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National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs/State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies

Appropriations within the House National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs and Senate State and Foreign Operations bills provide essential funding to develop and strengthen U.S. interests abroad with public universities as partners.

APLU supports the Department of State’s Higher Education account, an appropriation that ensures financial support for higher education partnerships that advance U.S. interests through increased strategic international exchanges, development of innovation networks that create new opportunities and markets for U.S. industry, and leadership development capabilities to support short and long-term security interests. APLU also supports appropriations for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, aimed at providing study abroad opportunities for Pell Grant recipients and equipping students with the necessary tools required for critical second language acquisitions.

APLU’s third main priority is the State Department Innovation Labs, an agricultural research partnership that leverages the advanced capacities of U.S. universities to solve some of the most challenging research problems facing global agriculture and development. Discoveries at Innovation Labs advance global food security, drive global economic development in low- and middle-income countries in furtherance of U.S. interests, and strengthen the U.S. as a trading partner for nations around the world. After an initial hiatus while management transferred to the State Department, the program relaunched in 2026.

FY2027

APLU’s FY2027 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels.

Additional FY2027 Resources:

APLU’s FY2026 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels.

Additional FY2026 Resources

  • APLU Analysis of the FY26 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act in conference minibus. See also: Bill Text and Joint Explanatory Statement.
  • President’s FY2026 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Overview (page 671) and Budget Summary
  • U.S. House of Representatives FY2026 National Security and Department of State Appropriations Bill Text and Report Language
  • U.S. Senate FY2025 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Text (not yet available) and Report Language (not yet available)

APLU’s FY2025 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels.

Additional FY2025 Resources:

  • President’s FY2025 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Overview and Budget Summary
  • U.S. House of Representatives FY2025 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Text and Report Language
  • U.S. Senate FY2025 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Text and Report Language
  • Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 Bill Text and Summary

APLU’s FY2024 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels.

APLU’s analysis of the FY2024 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill can be found here.

Additional FY2024 Resources:

Member of Congress Dear Colleague Letters Supporting APLU Priorities:

APLU’s FY2023 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels.

Additional FY2023 Resources:

Member of Congress Dear Colleague Letters Supporting APLU Priorities:

APLU’s FY2022 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels.

Additional FY2022 Resources:

  • President’s FY2022 Budget Request for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Overview and Budget Summary
  • President’s FY2022 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of State Overview and Budget Summary
  • U.S. House of Representatives FY2022 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Text and Report Language
  • U.S. Senate FY2022 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Text and Report Language
  • Resolution of House – Senate Differences: Bill Text and Report Language [N/A]

APLU’s FY2021 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels. Additional supporting information is included in APLU’s letter to House and Senate leadership on reconciling difference between the two chambers’ FY2021 bills.

Additional FY2021 Resources:

APLU’s FY2020 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels. Additional supporting information is included in APLU’s letter to House and Senate State and Foreign Operations appropriations subcommittee leadership on reconciling difference between the two chambers’ bills.

Additional FY2020 Resources:

APLU’s FY2019 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels.

Additional FY2019 Resources:

APLU’s FY2018 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels.

Additional FY2018 Resources:

APLU’s FY2017 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels. Additional supporting information is included in APLU’s Conference Letter to House and Senate State and Foreign Operations appropriations subcommittee leadership.

Additional FY2017 Resources:

APLU’s FY2016 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Advocacy Document provides additional context regarding our key priorities for international university collaborations and food security research, as well as justifications to support our funding request levels. Additional supporting information is included in APLU’s Conference Letter to House and Senate State and Foreign Operations appropriations subcommittee leadership.

Additional FY2016 Resources: