Congresswoman Simon Votes Against Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill

July 15, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) voted against H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 and released the following statement: “Today I voted against H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 . “A year after abruptly shuttering USAID and gutting the State Department - Republicans continue to make devastating and deadly cuts to foreign aid and diplomatic programs. This bill includes steep cuts to global health and diplomatic programs, which will undoubtedly lead to even higher rates of poverty, malnutrition, and death. “The President says he is interested in making our nation ‘stronger, safer, and more prosperous,’ yet everything he has done in the past year runs counter to this promise. Starting an illegal and unwanted war in Iran does not make us safer. Ceding America's voice at international institutions like the United Nations and cutting off resources for diplomacy does not make us stronger. Prohibiting funding for worldwide climate initiatives does not make us more prosperous. “I also voted for an amendment to block $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel. We cannot continue to give military and financial assistance to a government that is not following the Leahy Laws and violating international law. “I refuse to support a foreign policy that abandons the institutions we helped build, that leads to preventable deaths, and that chooses destruction over diplomacy and peace.” ### Issues : Foreign Policy