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The House Appropriations Committee voted 35-27 last week to advance a foreign aid spending bill that restricts abortion funding overseas and imposes new oversight of US contributions to the United Nations.
The bill, titled the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Act, would allocate $46.2 billion in discretionary funding — a 22% decrease from the previous year, according to a July 23 press release from the committee.
In the release, NSRP Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., described the bill as an advancement of President Donald Trump’s “America first foreign policy.”
He said the bill “reinforces President Trump’s vision of ‘Peace Through Strength,’ by restoring American leadership, standing in strong solidarity with our allies, advancing freedom, and confronting the malign forces that threaten U.S. national security and endanger American lives.”
During the markup process, Democrats sought to remove several key pro-life provisions that prevent US taxpayer dollars from funding abortions overseas, according to a Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam) report.
The Democrats’ amendment would have increased abortion-related foreign aid, reinstated support for the UN “Population Fund,” and lifted restrictions on funding for foreign groups that promote or provide abortions.
Díaz-Balart urged lawmakers to reject the amendment before the final vote.
“It is our duty to strengthen not weaken pro-life protections in our bill,” he said, according to C-Fam. “Americans do not support using foreign assistance to fund abortions.”
Republicans pointed to a recent Marist poll, cited by C-Fam, that found that 78% of Americans — including 61% of Democrats — oppose using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion overseas.
The bill also establishes new oversight requirements for UN agencies, directing the Secretary of State to review whether each agency meets transparency standards. According to C-Fam, funding could be cut if an agency is deemed antisemitic, biased against Israel, purchasing from Russia, or lacking institutional neutrality.
Other provisions align with Trump’s policies, including bans on funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, climate-related mandates, and controversial gender initiatives. The bill would also prohibit US embassies from flying flags other than the US or official government flags.
The measure has moved to the full House for consideration.
