Diaz-Balart Remarks During Floor Consideration of H.R. 8771, State and Foreign Operations and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to speak on the fiscal year 2025 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill for floor consideration today.

The bill totals $51.7 billion, which is a cut of $7.6 billion from the fiscal year 2024 enacted level, or 11 percent, and nearly 20 percent below the President’s budget request.

This allocation, and the policies within the bill, will allow us to build on important changes that House republicans fought to secure in the FY24 bill signed into law only a few months ago. 

There are some who say cuts of this magnitude jeopardize United States leadership in the world and make us less safe.  I completely disagree.  In fact, it is just the opposite.

The priorities in this bill are very clear. 

If you are a friend or an ally of the United States, this bill supports you.

If you are an adversary or are cozying up to our adversaries, then frankly, you will not like this bill.

The bill eliminates controversial or ineffective programs that American taxpayers do not support and that, quite frankly, our allies and partners don’t support either. 

And yet, even with the deep cut to topline spending, this bill fully funds our ally Israel and increases funding above the President’s request to counter Communist China and to combat the flow of fentanyl into our country.

But let me tell you what this bill does not fund. Despite the Biden Administration’s request, this bill will not fund organizations that–

• Employ terrorists – like UNRWA;
• Provide a platform on the global stage to the worst human rights abusers – like the Human Rights Council;
• Take bogus legal action against Israel as it fights for its very existence – like the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice;
• Cower to communist China and deny Taiwan observer status – like the World Health Organization;
• Pay other countries climate reparations – like the Loss and Damages Fund;
• And the bill certainly does not permit funding to promote and mobilize migration to the U.S. southern border through organizations exploiting this Administration’s open borders policy.  

So this bill stops funding to all of those organizations and programs. Not just because it’s a waste of money, but because those organizations are actually working against our interests and those of our allies.

I’d like to take a moment to address how this bill treats the United Nations. The bill acknowledges the mockery that is the U.N. and zeros out the U.N. regular budget.  It does not deserve one more dime of taxpayer funding.

The hypocrisy and moral decay at the U.N. has only gotten worse, and is rearing its ugly head time and time again with repeated brazen and antisemitic attacks against Israel.

That is why the bill builds on key wins from FY24 and adds new conditions on antisemitism and anti-Israel bias throughout the United Nations and other international organizations.

Again, actions have consequences, and the U.N. will feel them in this bill.

This bill makes confronting the national security threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party a top priority. It provides $2.1 billion to counter the malign influence of the People’s Republic of China, which is above the President’s request, despite the cuts to the topline.

It also provides $500 million Foreign Military Financing for Taiwan’s security needs and prioritizes funding for other critical partners in the Indo-Pacific including the Philippines and Pacific Islands countries.

Turning to our hemisphere, which is another top priority in this bill impacting all Americans – funding will combat the trafficking of opioids and, in particular, fentanyl.

The bill also holds accountable governments failing to cooperate on counternarcotics and other issues of critical importance to the United States.   For example, no funds can go to Mexico until a certification is made that an agreement is in place to restore water deliveries owed to the United States from Mexico.

The bill increases support for freedom and democracy for the people of Cuba by providing $35 million for democracy funding and $35 million for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. 

It also reigns in attempts by the Biden administration to promote engagement with so-called entrepreneurs in Cuba’s closed, communist economy.  Let me be clear, the only truly independent entrepreneurs in Cuba are in prison. 

While the Cuban people are risking their lives to demand true freedom, the Biden Administration is attempting to throw their oppressors a lifeline with sanctions relief. 

That is why the language is even further tightened this year.

Finally, this bill includes all longstanding pro-life protections, including a prohibition on all taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortions.

And it builds on those requirements by applying the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy to all global health funding.

It promotes American values by continuing important funding for democracy, increasing funding for religious freedom programs abroad, supporting faith-based organizations that are helping to deliver United States foreign assistance, and eliminating programs that use taxpayer dollars for controversial agendas.

Before I close I want to thank the staff from the appropriations committee for their work on this bill and also from my personal office.  

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for bringing this crucial legislation to the floor which supports our allies and protects our national security in a smart, efficient, and thoughtful way. 

 I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.