Last week, the Obama Administration sent to Congress an $83.4 billion supplemental appropriation request primarily to fund war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and support for Pakistan.  The proposal also includes $7.1 billion for International Affairs programs, some of which targets ONE priority accounts for reducing poverty and addressing humanitarian crises.

Roughly half of the $7.1 billion for International Affairs would support U.S. diplomatic operations, economic aid and law enforcement activities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.  An additional $715 million is for Palestinian assistance and humanitarian relief in Gaza.   Other strategic –related components of the supplemental provide $887 million for U.N. and other peacekeeping missions, $243 million for post-conflict assistance in Georgia, and $98 million in military aid for Lebanon.

Of particular importance to ONE is an additional $1.3 billion included in the supplemental for several development and humanitarian activities.   As he announced at the G-20 meetings in London, President Obama requests $448 million for low and low-middle income countries with vulnerable populations most affected by the global financial crisis.  The aid will target social safety net programs, including cash for work, health, and education interventions, technical assistance for governments and financial institutions, and credit to promote private lending and investment.

The supplemental further seeks nearly $800 million to shore up existing gaps in humanitarian accounts providing food, refugee support, and disaster relief in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.  Finally, The Administration requests additional assistance for Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Burma in response to political instability, opportunities for transition, and humanitarian needs in these countries.

Congress is expected to consider the supplemental in the coming weeks.  Coming in the wake of passage the past two months of the economic stimulus package, regular FY2009 appropriations, and the FY2010 budget resolution, lawmakers will give close scrutiny to this additional spending proposal.

-Larry Nowels