Amendment increases Democracy Fund funding by $10 million

Washington, DC – The House today passed H.R. 3081, the State Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, an appropriations bill that funds diplomatic and development agencies for fiscal year 2010.  The legislation included an amendment offered by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson to increase funding for the Democracy Fund from $120 million to $130 million.  Democracy Fund money is used by the United States Department of State (State Department) for its Human Rights and Democracy Fund and by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its Office of Democracy and Governance.

“My amendment increases funding for programs that promote the most basic of human rights around the world,” Congresswoman Johnson said.  “The right to freedom of expression and freedom from slavery and servitude are pillars of our democracy.  As we work for a more stable and peaceful world, we must share and nurture these ideals with citizens of other countries.

“Programs supported by the Democracy Fund have included programs like a women’s leadership conference in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda and voter education and training in Haiti,” Congresswoman Johnson continued.  “These programs, though they operate in foreign countries, strengthen our diplomatic and development efforts, thereby increasing the safety and security of Americans.”

The State Foreign Operations Appropriations Act includes significant funding to help stabilize and strengthen the key countries of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It also invests in development programs that help bring education systems, food security, and agricultural development assistance, as well as safe drinking water, to underdeveloped communities around the world.

###

U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.