Rep. Mario Díaz Balart on Historic Foreign Policy Funding Package (HR 7148)

Refocusing Foreign Policy and National Security

• 🎯 This funding package (HR 7148) represents a historic shift in the nation's foreign policy, prioritizing US national security.
• 💰 It achieves this by restoring fiscal sanity, reducing overall spending by 16% in foreign policy areas while increasing effectiveness.

Countering Adversaries and Supporting Allies

• ⚔️ The bill allocates more resources to counter adversaries such as China, Iran, and hemispheric cartels.
• 🤝 It simultaneously enhances support for allies and friends globally.
• 💊 Funding is increased to combat the fentanyl crisis and support religious freedom worldwide.

Fiscal Responsibility and Reforms

• 📉 Controversial funding directives, like those for UN climate change initiatives, have been removed, with double-digit reductions to UN funding.
• 🛠️ The package empowers the Secretary of State with tools to demand much-needed reforms within international organizations.
• 🇺🇸 This approach aims to protect American taxpayers while advancing national security interests.

Leadership in Passing the Bill

• 👏 Representative Díaz Balart praised the brilliant and persistent leadership of Chairman Tom Cole for navigating the process and ensuring the bills would pass.
• ✅ Cole's efforts prevented a detrimental long-term continuing resolution (CR), securing passage of these important funding bills.