2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

FOREIGN AID
What Congress Has Done to Fund
Foreign Aid Programs
Set Spending Targets in Budget Resolutions. Every year, after the president submits his
own budget proposal, Congress approves a budget resolution that serves as a guide
to appropriators, who, in turn, write the various appropriations bills. For fiscal year
2013, President Obama requested $56.2 billion for the “core” international affairs
budget, which includes both foreign aid and the diplomatic operations of the federal
government. The president’s request continues the bipartisan approach of including
international affairs spending as part of the overall national security budget.
Funded Foreign Aid in State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bills. Even when a
formal budget resolution is not adopted, the appropriations committees divide target
funding levels among 12 subcommittees and then determine program-by-program
funding allocations for domestic, defense and international affairs programs. Most
foreign aid and other international programs are included in the State-Foreign
Operations appropriations bill. For fiscal year 2012, Congress appropriated $43.7
billion in “core” international affairs spending and $11.2 billion in emergency
overseas funds, for a total of $54.9 billion dollars. Congress has not yet acted on
final spending levels for fiscal year 2013. The six-month continuing resolution setting
temporary funding expires on March 27, 2013.
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