Why Education?
Why Education?
At approx. 3 PM on July 12th, the House Appropriations Subcommittee for State, Foreign Operations Programs released their FY18 appropriations bill, which is scheduled to be marked up at 3 PM on Thursday the 13th. You can find the full bill here.
Removed text: That if the USAID Administrator determines that any unobligated balances of funds specifically designated for assistance for basic education in prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs are in excess of the absorptive capacity of recipient countries, such funds may be made available for other programs authorized under chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, notwithstanding such funding designation: Provided further, That the authority of the previous proviso shall be subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations.
State Department has received $15.4 billion in base and OCO funding, $2.6 billion below FY17 levels.
International Security Assistance received $8.8 billion, $614 million below FY17.
We expect the full bill to be marked up the week of the 17th.
The Basic Education Coalition applauds Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL), Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN), Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) for announcing the bipartisan introduction of the Keeping Girls in School Act today in both Chambers of Congress.
Members of the Basic Education Coalition work in partnership with USAID every day in Central America to help children learn how to read, address gender-based violence in schools, provide trainings on evidence-based teaching practices, equip youth with the skills needed for a successful career, establish community-based service-learning programs, and expand access to learning materials and technology.
Suspending U.S. funding for these critical activities will only further exacerbate local tensions and decrease the likelihood that children in these communities will grow up safe, educated, and ready to pursue a vibrant and prosperous future.
The Basic Education Coalition applauds Congress for sustaining funding for international basic education at $800,000,000 in the Fiscal Year 2019 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill. Congressional support for international education ensures that the United States will continue to be a leader in the effort to improve education opportunities around the world.
The Basic Education Coalition is pleased to announce that Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) will be joining Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) as the new Co-Chair of the Congressional International Basic Education Caucus.
Congressman Fitzpatrick is a longstanding champion of foreign assistance and has continuously supported international education during his tenure in Congress. As Co-Chair of the Congressional International Basic Education Caucus, Congressman Fitzpatrick will serve as a leading voice in Congress on behalf of the millions of children around the world who struggle to gain access to a quality education.
The latest appropriations bill proposed by the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives would cut U.S. support for international basic education by at least 36%. If enacted, this drastic reduction in funding for a critical component of U.S. foreign assistance would decrease our support for vulnerable children around the world and jeopardize the great development progress that we’ve made to date.
The Basic Education Coalition urges Congress to protect funding for vital U.S. international basic education programs. It is imperative that Members of Congress express their support to House leadership for the original funding level included in the House of Representatives fiscal year 2019 State and Foreign Operations bill to ensure that any final FY2019 appropriations agreement includes at least $800,000,000 for international basic education assistance.
As a result of the midterm election, there will be many changes in the upcoming 116th Congress. The most notable change is that the Democratic Party won control of the House of Representatives and will assume leadership of the House in January. In the next Congress, Democrats will Chair all House Congressional Committees and set the legislative agenda through office of the Speaker of the House. Both parties will hold leadership elections and announce Committee assignments for each chamber in the coming months.
The Basic Education Coalition applauds Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL), Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN), Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Congressman Dan Donovan (R-NY) for introducing the Keeping Girls in School Act in the House of Representatives.
This bill will be a great way for Congress to express support for international education for adolescent girls, and if passed would ensure that USAID continues to address the specific barriers that adolescent girls face in continuing their secondary education. KGISA also codifies the Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls into law and requires successive five-year renewals of the strategy. If your organization is interested in endorsing this legislation when it is introduced next week, please email Kirby (khenslee@basiced.org) for more information.
USAID is currently writing their Education Policy and Implementation Guidance which will be released in November. The Policy and Implementation Guidance will be open for public consultation prior to the November release, similar to the roll-out process for the whole-of-government strategy.
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