Senate Subcommittee Set to Consider its Version of Bill on Tuesday, July 23rd
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee has proposed a significant reduction in foreign aid spending for Fiscal Year 2014, approving a measure, on Monday, that would cut nearly 20% from both last year’s figures and the Obama Administration’s budget request, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
While specific country levels – including allocations for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh – have not yet been made public, sources report that across-the-board cuts are foreseen on most accounts, with some multilateral programs expected to be cut by up to 60%.
“With Congress considering unprecedented cuts in foreign aid spending, legislators in the House and Senate need to hear from their Armenian American constituents about the vital role that our aid programs to Armenia and Karabakh play in advancing U.S. interests in a strategic region,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “If you haven’t called your legislators, call them now. If you’ve already called, call them again. Make sure they know where you stand.”
Following up on today’s subcommittee action, the full House Appropriations Committee will review the foreign aid bill as early as next Wednesday, July 24th. A parallel process on the Senate side will begin on Tuesday, July 23rd, with the Senate State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee taking up its version of the measure.
Armenian Americans across the U.S. continue to contact Senate and House appropriators to advocate for a broad range of Armenian American concerns including:
– At least $5 million in U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabakh
– At least $50 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia
– At least 10% of U.S. assistance to Georgia to be earmarked for job creation programs in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of that country.
– Funds for humanitarian and resettlement assistance specifically targeted to Armenian and other Christian populations, as well as other minority communities affected by the recent unrest in the Middle East.
– Language strengthening Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan.
– Removal of barriers to contact and communication with representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
– Language calling for the participation of Nagorno Karabakh leaders in the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations
ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian travelled to Armenia and Karabakh last week as part of a mission that included first-hand surveys of the benefits of U.S. assistance programs for both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. In addition to meetings with Nagorno Karabakh Deputy Prime Minister Artur Aghabekyan, Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan and Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian, Nahapetian visited with representatives of the HALO Trust, which receives close to half of the $2 million annual U.S. assistance package to Karabakh for demining purposes.
HALO Trust offered shocking statistics about the ongoing maiming of civilians, including children, due to the landmines and explosive remnants in Karabakh, noting that the injury rate is ahead of even Afghanistan on a per capita basis. The ANCA has been advocating for the expansion of U.S. assistance to Karabakh to the $5 million level to address these concerns.
Armenian Americans and friends of Armenia and Karabakh can send a free ANCA WebMail to their legislators by visiting here.
You can read the full ANCA Congressional testimony offered in support of Armenian American foreign aid priorities by visiting here.
It appears that the U.S. Government must really like the governing style of Joseph Stalin. By continuing the current Foreign Policy, the United States says that Joseph Stalin is correct. The USA agrees with Joseph Stalin and wants to create a path for the elimination of the Armenian People from their rightful lands. This was The Joseph Stalin Plan.
As an American citizen, am confused but outraged as the direction of my country, Almost seems like the Leadership wants the USA to fail. It is truly disappointing American current policy which is guided by the US State Department. Very sad. Very sad
Foreign aid is the easiest thing to cut these days. Anything else touched causes an uproar.
so what else is new. how many times is a budget cut for armenia the first thing this administration capable of ? Let us remember this outrage in the comming election with a voter attendance cut by equal numbers