Friend –

I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday and I wish you a very happy New Year!

Despite the uncertain start to the 118^th Congress taking place on the floor of the House Representatives as I write this note, I wanted to share the important end-of-the-year achievement for America’s International Affairs Budget. Just days before Christmas, the results of our work throughout 2022 were extraordinary, and I am deeply grateful for your support and advocacy.

The headline from the final Congressional Omnibus spending deal for the International Affairs Budget is a BIG deal, as I wrote in USGLC’s statement. Here are a few highlights:

This is the biggest increase to the core International Affairs Budget in six years.

• What was in the Omnibus? Certainly, the Ukraine aid package was the big news. However, the other significant storyline is the 6% increase to the core International Affairs Budget after years of largely steady funding – despite significant proposals for increases from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue for multiple budget cycles.
  
  
• By The Numbers: Final numbers for the FY23 International Affairs Budget total $78.3 billion: $61.7 billion in base funding – $3.7 billion or 6% above the FY22 enacted level – and $16.6 billion in emergency international affairs assistance to Ukraine.
  
  
• Why Is This So Significant? Despite a strong emergency funding level for Ukraine, this significant base increase survived in the final deal. This contrasts with what happened in 2021 during negotiations on an FY22 omnibus, which saw an 11^th hour shift from the base budget to pay for global emergency spending – a result Senate State-Foreign Operations (SFOPs) Chair Chris Coons (D-DE) decried as “raiding the SFOPS piggy bank.” This is truly critical given the growing global needs that impact our national interests, from the food crisis to ongoing global health, refugee, climate, and humanitarian needs, and so much more.

The outcome was not inevitable – Congressional Leaders and constituents were critical.

• Leadership Matters: Kudos go to recently retired Appropriations Chairman, and USGLC’s Lifetime Award honoree, Senator Patrick Leahy (VT); Senator Mitch McConnell (KY) and Representative Nancy Pelosi (CA) – both current and former USGLC honorees; Senators Chuck Schumer (NY); and SFOPs Leaders Senators Coons (DE) and Lindsey Graham (SC) and Representative Barbara Lee (CA) who truly did the heavy lifting; along with support on the House Appropriations Committee from Representatives Kay Granger (TX) and Hal Rogers (KY).
  
  
• Constituents Matter: Our State Leaders Network was instrumental in the final weeks leading up to a final deal – having real impact when it mattered most – with direct engagement with Members of Congress, especially key Congressional leaders and Appropriators. In the final days, a letter from members from our National Security Advisory Council who oversaw military operations in Europe and were uniquely familiar with Ukraine made the U.S. national security case for the effectiveness and importance of humanitarian and security assistance to Ukraine.

Looking back, 2022 was a momentous year, and I hope you are proud to be part of this extraordinary community. But it should not be lost on any of us that we will face a multitude of challenges in 2023 and that we will need to work to ensure resources continue to keep pace with the growing threats impacting our national interests. Yet, I am confident that together, we can meet the moment.

I am truly grateful for the USGLC community that strives to build a better, safer world.

Happy New Year, and thank you, as always.

Best,

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC