – Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Phone: (202) 224-3004 Fax: (202) 224-2354 Staff Contact: Karina Waller

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) – Senate Majority Whip, Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Phone: (202) 224-2541 Fax: (202) 224-2499 Staff Contact: Paul Grove

SAMPLE MESSAGE

We are calling to urge Congress to allocate no less than the Administration’s request for the appropriations bills that fund the U.S. International Affairs budget. We support the President’s request of $18.8 billion for Foreign Operations and $8.5 billion for State Operations as part of the Commerce, Justice, State allocation. At this critical time in our nation’s history, there is a strong consensus among the American public, Congress, the Administration, and national security experts that the International Affairs budget is an essential tool in our fight against world terrorism and in our efforts to promote global stability. We cannot afford to shortchange our diplomatic readiness at this turning point in our country’s national security.

Jason J. Gross Director, Government and Business Affairs U.S. Global Leadership Campaign 1920 L Street, NW 7th Floor Washington, DC 20036 phone (202) 955-1204 fax (202) 861-0811 jason@schrayer.com