UNA-USA’s Statement on the SFOPs Appropriations Bill

The United Nations Associations of the USA (UNA-USA) Executive Director Rachel Bowen Pittman released the following statement on the fiscal year 2023 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs) Appropriations bill: 

No man or woman is an island. 

“The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) recognizes the importance of restoring American leadership and partnerships on the international stage and among our allies. This week, I was delighted to see a clear indication of support for diplomatic, development, and humanitarian response tools in the fiscal year 2023 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill. 

“Having just closed out Leadership Summit, I cannot forget to acknowledge the work done by UNA-USA members in meeting with their elected officials during virtual Lobby Day and making a case for continued US support for the UN. 

“This recent appropriations bill will fully fund the UN regular and the UN Peacekeeping budgets and provide close to $65 billion for international affairs, an increase of 15 percent above the fiscal year 2022 levels. I am proud to see the results of UNA-USA efforts in the rest of the investments below: 

 

  • Allows the U.S. to pay peacekeeping dues in full; 
  • Fully funds our assessments to the UN regular budget and other assessed agency dues like the World Health Organization; 
  • Increases investments in global health infrastructure by $1 billion; 
  • Increases, by over $100 million, investments to a range of UN agency, funds and programs; 
  • Provides $2 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in advance of the U.S. hosting the Fund’s seventh replenishment;
  • Ensures women’s health is protected by increasing family planning programming to $760 million and permanently repealing the “Global Gag Rule”; 
  • Directs $70 million toward UNFPA to support their lifesaving work; 
  • Provides authority and funding to resume contributions to UNESCO, a UN agency that promotes peace and cooperation through education, arts, and culture; and 
  • Supports essential multilateral investments in addressing the climate crisis with $1.6 billion to the Green Climate Fund and increases to the UNFCCC and the Montreal Protocol Fund. 

 

“UNA-USA members understand how today’s global events are relevant to every corner of the United States, from the most rural communities to the most urban cities. We are grateful for the work of SFOPS Chairwoman Barbara Lee and the Subcommittee for bridging the gap between domestic and international issues, reminding us that we are better together. As we await the appropriations process, we trust Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro will also push forth the same ideals of American values worldwide by supporting this package next week in the full House Appropriations Committee.”

 

About the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA):

The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) is a grassroots movement of Americans who support the vital work of the United Nations in U.S. communities, colleges, and Congress. For more than 75 years, UNA-USA and its national network of 20,000 members and 200 chapters have promoted strong U.S. leadership at the UN through advocacy campaigns, youth engagement, outreach programs, and public events. Learn more.