90+ NGOs: Letter to Congressional Leadership Regarding Possible Rescissions

Dear Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy,

As implementers and advocates of America’s foreign assistance, we urge Congress to take immediate and permanent action to end the administration’s repeated threats and use of rescissions to cut congressionally approved funds meant to end poverty, advance democracy and human rights, and alleviate human suffering globally.

By impounding or canceling congressionally approved foreign assistance that the President signed into law, the administration not only subverts Congress’ constitutionally-mandated role but also reduces the effectiveness of life-saving programs and undermines America’s global leadership.

We support the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee and the message they delivered on August 9 to the Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney and Acting Director Peter Vought. Our community agrees that such an attempt – by any administration – to override Congress’ most fundamental power would be “a direct affront to the separation of powers principle upon which our nation was built.”

We thank Vice Chairman Leahy and Chairwoman Lowey for their letter that emphasized the targeted funds “were appropriated by overwhelming bipartisan majorities and after lengthy negotiations between the House and Senate, and including the White House.” We also thank Chairman Graham and Ranking Member Rogers for their letter expressing, “The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s December 2018 legal opinion concluded that the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act does not permit the withholding of funds through their date of expiration and notes the President’s responsibility in ensuring prudent obligation of funds.”

We ask Congress to take swift bipartisan action and reject any rescission proposal. Bipartisan support for foreign assistance has been an enduring feature of U.S. foreign policy for decades. Furthermore, we urge Congress to ensure that rescission threats and proposals are no longer used as a tool to hinder and defund U.S. foreign assistance and undermine congressional intent. This will reassert Congress’ power of the purse and halt actions that impact the lives of millions of poor and vulnerable people around the world.

Sincerely,

—