Washington, DC. (December 20, 2022) – Peter Yeo, President of the Better World Campaign, released the following statement on the Appropriations Omnibus Package released today:
“We are pleased to see that the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations package fully funds the United Nations Regular Budget. In 2022, the world witnessed the UN’s extraordinary capacity and value – in bringing together a global coalition that stood against Russia’s unwarranted invasion of Ukraine and by brokering the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which alleviated the resulting global food crisis.”
The bill would provide more than $61 billion in non-emergency funding for the FY23 International Affairs Budget, a $3.7 billion increase (6%) compared to last year. The bill also provides an additional $16.6 billion in emergency international affairs funding for the war in Ukraine.
Importantly, as the world continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health emergencies, $440 million in additional funding was included for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and $200m was added for Global Health Security. Moreover, the bill underscores U.S. support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, marking the third year of investments in the program.
In the area of International Organizations and Programs (IO&P), the Omnibus provides an increase of $85 million from last year’s budget. Within IO&P funding, much of the increases reflect expanded investments in UNICEF, UN Women, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The Omnibus provides funding for UN Peacekeeping Operations at levels comparable to previous years. However, because a legislative cap remains in place that prevents the U.S. from paying at the U.S.-UN established rate of 26.94% (Congress has placed a 25% cap on funding), the budget continues to add to the more than $1 billion currently owed by the U.S. to the UN Peacekeeping budget.
Media Contact:
Kathryn Kross | kkross@unfoundation.org | 202-862-8577
