UNION CITY, Georgia — The year 2024 is around the corner. With it comes the U.S.’s responsibility to honor its commitments and ensure funding essential for combating global poverty and hunger. Maintaining support and funding for initiatives that are helping to deal with multiple humanitarian crises worldwide is vital to the larger goal of eliminating global poverty. The U.S. 2024 appropriations are essential for humanitarian aid.
What Is This Bill Exactly?
According to the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Chris Coons, “This bill is a bipartisan product that would strengthen our national security, enhance U.S. international leadership and deliver on our commitments to partners and allies. We are often reminded that we live in a complex and dangerous world. Ensuring our safety and protecting livelihoods at home requires concerted, sustained engagement abroad.” The Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act provides nearly $62 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other essential related programs. These programs serve as the vehicles for distributing these funds where they are needed worldwide.
Which Funding in This Bill Supports Humanitarian Aid?
This bill provides $2 billion of funding to USAID, reinforcing its capability to promote the U.S.’s efforts to further the country’s international development and humanitarian efforts. The funding also helps to further develop the workforce, enabling USAID to fulfill its vital responsibilities. It includes an increase of $53 million from fiscal year 2023.
The bill provides funding for strengthening and maintaining global health security. The funding is paramount to continue and enhance global health initiatives. In total, $900 million is devoted towards global health security. There is also $300 million explicitly devoted to the GAVI Alliance to help in its efforts to vaccinate children worldwide in the poorest countries.
The bill provides funding of $565 million, establishing a new and vital multi-agency initiative called the Economic Resilience Initiative. This initiative specifically provides new funding of $200 million for the Treasury Department, which will help strengthen access to financing for poverty reduction activities.
The bill devotes $9.1 billion towards programs that provide humanitarian assistance to combat forced displacement, food insecurity and other issues that further poverty. It includes an increase of $691 million from fiscal year 2023.
$448 million will go towards funding the Peace Corps, an $18 million increase from fiscal year 2023.
In the fight against food insecurity, the bill provides $1.1 billion in funding for the Feed the Future initiative. The funding specifically targets the modernization of U.S. agriculture and food security programming, enabling the U.S. to target countries with the greatest need. It has an increase of $100 million from fiscal year 2023.
What Is the Status of the Bill?
The House Committee on Appropriations voted the bill out of committee on June 22, 2023, and sent it to the House floor. The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the bill on July 20, 2023. The full House of Representatives approved the bill on September 28, 2023. The bill has yet to be passed by the U.S. Senate. This bill’s bipartisan support shows that the U.S. 2024 appropriations are vital for humanitarian aid.
Conclusion
The U.S. 2024 appropriations are vital for humanitarian aid. The U.S. must meet its commitments and continue to be a leader in the global fight against poverty and food insecurity. This bill enhances U.S. security, supports U.S. allies and helps programs throughout the world continue to provide and promote global health. The efforts this bill funds are renewed and passed every year, and this endeavor must continue for future years. The U.S. plays a pivotal role as a wealthy superpower and an influential member of the international community.
– Gary Williams
Photo: Flickr