Devex: U.S. aid budget moves forward, but Democrats plan to fight cuts
“A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee approved a budget bill to fund U.S. foreign affairs programs Thursday, despite Democrats’ vows to fight back against the spending plan on a number of fronts. The bill includes an overall $10 billion cut from 2017 foreign affairs spending levels and the expansion of the controversial ‘global gag rule,’ which restricts funding for family planning. It maintains some of the accounts and programs that the Trump administration sought to cut, but it also takes a harsh swing at budget items Republicans are loath to support…” (Igoe, 7/14).

Nature: U.S. lawmakers seek $1.1-billion boost for the NIH
“The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) would see its budget rise by US$1.1 billion in 2018, to $35.2 billion, under a spending proposal released on 12 July by lawmakers in the House of Representatives. The legislation explicitly rejects a plan by the administration of President Donald Trump to cut the NIH’s budget by 18 percent in 2018…” (Morello, 7/12).

Science Speaks: House subcommittee spending bills save Fogarty, reject radical Trump global health cuts
“With a $1.1 billion increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health as well as an NIH budget that includes $73 million for the Fogarty International Center, … the two House funding subcommittees with jurisdiction over most global and domestic health programs posted bills Wednesday…” (Barton, 7/13).

STAT: NIH fetal tissue research would be barred under House panel’s spending plan
“A House subcommittee’s draft 2018 spending plan would prohibit federal funds from being spent on research that uses fetal tissue, a symbolic win for conservatives who are also taking aim at money for family planning and public health programs around the country…” (Facher, 7/13).

VOA News: House Panel Advances Bill to Cut State Department Budget
“A House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee has advanced a spending bill that would cut the State Department’s 2018 fiscal budget by [approximately] 14 percent compared to this year’s budget…” (Saine, 7/13).