	Most Recent Developments

Congressman Christopher H. Smith introduced H.R. 2601 on May 24, 2005. House floor debate occurred the week of July 18, 2005. Earlier in 2005, Senator Lugar introduced a Senate version of the foreign relationsauthorization legislation ( S. 600 ) on March 10. On April 5 and 6, the Senate debated the bill at which time thecombination of numerous amendments on the bill, world events (the death of the Pope),nominations, and filibusters on judges put off action on the measure. Introduction

Congress is required by law to authorize the spending of appropriations for the StateDepartment and foreign policy activities every two years. The foreign relations authorization process dovetails with the annual appropriationprocess for the Department of State (within the Science, State, Justice, Commerce and RelatedAgency Appropriation in the House and the State-Foreign Operations Appropriation in the Senate)and foreign assistance activities (within the Foreign Operations Appropriation in both House andSenate). The mostrecently-enacted stand-alone authorization Act was for FY2003 ( P.L. 107-228 / H.R. Congress can influence U.S. foreign policy regarding specific regions or countries via this biannuallegislation, as well. Both contain similar provisions for the State Department spending levels, theoperation, organization and personnel of State. S. 600 goes beyond that to include titleson: 1) authorizing foreign assistance programs, 2) radiological terrorism security, 3) global pathogensurveillance, 4) safe water, 5) protection of vulnerable populations during humanitarian emergencies,and 6) reconstruction and stabilization issues. 2601 includes measures on: 1)democracy promotion, 2) U.N. reform, 3) export controls and security assistance, and 4)nonproliferation. 2601 and S. 600

Titles in both bills include State Department Authorizations of Appropriations; StateDepartment Authorities and Activities; Organization and Personnel of the Department of State,International Organizations; and International Broadcasting (Board of Governors). Cuba Broadcasting. Foreign Assistance Authorization(10)

Congress last enacted a broad foreign assistance authorization act in 1985. Title XXI includes FY2006 and FY2007 authorizations ofappropriations for most, but not all foreign aid programs. TitleXXIV is the Global Pathogen Surveillance Act. Although the House International Relations Committee did not consider a substantive foreignassistance authorization separately or as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization bill, H.R. More than a half-dozen loans have beenapproved since that time.
The foreign relations authorization process dovetails with the annual appropriation processfor the Department of State, foreign policy, and foreign assistance. Congress is required by law toauthorize the spending of appropriations for the State Department and foreign policy activities everytwo years. The last time Congress passed a stand-alone foreign relations authorization bill was inFY2003 ( P.L. 107-228 ).
Foreign assistance authorization measures (such as authorization for the U.S. Agency forInternational Development, economic and military assistance to foreign countries, and internationalpopulation programs) typically have been merged into the State Department authorization legislationsince 1985. Since that time, Congress has not passed a stand-alone foreign assistance authorizationbill.
On March 10, 2005, Senator Lugar introduced S. 600 . The bill includesappropriations for the Department of State, international broadcasting, the Peace Corps, and foreignassistance programs for FY2006 and FY2007. In early April, the Senate debated S. 600on the Senate floor. The measure is stalled for now with the introduction of numerous flooramendments.
Congressman Christopher H. Smith introduced a foreign relations authorization bill( H.R. 2601 ) on May 24, 2005. The bill was marked up at the subcommittee and fullcommittee level in late May and early June. House floor action occurred the week of July 18th.
The House and Senate legislation contain similar titles regarding authorization language forthe Department of State, international organizations, and international broadcasting; StateDepartment organization and personnel issues, and miscellaneous reporting requirements. S. 600 goes beyond H.R. 2601 on foreign assistance authorization andnumerous other foreign policy issues including avian flu, debt relief, global pathogen surveillance,safe water, and reconstruction and stabilization initiatives. Issues covered in H.R. 2601,but not significantly in S. 600 include democracy promotion, U.N. reform, strategic exportcontrols, missile and nuclear nonproliferation measures, and World Bank loans to Iran.
This report will be updated as legislative action occurs.
Key Policy Staff
Division abbreviations: RSI = Resources, Science, and Industry Division; DSP = Domestic Social Policy Division; FDT = Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division.