A bill that scales back the Biden Administration’s expansion of woke funding programs at the U.S. State Department passed the House on Friday, but Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska and all other Democrats except one voted against it.
The bill, which passes 212 to 200, has language that prohibits embassies from flying flags such as the Pride flag and prohibits funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or any funding that supports vaccine mandates. The list of programs it supports or cuts is extensive and exceedingly specific:
- H.R. 8771, appropriates money for the State Department, foreign operations and related programs, but trims 11% from the 2024 fiscal year’s enacted funding, and a 19% decrease to what President Joe Biden had asked for in the next fiscal year.
- The funding resolution that Peltola voted against:
- Has $3.3 billion in foreign military financing so Israel can defend itself against terrorist attacks.
- Prohibits funding for the International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, United Nations Relief Works Agency, and the United Nations Relief Works Agency and United Nations Commission of Inquiry against Israel.
- Counters the People’s Republic of China by providing $2.1 billion for United States national security interests in the Indo-Pacific and to counter malign influence.
- $500 million in Foreign Military Financing for Taiwan to strengthen deterrence across the Taiwan Strait and up to $2 billion in loans and loan guarantees for such purpose.
- Has full funding the Countering PRC Influence Fund at $400 million.
- Prohibits funds for the PRC and the Chinese Communist Party, prohibiting funds for countries to repay debt owed to China, and prohibits funds for international financial institutions from loans to the PRC.
- Prioritizes funding and policies to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States.
- Prohibits funds that encourage or facilitate irresponsible migration towards the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Prohibits the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps from being removed from the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list.
- Prohibits funds to implement a nuclear agreement with Iran unless ratified by the Senate.
- Prohibits funds to be used to implement the Arms Trade Treaty.
- Supports freedom in the Western Hemisphere, including $35 million for democracy programs for Cuba.
- Eliminates funding for the United Nations’ regular budget, resulting in savings of $761.6 million.
- Eliminates Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund, International Organizations and Programs, Contribution to the Clean Technology Fund, and Contributions to the Inter-American Development Bank.
- Reduces 14 accounts in the bill below the FY19 enacted level, including Contributions to International Organizations, Contributions to International Peacekeeping Activities, Economic Support Fund, Migration and Refugee Assistance, and Peacekeeping Operations.
- Reduces 14 accounts in the bill to the FY19 enacted level, including the United States Agency for Global Media, Peace Corps, and International Development Association.
- Terminates more than 18 unnecessary programs, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Women, UN Montreal Protocol, UN Environment Fund, and World Economic Forum.
- Prohibits funding for Special Envoys, Special Representatives, Special Coordinators, and Special Advisors unless such positions are expressly authorized or have affirmatively received the advice and consent of the Senate.
- Eliminates 33 Special Envoys and Special Representatives at the Department of State, including the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Special Envoy for Racial Equity and Justice, Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons, Special Envoy for International Labor Affairs, and Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs.
- Prohibits the Treasury Department from carrying out the Biden Administration’s climate agenda at the World Bank and other multilateral development banks, which harms developing countries and opens the door to predatory financing from the PRC.
- Prohibits the Administration’s current practice of co-opting programming, such as that to empower women; advance democracy and freedom; or counter trafficking in persons, to instead advance the Biden radical global climate change agenda.
- Prohibits funds for the Green Climate Fund, Clean Technology Fund, and Loss and Damages Fund.
- Prohibits funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the EcoHealth Alliance, any gain-of-function research, and labs in adversarial nations like China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, or Cuba.
- Maintains all long-standing, pro-life protections.
- Implements the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy, also known as the expanded Mexico City Policy, on all health funds in the bill.
- Prohibits funds for controversial organizations and programs, such as the United Nations Population Fund, World Health Organization, and Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund.
- Supports religious freedom programs abroad and religious freedom protections for faith-based organizations delivering foreign aid.
- Allows only the American flag and other official flags to be flown over U.S embassies.
- Bans “disinformation” and “misinformation” programs that violate the free speech rights of American citizens.
- Prohibits funds for unnecessary regulations and controversial Executive Orders that disadvantage American businesses.
- Refocuses attention on critical diplomatic functions, addressing the backlog of passport applications and ensuring the safety and security of our embassies.
- Prohibits funds to implement Covid-19 mask and vaccine mandates.
Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart of Florida, Chairman of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations, issued the following statement after the passage of H.R. 8771:
“I am very pleased with the House’s approval of the State and Foreign Operations bill for the fiscal year 2025 which builds on the policy wins of the fiscal year 2024 enacted bill. This crucial piece of legislation, which funds our national security and foreign policy priorities, cuts wasteful spending while upholding key U.S. values. Among the many victories, we achieved a 19% reduction from the President’s Budget, and an 11% cut from the fiscal year 2024 enacted levels.”
The legislation “continues to reestablish American leadership where it has been severely lacking under the Biden Administration. It upholds key U.S. national security priorities by supporting allies such as Israel and Taiwan and countering adversaries such as Communist China, the terrorist states of Iran and Cuba, and terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, he said.
