Washington, D.C. (June 21, 2022) — Better World President Peter Yeo released the following statement on the fiscal year 2023 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs) Appropriations bill:
“The State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee today demonstrated a clear understanding of the global challenges facing the U.S. and the world.
“Providing nearly $65 billion for the international affairs budget, an increase of 15 percent above fiscal year 2022 levels, will fully fund the UN regular and the UN Peacekeeping budgets at a time of unparalleled global crises. By including a down payment on the more than $1 billion owed to UN Peacekeeping, the bill strengthens the U.S. position on the world stage, especially in regards to increasing global investments by authoritarian regimes.
“In addition, the bill:
- Allows the U.S. to pay peacekeeping dues in full;
- Fully funds our assessments to the UN regular budget and other assessed agency dues like the World Health Organization;
- Increases investments in global health infrastructure by $1 billion;
- Increases, by over $100 million, investments to a range of UN agency, funds and programs;
- Provides $2 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in advance of the U.S. hosting the Fund’s seventh replenishment;
- Ensures women’s health is protected by increasing family planning programming to $760 million and permanently repealing the “Global Gag Rule”;
- Directs $70 million toward UNFPA to support their lifesaving work;
- Provides authority and funding to resume contributions to UNESCO, a UN agency that promotes peace and cooperation through education, arts and culture; and
- Supports essential multilateral investments in addressing the climate crisis with $1.6 billion to the Green Climate Fund and increases to the UNFCCC and the Montreal Protocol Fund.
“SFOPS Chairwoman Barbara Lee and the Subcommittee have met the moment and translated U.S. values into action. Together, with the principled leadership of House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, we now have a framework that advances American values throughout the world. We hope the full House Appropriations Committee will support this package next week and the Senate Appropriations Committee will follow suit with similar funding levels when considering its corresponding FY’23 bill.”
About the Better World Campaign
The Better World Campaign, an initiative of the Better World Fund, works to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the United Nations. It encourages U.S. leadership to enhance the UN’s ability to carry out its invaluable international work on behalf of peace, progress, freedom, and justice. For more information, visit www.betterworldcampaign.org.
Media Contact:
Kathryn Kross | kkross@unfoundation.org | 202-862-8577
