Foreign Relations Authorization, FY2006 and FY2007: An Overview

Publication Date: September 2005

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, foreign policy, and foreign assistance. Congress is required by law to authorize the spending of appropriations for the State Department and foreign policy activities every two years. The last time Congress passed a stand-alone foreign relations authorization bill was in FY2003 (P.L. 107-228).

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) typically 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.

On March 10, 2005, Senator Lugar introduced S. 600. The bill includes appropriations for the Department of State, international broadcasting, the Peace Corps, and foreign assistance programs for FY2006 and FY2007. In early April, the Senate debated S. 600 on the Senate floor. The measure is stalled for now with the introduction of numerous floor amendments.

Congressman Christopher H. Smith introduced a foreign relations authorization bill (H.R. 2601) on May 24, 2005. The bill was marked up at the subcommittee and full committee level in late May and early June. House floor action occurred the week of July 18th.

The House and Senate legislation contain similar titles regarding authorization language for the Department of State, international organizations, and international broadcasting; State Department organization and personnel issues, and miscellaneous reporting requirements. S. 600 goes beyond H.R. 2601 on foreign assistance authorization and numerous other foreign policy issues including avian flu, debt relief, global pathogen surveillance, safe water, and reconstruction and stabilization initiatives. Issues covered in H.R. 2601, but not significantly in S. 600 include democracy promotion, U.N. reform, strategic export controls, missile and nuclear nonproliferation measures, and World Bank loans to Iran.

This report will be updated as legislative action occurs.