WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, offered multiple amendments to the Congressional Republican’s rescissions bill to save critical and lifesaving programs. Shaheen filed amendments to preserve funding to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, save the Feed the Future program to fight global food insecurity, restore democracy assistance, protect the U.S. Institute of Peace from further interference and ensure the U.S. continues to protect children from forced marriage. Her bipartisan Ukraine amendment, cosponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and supported by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), was narrowly defeated by a vote of 49-50.
In a speech, Ranking Member Shaheen outlined the lack of a coherent strategy to outcompete China and detailed how Trump Administration actions – from dismantling our diplomatic infrastructure to ceding the information space to China and launching a self-destructive trade war – have weakened America.
“This rescissions package will do further damage to the United States' global standing and influence – giving China a leg-up and making Americans worse off and less safe,” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “I put forward amendments to protect and advance America’s soft power and diplomatic infrastructure, which is the exact opposite of what this recissions package will do. Putting America First should mean supporting the programs that make us strong at home and abroad, not waving the white flag of retreat.”
Below is an overview of the amendments Senator Shaheen introduced:
To support our Ukrainian allies on the front lines, Shaheen introduced a bipartisan amendment to preserve vital funding and assistance to Ukraine.
To fight global food insecurity, Shaheen introduced an amendment to preserve funding for Feed the Future programs to advances global agricultural development and support research that benefits American farmers and agribusiness.
To support democracy and human rights around the world, Shaheen introduced an amendment to reverse cuts to State Department’s Democracy Fund that advances freedom through support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, including support for human rights defenders in authoritarian states.
To support the end of child marriage globally, Shaheen introduced an amendment to preserve funding programs to reduce child marriage which affect one in five girls globally threatening their lives and health.
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