Press Releases

Today, the House unanimously adopted an amendment to H.R. 1540, the Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), offered by Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) to establish a Global Contingency Security Fund.

“I am very pleased that this amendment will be a part of the Defense Authorization bill. It will give the Departments of State and Defense the flexibility they need to help train and equip our foreign partners. For the past few years, I have grown increasingly concerned about the barriers that exist between the State and DOD preventing them from adequately coordinating operations where diplomatic, development and military resources may be necessary to address the complicated issues we face in failing states or countries that ask for our help.”

“My amendment establishes a pooled fund, financed and administered by both State and DOD, which will assist our foreign partners to develop their own security and economic tools. Building partner capacity is one of the best things the U.S. can do to stabilize volatile regions around the world.”

Larsen’s amendment establishes the Global Contingency Security Fund. It will be jointly administered by the Secretaries of State and Defense and will authorize providing assistance to enhance foreign nation’s efforts in border and maritime security, military forces capabilities, and counterterrorism operations. Foreign nations receiving the assistance must already be eligible to receive aid under other foreign assistance programs, and the assistance received from this Fund must promote the observance and respect of human rights as well as respect for legitimate civilian authority.

“This amendment was first developed by former Chairman Ike Skelton and I was pleased to work with leadership of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees to have it included in the Defense Authorization bill.”

The amendment was cosponsored by House Armed Services Committee Chair Howard “Buck” McKeon and Ranking Member Adam Smith and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Ranking Member Howard Berman.

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