It’s appropriations season on Capitol Hill! And, in a continued, difficult fiscal environment, a recent victory for the Peace Corps community provides a strong possibility that funding for the Peace Corps in the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2025) will – at worst – be no less than current funding levels.
In The House: Overcoming a Budget Cut
The House of Representatives took up its version of the FY 2025 State/Foreign Operations appropriations bill on June 26. Initially, this funding bill included a proposal to cut funding for the Peace Corps from its current $430 million to $410 million – the same baseline funding level received by the agency a decade ago.
However, the House approved – by a voice vote – an amendment introduced by Representative Michael Lawler (R-NY) to restore $20 million to the agency. As the House majority requires any amendments proposing an increase to include an “offset” (a reduction elsewhere of an equal amount), the Lawler amendment proposed reducing $20 million from the U.S. State Department’s diplomatic programs. During the brief debate on the amendment, Representative Lawler said Peace Corps represents the best of America.
“Thousands of Americans serve in the Peace Corps every year, and reducing their funding would prevent them from accomplishing their critical mission”, said Lawler. “I’ve heard from many constituents about their personal experiences with the Peace Corps, and they can tell you as good as anyone, how impactful serving has been.”
The Ranking Democrat responsible on the State/Foreign Operations appropriations subcommittee, Barbara Lee (D-CA) spent the day urging opposition to majority amendments, which in many cases would have further reduced spending to international affairs programs in a spending bill that already collectively reduces those program budgets by almost 12 percent.
When it came to the Lawler amendment, Representative Lee lamented that this was the only amendment she would reluctantly oppose. Saying she agrees with the premise that Peace Corps should receive additional funding, she added that funding proposed for the State diplomatic programs account is already facing cuts (prior to the amendment) of $1 billion. “We cannot expect to address the variety of global challenges to foster peace and support our diplomatic efforts with the 12 percent decrease in the top line of this bill.”
Watch the eight minute debate on the Lawler amendment here
Write your members of Congress to thank them for restoring funds for the Peace Corps, while expressing concern or disappointment in the overall cuts to our international affairs programs.
In the Senate: Work is Yet to Come
Attention on funding for the Peace Corps and all international affairs programs shifts to the United States Senate, which is expected to develop their version of the State/Foreign Operations appropriations bill later in July. While there is no determination as to what those funding levels will be, it is less likely that the Senate will propose any reductions in funding from current Peace Corps spending.