WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved President Obama’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2010 foreign assistance levels of $30 million for Armenia and $22 million for Azerbaijan, as part of a $48.7 billion foreign aid package. Complete information on economic and military assistance to the Caucasus region to follow.

The Senate panel’s vote comes in sharp contrast to House Appropriations Committee approved allocations of $48 million for Armenia. The full House is scheduled to vote on the FY2010 foreign aid bill by Friday, July 10th.

Following full Senate and House consideration of the measures, a conference committee will convene to work out differences between the two bills.

In an April 3, 2009 letter sent to foreign aid appropriators, members of the Armenian Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), called for strengthening Section 907, allocating $70 million in economic aid to Armenia, $5 million in assistance to Armenia’s military, $10 million in development aid to Nagorno Karabagh, and the removal of official barriers to U.S.-Nagorno Karabagh contacts and communications.