April 2: International Affairs Budget At Risk
Prevent War: International Affairs Budget At Risk
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Bridget testifies before Congress. |
1. Hill Update: Budget Committees Cut International Affairs Budget – Act Now!
The House and Senate Budget Committees have cut billions from President Barack Obama's request for international affairs spending. Although we anticipated cuts in the Senate, the cuts in the House were unexpected. The deep cuts to the administration’s request in both chambers - $5.3 billion in the House and $4 billion in the Senate – will make it even more difficult to increase investments in the nonmilitary tools of diplomacy, development, and international cooperation that the United States urgently needs.
Act Now! The full Senate is considering amendments today and may vote on its budget resolution before the end of this week. Call your senators today and urge them to support the Kerry-Lugar amendment to restore funding for the international affairs budget. This amendment would bring the funding back up to the president’s request.
2. FCNL Urges House Subcommittee to Invest in Prevention
Last Wednesday, FCNL was invited to testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. In my testimony, I thanked the subcommittee for its support of key diplomatic, development and international programs, and urged members to invest in tools to better prevent deadly conflict and build durable peace.
After my remarks, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (IL) noted, “The Friends Committee has been our national conscience on human rights, poverty and humanitarian aid. Your points today are well made and very thought provoking.” You can read my testimony on FCNL's website.
3. April Is Genocide Prevention Month – Get Involved!
Today marks the beginning of Genocide Prevention Month – a campaign organized by the Genocide Prevention Project. This month, six major events and dozens of smaller activities are happening around the world to commemorate genocides and mass atrocities that began in April. Find events near your community, or organize a local film showing, book reading, or other educational discussion.
The campaign will kick off tomorrow with an online premiere of The Last Survivor – a new documentary which tells the powerful stories of four genocide survivors. Watch the film online or organize a house party to watch the film with a group. Get your community involved in making “never again” a reality.
4. Additional Resources
Call in the Police (but please help them first) (International Crisis Group)
World’s hungry exceed 1 billion, U.N. tells Financial Times (Reuters)
5. New Resources at FCNL.org
My colleague Trevor Keck and I recently took part in an exchange on The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine. We were asked: “Is the Responsibility to Protect an important step forward for the international system or a step backward to great power intervention, and how should the Obama Administration approach this doctrine?
You can read our initial article, R2P: Focus on Prevention, and our exchange with other writers.
FCNL Urges Administration to Pursue Diplomacy, Not War in Afghanistan