	Background

Budgets for the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), as well as U.S. contributions to United Nations (U.N.) International Organizations, and U.N. Peacekeeping, are in the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations in both the House and Senate. The Administration sent its FY2008 budget request to Congress on February 5, 2007. The requested funding level for the Department of State is $10,013.8 million, representing a 10.5% increase over the FY2007 estimate, but a decline of 4.3% as compared with the FY2006 actual appropriation (the most recent enacted appropriation for the Department of State), including rescissions and supplementals. Along with the FY2008 budget request, the White House sent to Congress two supplemental funding requests—one for FY2007 amounting to $1,168 million for State and $10 million for international broadcasting; another for FY2008 amounting to $1,934.6 million for the Department of State. Both requests are primarily for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House passed its supplemental emergency funding bill ( H.R. 1591 , H.Rept. The Senate passed its version of H.R. 1591 ( S.Rept. 110-37 ) on March 29, 2007. Like the House bill, the Senate also provides $10 million for international broadcasting. In February 2006, the President sent to Congress his FY2007 budget request totaling $9,502.4 million for State and $671.9 million for international broadcasting. The 110 th Congress passed the FY2007 appropriation ( H.J.Res. 20 ) and it was signed into law ( P.L. 110-5 ) February 15, 2007. Specific aspects of Secretary Rice's Transformational Diplomacy include:
Global repositioning—Beginning in FY2006 and continuing through FY2007, the Department of State has decided on more than 200 positions to be moved largely from Europe and Washington, DC, to critical areas in Africa, South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere in FY2007. The FY2007 budget request included $102.8 million for Transformational Diplomacy. The bulk of the FY2007 and FY2008 supplemental requests would fund State Department operations in Iraq. The President vetoed the supplemental on May 1 st . Congress was unable to override the veto. The House and Senate passed the emergency supplemental conference report ( H.R. 109-234 ) on June 15, 2006. The Revised Continuing Appropriation Resolution, FY2007 ( P.L. For FY2008 international broadcasting activities the President is requesting $668.2 million, an increase of 3.8% over the FY2007 estimate of $644 million, but a decrease of 1.7% from the FY2006 enacted level of $679.6 million, including rescissions and supplementals.
State Department funding, formerly in the House Science, State, Justice, Commerce (SSJC) Appropriations Subcommittee, is now aligned in both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on State-Foreign Operations. In addition to passing annual appropriations, foreign relations authorization legislation is required authorizing the Department of State to spend its appropriations. The 110th Congress is expected also to work on foreign authorization legislation this year.
The President sent his FY2008 budget to Congress on February 5, 2007. Included was the Department of State FY2008 budget request for $10,013.8 million—4.3% below the FY2006 level of $10,467.9 million, including rescissions and supplementals, but 10.5% above the FY2007 estimate of $8,964.1 million. The international broadcasting FY2008 budget request totals $668.2 million—a 1.7% decline from the FY2006 level, including rescissions and supplementals, but a 3.8% increase over the FY2007 estimate of $644 million.
Along with the regular budget request, the Administration is requesting two emergency supplementals: an FY2007 supplemental request including $1,168 million for State and $10 million for international broadcasting and an FY2008 emergency funding request of $1,934.6 million for the Department of State. Both supplementals are largely for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In March, 2007, both the House and the Senate passed separate versions of the FY2007 supplemental funding (H.R. 1591, H. Rept 110-60 and S. Rept 110-37) including more than $1,168.0 million dollars for the Department of State operations and $10 million for international broadcasting. On April 25th and 26th, Congress passed H.R. 1591, including $1,265.2 million for State Dept operations in Iraq and $10.0 million for international broadcasting. The President vetoed the supplemental on May 1st. Congress was unable to override the veto.
For FY2007, the President sent his budget request to Congress on February 6, 2006, seeking $9,502.4 million for the Department of State and $671.9 million for international broadcasting. The House passed its bill (H.R. 5672) on June 29, 2006. The Senate did not pass its bill (H.R. 5522). After several continuing resolutions, the 110th Congress enacted appropriations by passing the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, FY2007 (H.J.Res. 20). It was signed into law (P.L. 110-5) on February 15, 2007.
In January 2006, Secretary of State Rice presented her "Transformational Diplomacy" vision of the way the State Department will conduct foreign policy. Among other things, decisions have been made to reposition more than 200 jobs primarily from Europe and Washington, DC, to more challenging locations worldwide.