2022 PUBLIC POLICY IN ACTION

AHI on the Hill: Working with Congress to Advance Our Policy Agenda

AHI advanced the Institute’s public policy agenda with congressional officials during 2022.

The policy agenda included: U.S.-Greece relations, U.S.Cyprus relations, including the full lifting of the arms prohibition on Cyprus, and the Cyprus problem, opposition to the Administration’s proposed arms sale to Turkey, religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and recommended federal funding for programs pertaining to Greece, Cyprus, and the Eastern Mediterranean. AHI representatives engaged with members of Congress, chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and national security advisers to discuss our policy agenda.

AHI is consistently in front of key committees with jurisdiction over the policy priorities that impact the Greek American community’s policy agenda.

For example, AHI submitted written testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs on the Biden Administration’s FY2023 foreign aid proposal on May 27 and June 30, 2022, respectively.

Based upon the best interests of the United States, the testimony stated AHI’s opposition to: (1) any proposed foreign aid and assistance to Turkey from the United States, and (2) any proposed reduction in the aid levels for the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. The testimony also advocated for meaningful investment in Greece’s International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, recommending a $1.8 million appropriation, an increase from the previous $1 million funding level. In addition, AHI recommended robust Foreign Military Financing (FMF) assistance for Greece, including $25 million for each fiscal years through to 2026 for European Recapitalization Incentive Program (ERIP) and an extra $6 million in FMF funding. Finally, AHI’s testimony recommended $500,000 for the Republic of Cyprus’ IMET program.

AHI Backs Congressional Effort to Enhance U.S.-Greece Relations

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), together with Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), wrote to the lead appropriators of foreign assistance requesting that they provide $1.8 million for Greece’s IMET program for FY2023. The legislators also asked for $100,000 for the Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and United States 3+1 Cooperation Interparliamentary Group. Thirtyone House members signed the April 27, 2022, bipartisanbacked letter.

AHI supported the letter alongside major Jewish and Hellenic organizations.

Background

The United States-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021, signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (P.L. 117-81) (FY22 NDAA), authorized the $1.8 million for IMET assistance for Greece and $100,000 for the Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and United States 3+1 Cooperation Interparliamentary Group.