U.S. Global Leadership Campaign Praises Congressional Letters to President-elect Obama in Support of  Greater Investments in Diplomacy andDevelopment

Press Release from US Global Leadership Campaign, December 16, 2008:
WASHINGTON , D.C. – Today, a historic record-breaking 217 Members of Congress – 51 Senators and 166 Representatives – pledged their support for a robust U.S. International Affairs Budget as the incoming Obama Administration begins to prepare its FY 2010 Federal Budget request. In letters to the President-elect, Members of the Senate and the House expressed strong bipartisan support for America’s diplomatic, development and humanitarian assistance programs, a fundamental pillar of our national security and foreign policy.
 
"This historic level of support sends a strong, bipartisan message that Congress understands the importance of strengthening diplomacy and development to effectively address the global challenges of the 21st century – from failed and fragile states, to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, poverty, and humanitarian crises – as essential to protecting America’s national security, promoting global economic prosperity, and demonstrating our humanitarian values," stated Nancy Lindborg, Co-President of the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign.
 
President-elect Obama has presented bold, far-reaching proposals for elevating diplomacy and development, including doubling U.S. foreign assistance, as part of his broader national security strategy. This historic letter sends a significant statement of support for America’s non-military tools of global engagement and includes a broad cross section of Congress, including a record 32 Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. House supporters include 10 full Committee chairs, a majority of the Congressional Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific American Caucuses, and the Blue Dogs. The Senate majority includes 13 full Committee chairs.
 
"In light of the global economic uncertainty, it's more important than ever for the United States to invest in programs that promote economic growth at home and abroad, while enhancing our national security," said Bill Lane, Co-President of the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign. "Even though the International Affairs Budget is only 1.2 percent of the entire Federal Budget, the programs and policies it supports generate billions of dollars in exports in every sector of our economy and hundreds of thousands of jobs across the nation."
 
In the Senate, the letter was championed by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), with a majority of Senators signing the letter. In the House, Representatives Howard Berman (D-Calif.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Ben Chandler (D-Ky.), Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), Vic Snyder (D-Ark.), Joseph Knollenberg (R-Mich.), Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), and David Reichert (R-Wash.) led the effort to garner 166 Democratic and Republican supporters.
 
"Today’s global challenges, including the current economic crisis, require that America use all of the tools it has at its disposal to achieve our national security and foreign policy goals." Senator Dianne Feinstein said. "U.S. foreign assistance programs help establish greater stability and security abroad by targeting the root causes of terrorism and providing relief to the millions of victims of poverty, starvation, and illiteracy found throughout the developing world."
 
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and other national security and foreign policy experts, and over 50 three- and four-star retired military leaders have strongly endorsed greater investments in our civilian institutions of diplomacy and development, which have been undermanned and underfunded, as the first line of our national defense and to address the challenges and opportunities our nation faces around the world.
 
When the 111 th Congress takes office in January, it still must consider the $38.2 billion FY09 International Affairs Budget, representing an 11 percent increase over present spending. Despite this increase, the International Affairs Budget is a mere 1.2 percent of the entire Federal Budget and remains 11 percent less in real terms than at the height of the Cold War.

Click here for the List of Congressional Signatories

Click here to visit the USGLC's website