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After the July 9 vote on the The FY2010 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act, Congressman Latta issued the following press release and signed a letter Mr. Herbert Kohr, Executive Director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) which can be found here.   

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) made the following statement after voting against H.R. 3081, The FY2010 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act.

“House Republicans fully support funding important international and foreign assistance activities that fight illegal drug trafficking, promote security, and economic growth in developing countries. 

I fully support the inclusion of funding for our strategic allies like Israel, Egypt, and Jordan.  As these countries, specifically Israel, continue to be on the front lines of the war on terror, they need every resource possible to keep themselves and other nations safe.

However, H.R. 3081 contains $48.8 billion in spending, which is 33 percent above last year’s spending levels.  As our nation’s unemployment rate continues to grow and our deficit spirals out of control, I could not in good faith support this increase in spending.  Now more than ever, our nation needs to be frugal with our resources, focusing as much energy and resources as possible into reviving our own economy.

Lastly, H.R. 3081 includes a 19 percent increase in funding over last year’s funding levels for the United Nations Population Fund and International Family Planning grants, who have traditionally directed funds to counties that support coercive abortion.  Furthermore, attempts to re-instate the Mexico City policy, which prevent U.S. funds from being used for abortions overseas, were unsuccessful."