Wow – time for NB3!
And if Dahlstrom successfully splits the vote, we’ll have two more years of this grtfting, low IQ Leftwing extremist.
One has to wonder if that is Dahlstrom’s intent??
Why else would Nancy jump in the race when we already have a much much better candidate in NB3?
Yup.
It was the Begich voters that didn’t rank the red – or we’d have a Republican in that office.
Thanks RINO’s.
Begich finished in 3rd place – not once – but 2 times.
He reduce to drop out after the first time he finished in 3rd place – then the 2nd time he finished in 3rd place – his “supporters” didn’t rank the red – this we have a globalist, America hater in office.
Personally, I think Dahlsyrom and Begich will be establishment RINO’s – like the Jeb, Romney, McCain, Graham, McConnel, Bush types – but I will damn sure rank the Red.
I’m reading in multipke comments sections where Begich voters are saying they won’t rank the Red.
Wtx!
Why vote for NB3 when we now have Dahlstrom as an alternative?
On one hand, more than half of NB3’s cultists 2nd Ranked Peltola or spoiled their ballot – twice.
On the other hand, our future president Trump endorsed Dahlstrom.
I think I’m going with the MAGA candidate instead of the guy that its being boosted by ‘independent’ crypto-democrats. NBIII just doesn’t know how to take a hint when he was rejected twice by the conservative electorate.
Gotta call bs
Dahlstrom can’t beat Peltola. It’s like asking voters to choose between a trip to Fairbanks and a trip to Hawaii – in February.
I want to know who paid her… Please stand down Nancy.
To win?
I agree. I really wish Trump would see that both Palin and Dahlstrom are NOT America First or ti be trusted.
I am voting Nick and Trump, that is all I am marking.
Antisemitism at its finest! She is shameless. Hey Peltola, the Jewish people first settled in Juneau in 1885😡
10,000 years too late.
There’s only one remedy for this ignorant clown:
NB3.
As long as there is RCV, we will not get NB3. Nancy could be getting paid to run, just to split the vote and Peltola can cruise to another easy victory. Peltola is bought and paid for so voting for the radical left is a given.
Looks like she’s bought, but just as likely she’s just following her cultural dictates to respect those in authority over her – same effect… She abandons all Alaska to obey them.
The voters will decide. Where ya been?
Can every politician that participates in this mess .
Whoever wrote this convoluted bill should be put into prison.
Separate all bills . Don’t cram everything into one to strong arm every one.
I pray we get rid of her this time around. Nick and Dahlstrom need to make sure there voters know who to list second and no screwing a round like last time.
We need an American in the House.
NB3,
now more than ever.
The ok radio host must be so proud of his creation
Pm radio host. Autocorrect…..
Peltola is simply following Hakim Jefferies orders and will be doing so for two more years not hanks to Nancy D. Tim, agree with you…Nancy D is intentionally running just to keep Peltola in the seat. Definitely a sad day in AK.
Mary is Alaska’s Jamal Bowman…..no idea what she’s doing in Congress…….
I knew Don Young. And Mary P is no Don Young!
Young was a DC swamp rat and corrupt as they get… he and Peltola are different sides of the same coin.
Benson but a lot of stake in a slain man’s memory too. History has proven both flawed.
This appropriations bill is a step in the right direction but many more such steps are needed. It is an example of how much of the broad Leftist agenda is dependent on government support. Without government support, ultimately paid for by taxes and inflation, the Leftist agenda would collapse. Let’s defund the Left. While Representative Peltola may be a pleasant person, she is part of the problem.
Why will Pelotla not get my vote? Rank Choice needs to be recalled, too
Like all good leftists, she worships at the altar of the All-Powerful-State. Anything to build the power and authority of the government. And, not just the US Government, the global government. The Davos crowd will be more than happy to toss her (along with the squad, and the rest of the grinning leftists in Congress) as soon as they effectively destroy the US as a sovereign nation. Much like most of Europe, the US will be lines on a map, nothing more. And, Peltola is more than happy to help so she can feel that rush of power, if only for a moment.
She has done nothing for Alaskans other than the unions that back dementia Joe.
Well, at least she got one thing right – giving 3 billion borrowed dollars to Israel, a country that currently has a budget surplus, is beyond stupid!
I don’t know Mary P. I do know Mary P. is not a pro Alaska congresswoman.
Like it a’lot,, ABORT the UN and their illegal alien invasion funding via US “contributions” to it. Overdue. So much bulls**t! Just look around at societal/political changes of the past 3 1/2 yrs, and that’s what we’ve been paying for. One dept. down, many more awaiting.
I know Nick Begich will fight this perverted spending spree of the globalists within congress. But Peltolini has Sarah Dahlstrom to the rescue?
“Blinken announced an additional $404 million in new aid to Palestinians”. Love and Rockets. Maybe they will start building gas chambers from the mountains to the sea.