FCNL along with other faith, humanitarian, human rights, and peacebuilding organizations call on Congress to reject the Trump administration’s proposed rescission of the Complex Crises Fund.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2018 (Washington, D.C.) – Thirty-four faith, humanitarian, human rights, and peacebuilding organizations joined a letter expressing deep concern and urging Members of Congress to oppose the rescission of $30 million from the Complex Crises Fund.
The release of the letter comes as the House of Representatives prepares to vote on a massive $15 billion rescissions proposal from the White House. The groups note that:
“The Complex Crises Fund is a critical global account that enables the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department to respond to unforeseen crises, filling a critical gap when other monies are unavailable. Without this tool, the U.S. government will be limited in its ability to constructively prevent and mitigate crises at a time when global violence is on the rise.”
The $30 million rescission proposal would reduce by half the money appropriated for the Complex Crises Fund in Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017. This proposed reduction negates congressional intent that unobligated funds should carry over from year to year and should remain available to fill strategic and unforeseen gaps.
The letter points out that “a rescission of this funding would effectively amount to eliminating an appropriated account retroactively” despite the fact that the Senate has made clear that “the elimination of the CCF account, as proposed in the President’s [FY 2018] budget request, has not been justified.”
Signatories on the letter include American Jewish Committee’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, American Jewish World Service, American Psychological Association, Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, Better World Campaign, The Center for Victims of Torture, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Invisible Children, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Search for Common Ground, and STAND: The Student-Led Movement to End Mass Atrocities.
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