This week, The House this week passed its FY2012 Agriculture appropriations bill, containing deep cuts to international food aid grant funding—even as volatility in global food prices persists. This severe cut to one of the most basic forms of our nation’s foreign assistance is a troubling indicator of the extent to which small government ideology appears to be trumping all other concerns, be they moral, geostrategic or other. See the Washington Update for details on these troubling cuts.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Lael Brainard, Under Secretary for International Affairs at the Treasury Department, testified about requested capital increases from the World Bank and about the continued need for U.S. leadership at all Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) in front of the House Financial Services International Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee. The hearing summary is in the document below.

Note: This document has been updated to reflect the new time for Sec. Clinton's hearing next week.

Public Policy Update 6-17-11.pdf