New House Majority Considering Sharp Reductions to Foreign Aid Programs
WASHINGTON–The House Republican leadership has announced efforts to cut Fiscal Year 2011 (FY2011) spending, which may include a projected reduction in foreign aid programs of special interest to Armenian Americans, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Sources on Capitol Hill report that the House Appropriations Committee is meeting today to review cuts in the Continuing Resolution (CR), adopted by Congress last year to fund U.S. government programs until Congress makes a final determination about the current year’s spending levels. Speaking publicly recently on this topic, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) explained, “Never before has Congress undertaken a task of this magnitude. The cuts in this CR will represent the largest reduction in discretionary spending in the history of our nation.”
It is not clear yet exactly how this will impact aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, and other Armenian American aid priorities, but many legislators have, in recent weeks, targeted international affairs spending for sharp cuts. Details on proposed foreign aid allocations to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh will likely be available later this week.
Full House consideration of the measure, scheduled for next week, may include additional adjustments in FY2011 spending through amendments offered on the floor. No date has yet been announced for Senate consideration of the CR.
Seeking to protect the U.S. aid programs to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, the ANCA is in touch with legislators in support of these investments in peace and long-term stability. Letters sent to Congress underscore how these allocations reflect our values as Americans, advance our national interests in a pivotal region of the world, and reinforce our ties to Armenia, a friend and ally of the United States. In Washington, DC, through chapter-level local contacts, and via broad-based on-line activism, the ANCA is asking legislators to support the following foreign aid priorities:
- At least $50 million in economic aid to Armenia, in order to strengthen Armenia’s independence and help offset the devastating impact of dual Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades.
- At least $10 million in military aid to Armenia, with the understanding that, based on a long-standing practice and in the interest of regional stability, Azerbaijan does not receive any more military aid than Armenia.
- At least $10 million in development aid to Nagorno Karabakh.
- Maintain Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, and include a provision to end military aid to Azerbaijan if its leadership continues to threaten to renew Baku’s aggression against Nagorno Karabakh or Armenia.
ANCA Webmails to members of the House and Senate highlights the constructive cooperation of Armenia with the United States on a broad range of regional, security, and peace-keeping challenges: “The Armenian government sent troops to Iraq as part of our Coalition operations, has forces in Kosovo as part of NATO peacekeeping efforts, and has sent a contingent of forces to Afghanistan in support of our nation’s military mission. In addition, Armenia is actively and constructively engaged in the OSCE Minsk Group’s Nagorno Karabakh peace process and, despite any meaningful reciprocation from Turkey, remains party to a set of Protocols aimed at normalizing bilateral ties between the two nations.”
The ANCA alert is available here:
Let’s stop begging on the Hill – 500,000 Armenians in the US can collect $100 million and spend it for Armenia and Artsakh – it’s less the a $1/day per American-Armenian ($200/year). Some will donate less, others will donate more – the important thing is that everybody who pays taxes should pitch in and make a pledge.
Why ask the government that is essentially supporting this blockade to help “offset its devastating impact”?
How can they do it? By sending corrupt and overpaid USAID contractors to live their lavish lives there?
And with Artsakh, wasn’t it just a few months ago that the truth was uncovered about the State Department REFUSING to spend the money already appropriated by Congress for years?
Just compare this with a road construction project called ICC near our National Capital – 18.8 miles cost $2.56 billion or $136,489,362.00 PER MILE… and that’s before the expected cost overruns.
We are basically begging to give Armenia and Artsakh the same amount of money per year to what it costs to build a 0.5 mile of highway.
And will they succeed?
I agree with Hye-Phenated. I think it is up to the Armenian American community to directly help Armenia and Artsakh, and to some degree even Javakh and Hamshens. That does not mean we should not be receiving money that the United States has already earmarked for Armenia. 46 million dollars may not be a lot by American standards, but it can sure bring a lot of aid to a much needed region. Armenians in Armenia should also focus on ways of increasing areas such as air transportation (being an international hub), tourism, information technology, and healthcare technology. We can not be an industrial power, but we can sure as hell be a service and technology power.
“he devastating impact of dual Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades.”….and your poiliticians says everytime, the blockade doesnt affect anything…..
I know what the ANCA should do, thank Kken, and Allen and all those democrats that have hijacked this organization and begged many Armenians to vote for this administration.
Christo, and did you vote for a McCain whose postion, openly (but not lying) stated no interest in the issue of the Turkish Genocide of the Armenians – or even any interest in ending the cycle of Genocides. Just think, if McCain had won, become incapacitated, then today our president would be a Sarah Palin – who obviously is as an Obama…
Manooshag