(1) The Committee on ForeignRelations reported its new authorization bill out on March 18, 2004 ( S.Rept. 108-248 ). On May 5, 2003, Congressman Hyde introduced the House Foreign Relations AuthorizationAct, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 ( H.R. 1950 ). Ifenacted, the House bill would have authorized the Department of State's operations and programsat more than $27 billion for FY2004 and FY2005, and would have establish U.S. policy on theIsraeli-Palestinian peace plan, export controls, security assistance to certain foreign countries, andfunding for the U.N. Population Fund. House floor action occurred on July 15th and 16th. Background

The foreign relations authorization legislation provides authority for the State Departmentand related foreign policy agencies to conduct foreign policy activities and programs in the comingyear. SinceCongress has not passed a foreign assistance authorization bill since 1985, activities such asauthorization for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as U.S.economic, development, and military assistance are also typically included in the foreign relationsauthorization legislation. The House Reportto the bill ( H.Rept. Peacekeeping Contributions Cap(15). The Senate did not complete action on S. 925 in 2003, and there is nosimilar provision in the Senate bill ( S. 2144 ) reported out by the Senate ForeignRelations Committee in March 2004. The two bills differ in several ways. Other measures contained in H.R. Defense Trade and Security Assistance

		Export Controls for Satellites(23)

Between 1992 and 1996, responsibility for decisions regarding export of commercialcommunications satellites was transferred from the State Department to the Commerce Department. 105-261 ). Terrorist-Related Prohibitions and Enforcement Measures(32)

Title XI of H.R. 1950 , as amended. 1950 , as passed by the House on July 16,2003, authorizes the Secretary of State to make grants to the Africa Society of the National Summiton Africa of $1 million in FY2004 and "such sums as may be necessary" in FY2005. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) reported out S. 925 (Foreign Relations Authorization for FY2004, Senate Report 108-39) on April 24, 2003, with aprovision to repeal the requirement for a semi-annual report on extradition of narcotics traffickersfrom Andean countries; and it reported out S. 1161 , Foreign Assistance AuthorizationAct for FY2004 (Senate Report 108- 56) on May 29, 2003, with several provisions on Colombia. On February 27, 2004, S. 2144 , the Foreign Affairs Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2005, was introduced in the Senate. Although the House International Relations Committee did not consider a broad foreignassistance authorization separately or as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization bill, H.R. Foreign Assistance Authorization Act, FY2005. Congress passed the so-called Kemp-Kasten amendment in that year and ineach subsequent year as part of the annual Foreign Operations appropriations. TheWhite House says that the President would veto any legislation that includes a provision like theBoxer amendment. Appendix

		State Department Authorization History

Authorization of State Department appropriations are required by law every two years. a.
The foreign relations authorization process dovetails with the annual appropriation processfor the Department of State (within the Commerce, Justice, State and Related Agency appropriation)and foreign policy/foreign aid activities (within the foreign operations appropriation). Congress isrequired by law to authorize the spending of appropriations for the State Department and foreignpolicy activities every two years. Foreign assistance authorization measures (such as authorizationfor the U.S. Agency for International Development, economic and military assistance to foreigncountries, and international population programs) have been merged into the State Departmentauthorization legislation since 1985. Since that time, Congress has not passed a stand-alone foreignassistance authorization bill.
Congressman Hyde introduced H.R. 1950 on May 5, 2003. The HouseInternational Relations Committee reported the bill May 16 ( H.Rept. 108-105 , Part I). H.R. 1950 , as reported out by the Committee, contained authorization legislation forFY2004 and FY2005 and included a defense trade and security assistance title, as well as a foreignassistance title. As amended (July 15 and 16) and passed (July 16) by the House, H.R. 1950 also includes the Millennium Challenge Account and Peace Corps provisions. The legislationauthorizes about $27 billion for FY2004 and FY2005. The House bill contains the Israeli-Palestinianpeace plan, also known as the "road map" which goes beyond the President's plan by includingconditions that must be met before the United States can agree to a Palestinian state. Also includedare terrorist-related enforcement measures, munition and satellite export controls. Eliminated byamendment was a provision providing $50 million in U.S. contributions to the U.N. Population Fundfor each year that the legislation covers. House floor action occurred on July 15th and 16th. TheHouse passed the bill, as amended, by recorded vote (382-42) on July 16th.
The Senate originally reported three separate bills providing authority for only FY2004: aforeign relations authorization ( S. 925 ), a foreign assistance authorization bill( S. 1161 ) which includes arms export control and counter terrorism measures, and theMillennium Challenge Account ( S. 1160 ). After political differences with unrelatedfloor amendments in 2003, the Senate gave up trying to vote on S. 925 (within whichthe other two bills had been merged). On February 27, 2004, Senator Lugar introduced the Senate'snew Foreign Relations Authorization Act, FY2005 ( S. 2144 ). The Senate ForeignRelations Committee reported it out on March 18, 2004 ( S.Rept. 108-248 ).
Key Policy Staff
Division abbreviations: ALD = American Law Division; G&F = Government and Finance Division;RSI = Resources, Science, and Industry Division, DSP = Domestic Social Policy Division; FDT =Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division.