South Lake Today

Washington, D.C. — Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, released a statement following the passage of H.R. 8771, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for 2025.

“Today, I voted to put the interests of America first and save $7.6 billion taxpayer dollars while still supporting our allies and advancing our national security,” said Rep. Webster. “I am particularly pleased this bill cuts UN funding and prohibits any taxpayer dollars from supporting gain-of-function research that contributed to COVID-19, Wuhan Institute, and labs in adversarial countries.”

“This bill is another example of House Republicans rejecting the Washington presumption that nothing in the federal budget can be cut in order to fund our priorities. There is more work to be done, but this is a meaningful step in the right direction of restoring fiscal responsibility and cutting government spending.”

Highlights of H.R. 8771 include:

- Protecting longstanding pro-life protections to ensure taxpayer dollars are not funding abortion services at home or abroad.

- Eliminating $761.6 million from the United Nations’ regular budget.

- Prohibiting funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), an organization that found employees linked to Hamas terrorists.

- Prohibiting funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, EcoHealth Alliance, any gain-of-function research, and labs in adversarial countries like China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, or Cuba.

- Ensuring that only the United States flag is flown over U.S. embassies.

- Including protections for religious freedom organizations delivering foreign aid.

- Banning “disinformation” and “misinformation” programs that violate the free speech of Americans.

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