Record-Breaking Support in Congress for the International Affairs Budget
By Jordan Smith at 8 December, 2009, 5:41 pm
Today, a record-breaking 247 Members of Congress – 189 Representatives and a solid majority of 58 Senators – signed a bipartisan letter to President Barack Obama expressing their support for a robust FY11 International Affairs Budget. This is an extraordinary statement of support for the smart power agenda, the International Affairs Budget, and – ultimately – development and diplomacy’s importance in building a better, safer world. A similar letter was circulated last year to then President-elect Obama, signed by 217 Members of Congress, including 51 Senators.
This year’s letter has galvanized support across Congress: from the Appropriations, Armed Services and Budget Committees, from the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses, from Blue Dogs to Freshmen Republicans.
This record-breaking showing, particularly in our difficult budget climate, sends a powerful message to the President that robust investments in the International Affairs Budget are essential to ensure America has the resources to meet our national security and foreign policy goals. We are confident that this letter will help set the stage for a strong FY 2011 budget request early next year.
The USGLC would like to thank each signatory for their contribution to this important letter campaign, with a special thank you to the 10 Senate and 12 House co-authors: Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Christopher Bond (R-MO); Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Bob Corker (R-TN), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), George Voinovich (R-OH) and by Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Ike Skelton (D-MO), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), David Reichert (R-WA), Jim Cooper (D-TN), Aaron Schock (R-IL), Vic Snyder (D-AR), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), and Jim Gerlach (R-PA).
We also extend our sincere thanks to all our USGLC members, who were so instrumental in reaching out to Congress and achieving this victory. Congress heard loud and clear from our Coalition that strong support for the International Affairs Budget exists across the country – and the results of that speak for themselves.
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