Senate intends to advance legislation retrieving $9 billion from the budget, featuring reductions in funding for public broadcasting and USAID.
The United States Senate has narrowly approved a controversial $9 billion rescissions package, targeting several programs and priorities, particularly foreign aid and public broadcasting. The vote, which took place on Tuesday, saw two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, voting against the proposal.
The proposed cuts, if passed, would significantly impact various foreign aid programs, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Health Organization. The package also aims to reduce funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports entities like NPR and PBS, potentially affecting public media operations and programming.
However, the Senate version of the bill, announced recently, has excluded cuts to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the GAVI Vaccine Alliance, offering some protection to global health initiatives. Programs related to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, nutrition, and maternal and child health are also being shielded from cuts.
Senator Susan Collins expressed concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the program reductions in the package, stating, "Nobody knows what program reductions are in it." Senator Lisa Murkowski, on the other hand, expressed concerns about potential impacts on programs related to maternal and child health, HIV, AIDS, nutrition programs, and programs related to tuberculosis, malaria, polio, neglected tropical disease, pandemic prevention, and family planning.
Some Republicans, including Murkowski and Mike Rounds, have expressed concerns about cuts to public broadcasting that could affect the ability of certain communities to access emergency alerts. This issue is particularly pertinent given the current global health crisis.
The bill now returns to the House of Representatives for further approval after amendments. If passed, it will require another round of approval in the Senate before it can become law. The House must pass the bill on or before Friday to meet the deadline on this package.
Democrats are expected to offer a number of amendments to challenge the package, but if Republicans stick together, they will likely be powerless to block or modify the bill. A vote-a-rama on the legislation started Wednesday afternoon, during which both parties can offer unlimited amendments to the bill.
This proposed rescissions package has sparked heated debate among lawmakers, with some arguing that it is necessary to rein in federal spending, while others contend that it could have detrimental effects on global health initiatives and public media operations. The future of the package remains uncertain as it moves through the legislative process.
- The proposed cuts in the rescissions package, if passed, could have detrimental effects on global health initiatives, such as those related to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, nutrition, and maternal and child health.
- The bill, if made law, could significantly impact public media operations and programming, since it aims to reduce funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports entities like NPR and PBS.
- The international ramifications of the proposed rescissions package are a matter of concern for some lawmakers, as it targets several programs and priorities, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Health Organization.
