Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill
2025-07-23
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Source: Congress.gov
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Call the meeting of the Appropriations Committee to order. I'd like to welcome everyone to today's meeting. Today we'll be marking up our National Security Department of State and related programs appropriations measure for fiscal year 2026. As with our previous markups, it's my intention to complete all of our work on this bill today. While we'll take a recess for floor votes as needed, we'll otherwise be here today until our work is completed. I know there are questions about the remaining schedule for the week given the change in the House calendar. at this time there are no changes to our schedule i will however convey any changes to you as soon as possible following consultation with the ranking member deloro so we're kind of on track but honestly i want to see how things go today i want to have a chance to talk to all of you on both sides of the aisle honestly individually i know you got travel schedules and things of that nature And we're still conferring with our leadership as well. But we will, you know, today we know what we're doing and we'll announce by the end of the day, you know, if we're on schedule or not. So thank you for bearing with us and we will get you information as quickly as we can. Thank you. Our only order of business again today is consideration of the National Security Department of State and related programs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026. I'll now recognize Chairman Diaz-Balard to present the bill. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. I'm pleased to present the fiscal year 2026 National Security Department of State and related programs appropriations bill. to the full committee for consideration and for approval. Let me start by thanking Chairman Cole for his essential, essential leadership at the helms of this Appropriations Committee and for his what I believe is deep wisdom, Mr. Chairman, in refocusing this subcommittee, starting by changing the name to really better reflect the investments made on behalf of the American people that they are to advance U.S.
national security. I also want to thank Ranking Member Frankel and Ranking Member DeLauro and all of the members of the subcommittee for your partnership in developing this important bill. The bill before us delivers on President Trump's America First agenda. First, we drastically reduce spending by cutting 22% from the enacted level. The greatest threat to our country's stability and security is our debt. And this bill decisively but responsibly reigns in spending. Now these cuts are in addition to the 6% cut achieved in the final enacted version of the Fiscal Year 24 State and Foreign Operations Act, which was carried, as you all know, in the CR, in the continuing resolution. Within the remaining funds, this bill prioritizes our national security, especially, I may add, in the Western Hemisphere, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. It provides unwavering support for Israel and fully funds the United States-Israel Memorandum of Understanding by providing $3.3 billion in security assistance to allow Israel to defend herself from existential threats. Other key partners, other key allies in the Middle East, such as Egypt and Jordan, are strongly supported as well. The bill includes funding, and conditions to confront the national security threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party, including through a new provision that prohibits support for academic institutions partnering in STEM programs with PRC or CCP-controlled colleges in Communist China. And it continues to prohibit foreign assistance from being used to repay loans to the PRC and many other key limitations on funding regarding the PRC.
We have $500 million in foreign military finance and up to $2 billion in loans and loan guarantees are provided for Taiwan to strengthen deterrence, to strengthen deterrence across the Taiwan Straits. Strong support is also provided for other key partners in the Indo-Pacific, such as the Philippines and Pacific Island countries. This bill continues important investments, Mr. Chairman, to combat the trafficking of fentanyl and the transnational criminal organizations behind that scourge of drug addiction confronting every single community in the United States of America. The bill creates the America First Opportunity Fund, which will enhance our country's leverage abroad and enable a rapid response to any crisis. It also creates the National Security Investment Program's account, a new account that facilitates efficient, strategic deployment of programs that support the United States national security interests. Yes, that is the theme. That is the theme of this bill. Together, this realignment of resources ensures that our foreign policy is focused on making Americans safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Critically important, Mr. Chairman and members of this committee, the bill maintains all longstanding pro-life provisions alongside enhanced oversight and transparency measures to ensure that American taxpayer dollars do not fund abortions, a policy that Americans overwhelmingly support. This bill, my friends, makes very clear that the days of a weak American foreign policy, those days are over. Funding is cut, conditioned, or withheld to countries that are no longer advancing shared interests, such as Colombia, due to the Petro administration's object failures in preventing political violence.
creating economic deterioration and emboldening transnational criminals. South Africa, unless it ceases cooperation with our adversaries and upholds the rule of law. And Mexico, until it meets the requirements on water deliveries to the United States in accordance with the terms of the 1944 Water Treaty. The bill also blocks assistance to anyone that supports, finances, facilitates the operations of the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces or Ministry of Interior.
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