Kirk Secures Increased Aid For Israel and Foreign Assistance Programs To Advance U.S. Initiatives Abroad

Appropriations Committee Sends FY17 State and Foreign Ops Bill To Senate Floor

WASHINGTON, D. C. – U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) applauded the Senate Appropriations Committee’s passage of the fiscal year (FY) 2017 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Program Appropriations (SFOPs) Bill which increases aid to Israel and supports international family planning and democracy programs in developing countries. The $52 billion appropriations bill now heads to the Senate floor. 

“Protecting our allies, providing lifesaving global health care and promoting human rights are fundamental to our national security,” said Senator Kirk. “By advancing U.S. interests abroad, we are able to protect women and vulnerable communities while stopping the spread of extremism.” 

The FY17 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Program Appropriations bill includes:

Robust Security Assistance for Israel: The bill provides $3.4 billion in military security assistance for Israel, $300 million above the President’s request, and $7.5 million for refugee resettlement in Israel.

Measures To Combat Economic Warfare Targeting Israel: Senator Kirk authored the bipartisan Combating BDS Act of 2016 to empower state and local governments to use the power of the purse to defend against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement’s economic warfare targeting Israel. The Combating BDS Act of 2016 allows state and local governments to divest taxpayer money from companies engaged in anti-Israel BDS behavior. This legislation underscores the critical role that state and local communities have to play in the ongoing struggle against anti-Semitism worldwide.

Support for International Family Planning: Senator Kirk co-led an amendment to restore more than $600 million in funding for global women’s health services, including $37.5 million in critical funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). These funds provide access to lifesaving family planning and reproductive health services around the world. The amendment also repealed the “global gag rule,” which prohibits recipients of U.S. aid from providing family planning and maternal health services.

• The UNFPA offers contraceptive and family planning services and maternal health care worldwide. In 2015 alone, the UNFPA helped 23.3 million women in more than 100 countries receive access to modern contraceptives and reproductive health services. UNFPA’s services had the potential to prevent 220,000 child deaths, 12.3 million unintended pregnancies, 4.4 million induced abortions and 34,000 maternal deaths worldwide. UNFPA’s humanitarian work in 2015 spanned emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response and recovery. From Syria, to Yemen, to South Sudan, Nepal, the Central African Republic and other countries affected by crises, the UNFPA worked to ensure safe birth and safety from fear and sexual violence.

Protections For Christian Assyrians in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains: Christian communities in northern Iraq have been devastated by ISIS and sectarian violence. Senator Kirk successfully advocated for the bill’s support of programs to assist vulnerable Iraqi ethnic and religious minorities, including the Christian community in the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq. Senator Kirk also successfully required the Department of State to report on the progress of the creation of theNineveh Plains province. At Senator Kirk’s request, the bill also requires the Department of State to formulate a strategy to provide assistance to certain military and security forces fighting ISIS, including certain Christian Assyrians in northern Iraq.

Assistance to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh: The FY17 bill provides over $25 million in assistance to Armenia and supports continued funding for and the geographical expansion of demining programs in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh suffers from one of the highest per capita landmine accidents worldwide.

Funding To Combat Human Trafficking: Senator Kirk supports $60 million in funding to combat trafficking in persons.

International Programs To Empower Women & Girls: As a priority of Senator Kirk’s, the bill includes $28 million to help empower women and girls in predominantly Muslim countries who are at risk from conflict and extremism. The bill also supports programs to promote gender equality, including $50 million to increase leadership opportunities for women in countries where they suffer from discrimination under the law or due to policy and practice. More than $157 million is also included to implement a strategy to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in conflict zones and in countries where gender-based violence is common.

Funding For Korean Divided Families: The bill prioritizes efforts to reunite Korean Americans who were divided from their families after the 1950s Korean War.  More than 100,000 first-generation Korean-Americans remain separated from family members abroad and directs the Department of State to consult with outside stakeholders (such as Divided Families USA and Council of Korean Americans) on current challenges and potential opportunities to reunite these these Korean-American “Divided Families.”

Funding for Great Lakes Fishery Commission: The bill includes approximately $25 million, nearly $5 million over the Administration’s request to promote the Great Lakes Fishery. The International Joint Commission coordinates fisheries research, controls the invasive sea lamprey, and facilitates cooperative fishery management among the state, provincial, tribal, and federal management agencies.

• The FY17 bill also includes Kirk authored language requesting an International Joint Commission review before Canada makes a decision on the Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) proposal to permanently store 7 million cubic feet of toxic nuclear waste less than one mile from Lake Huron. OPG’s proposal could cause irreparable harm to the Great Lakes, the drinking water source for 30 million Americans. 

Assistance To Ukraine & Language Condemning Russian Annexation: The FY17 bill provides $294.9 million in assistance to the Ukraine and stresses the importance of the international community’s need to challenge Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The bill also prohibits assistance to the Russian government and makes funds available to promote democracy programs, including the promotion of Internet freedom within Russia.