This week, House Appropriations Chair Hal Rogers (R-KY) announced a disappointing FY2012 subcommittee allocation for State, Foreign Operations that continues the radically downward trend in spending for international affairs begun in FY2011. At a time when moral, security and even fiscal concerns—if viewed long-term—suggest we should be heading in the other direction and increasing our modest investments in a secure and prosperous world, the House allocation is short-sighted and poorly serves American values and interests.

Also, the House passed by voice-vote the Assessing Progress in Haiti Act (HR 1016), which would require the president to report to Congress on the status of post-earthquake humanitarian, reconstruction and development efforts in Haiti. The status of recovery and reconstruction efforts in Haiti was also a topic of discussion at the House Oversight and Government Reform, National Security Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, which featured USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and USAID Inspector General Donald Gambatesa.