Foreign Relations Authorization, FY2004 and FY2005: An Overview

Publication Date: September 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

The foreign relations authorization process dovetails with the annual appropriation process for the Department of State (within the Commerce, Justice, State and Related Agency appropriation) and foreign policy/foreign aid activities (within the foreign operations appropriation). Congress is required by law to authorize the spending of appropriations for the State Department and foreign policy activities every two years. Foreign assistance authorization measures (such as authorization for the U.S. Agency for International Development, economic and military assistance to foreign countries, and international population programs) have been merged into the State Department authorization legislation since 1985. Since that time, Congress has not passed a stand-alone foreign assistance authorization bill.

Congressman Hyde introduced H.R. 1950 on May 5, 2003. The House International Relations Committee reported the bill May 16 (H.Rept. 108-105, Part I). H.R. 1950, as reported out by the Committee, contained authorization legislation for FY2004 and FY2005 and included a defense trade and security assistance title, as well as a foreign assistance title. As amended (July 15 and 16) and passed (July 16) by the House, H.R. 1950 also includes the Millennium Challenge Account and Peace Corps provisions. The legislation authorizes about $27 billion for FY2004 and FY2005. The House bill contains the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, also known as the "road map" which goes beyond the President's plan by including conditions that must be met before the United States can agree to a Palestinian state. Also included are terrorist-related enforcement measures, munition and satellite export controls. Eliminated by amendment was a provision providing $50 million in U.S. contributions to the U.N. Population Fund for each year that the legislation covers. House floor action occurred on July 15th and 16th. The House passed the bill, as amended, by recorded vote (382-42) on July 16th.

The Senate originally reported three separate bills providing authority for only FY2004: a foreign relations authorization (S. 925), a foreign assistance authorization bill (S. 1161) which includes arms export control and counter terrorism measures, and the Millennium Challenge Account (S. 1160). Senator Lugar introduced S. 925 on April 24, 2003. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee amended it and reported it out on the same day (S.Rept. 108-39). The bill authorizes about $11 billion in spending for FY2004 only. In addition it contains measures on a Peace Corp Charter for the 21st Century, expanding public diplomacy to improve outreach to Muslim populations, and international parental child abduction prevention. Senate floor action occurred July 9 and 10 during which a number of amendments were adopted. Amendment 1136 (Lugar) would merge into S. 925 the Senate bills (S. 1160) the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and (S. 1161) foreign Assistance authorization. Other adopted amendments included a proposal for rural development assistance for Mexico, emergency food aid to HIV/AIDS victims in sub-Saharan Africa, and a Sense of Congress that the United States remain engaged in Iraq. A Senate vote on S. 925 is expected before the August recess.