2013 foreign operations bill up for vote in Senate committee

U.S. Agency for International Development Rajiv Shah is welcomed by young girls in Pakistan. The Senate Appropriations subcommittee has approved a $1.4 billion funding for USAID operating expenses. Photo by: USAID Pakistan

The Senate Appropriations Committee is likely to consider today, May 24, an international affairs spending bill that includes a new support fund for Middle East and North African countries and continues conditions on U.S. aid to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The bill was approved May 22 by the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on state and foreign operations. It proposes $52.1 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. State DepartmentU.S. Agency for International Development and other international programs. This budget is $1.2 billion below fiscal 2012 levels and $2.6 billion less than President Barack Obama’s requested budget for 2013.

But despite slashing billions off Obama’s request, the Senate allocation is still some $4 billion more than the approved House version of the bill, which amounts to $48.3 billion. The Senate version provides more funding for USAID operations, the Economic Support Fund and contributions to international organizations, among other areas.

Here are key allocations proposed in the Senate version of the spending bill:

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