Congress and the MCA

CGD Analysis Summary

The U.S. Congress plays a key role in overseeing the MCA. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee are charged with authorizing MCA programs, and the Senate and House Foreign Operations subcommittees appropriate funds for the MCA annually.

This page offers a summary of relevant legislation, hearings and other Congressional activity, and lists CGD work on the topics.

What's New in Congress

FY2009 Budget Request

The MCA FY2009 Budget Request was submitted in February. Ambassador Danilovich then testified in a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations regarding the importance of fully funding the request for $2.225 billion.

In the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for FY09, the MCC was given $875 million. The bill stipulates there is a $95 million administrative cap and compacts cannot go over $350 million, among other things. Read the MCA Monitor's blog for further information.

FY2008 Budget

A supplemental appropriations bill is circulating through Congress that contains two amendments which jeopardize funding for the FY08 MCA budget. Introduced by Senator Gregg (R-NH), the amendments together withdraw $525 million from the MCA to support Jordan, food security programs, and to fund Burma relief efforts. See the MCA Monitor blog for further analysis.

Read the MCA Monitor's analysis of why the MCA could use the full $3 billion requested for it in the FY08 Budget Request.

On June 5 the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee released their mark-up of the FY08 budget allocating $1.8 billion for the MCA--slightly above the prior two years' enacted levels. (Read the House press release (pdf)). On June 28 the Senate came out with a $1.2 billion mark for MCC which is lower than any appropriated level since FY04, MCC's first year of operations. (Read the Senate press release (pdf)).

House Commends Lesotho, Recognizes Role of MCC in Encouraging Reform

On June 16, 2007 the House passed a resolution (H.Res.294) commending the Kingdom of Lesotho for enacting a law that ends the minority status of married women and ensures their ability to own property. The resolution was sponsored by Diane Watson (D-CA), vice-chair of the House Africa Subcommittee of the House Committee of Foreign Affairs, and had 47 co-sponsors. Congresswoman Watson recognized MCC's leadership role and cooperative work with the government of Lesotho to help encourage the passage of the law by promoting the importance of gender equality in economic participation. The Senate passed a similar resolution (S.Res.103)--led by Richard Lugar (R-IN)--in March 2007.