WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today introduced an amendment to the Republican rescissions package that would have removed $496 million in cuts to international disaster relief, effectively saving the program. Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
Ahead of the vote, Senator Coons spoke on the floor about the urgency of this funding to help us outcompete China, raise our standing in the world, and promote our national security. “This money doesn’t just save lives in countries around the world when they suffer from earthquakes and tornadoes, hurricanes and natural disasters,” he said. “It strengthens our standing, brings us closer to our allies, and helps us compete with China.”
International disaster assistance funding is a crucial piece of America’s foreign policy toolkit. The account responds to emergency humanitarian situations in over 60 countries and is a crucial component of our competition with China for global influence. For instance, Filipino leaders have cited disaster assistance funding as the key reason why the nation gave the United States access to nine military sites across the country.
These cuts will also have a major impact on organizations that are household names and carry out much of the disaster response, including Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, and UNICEF.
The amendment was narrowly blocked by Republicans, 49-50. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voted for the amendment.
A video and transcript of Senator Coons’ remarks before the amendment vote are below.
Senator Coons: Mr. President, it was Ronald Reagan who said “America is great because America is good.” My amendment would restore $496 million of international disaster relief funding by removing it from this rescissions package. This money doesn’t just save lives in countries around the world when they suffer from earthquakes and tornadoes, hurricanes and natural disasters. It strengthens our standing, brings us closer to our allies, and helps us compete with China.
Two months ago, I visited the Philippines on a bipartisan CODEL and was struck to learn it is the most natural disaster-prone country on earth. Today, they’re giving us access to nine new military sites. They are one of our strongest treaty partners in the region. And why? When I asked their leaders, they said, because America helps respond to disasters.
$496 million. Point-zero-one percent of the debt Republicans have just added to our nation in the past two weeks. And this money is implemented by Catholic Relief Services, World Vision, the World Food Program –
Senator Sheehy: The senator’s time is expired.
Senator Coons: I ask my colleagues to support it.