Monthly Archives: November 2010
A number of proposals for cutting spending have circulated recently with potential consequences for the International Affairs Budget and foreign assistance in the wake of the midterm elections. The reactions have been far-ranging, from outright dismissal to calls for making hard choices that highlight the challenges we’re facing in difficult economic times to make an [...]
Yesterday morning Secretary Clinton and USAID Administrator Shah briefed lawmakers on Capitol Hill on the soon to be released QDDR using this power point presentation. The final report, due to be reviewed in the interagency process on Friday, will likely be made public in mid-December. According to the presentation the recommendations in the QDDR are [...]
While dozens of reports in recent years have focused on reforming our national security apparatus, the Council on Foreign Relations released a new report with a fresh angle. This report, authored by Kay King, looks at the role of Congress in national security and calls for a major changes. She sums up Congress’s track record [...]
Another deficit reduction plan will be released today, this time from the Bipartisan Policy Center. In this morning’s Washington Post, the plan’s co-chairs, former Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) and former OMB Director Alice Rivlin, give a preview saying “the status quo is not an option, and everyone must sacrifice a little in the common interest. [...]
The Case for a Strong and Effective International Affairs Budget Richard Parker, USGLC Communications Director, writes about the need to educate the incoming Congressional members on the importance of the International Affairs Budget. Here is an Excerpt: More than one out of five U.S. jobs depends in some way on international trade, and each dollar the [...]
The 111th Congress returned to Capitol Hill yesterday to deal with a long list of unfinished legislative business in a “lame-duck” session. Congress is likely to be in session for this week and 1-2 weeks after Thanksgiving before adjourning. In addition to dealing with all twelve FY 2011 appropriations bills, Congress must also decide whether [...]
Those following foreign assistance reform have probably heard bits and pieces about “USAID Forward,” a process that has been described as the agency’s “change management agenda.” It is mentioned as an “early outcome” of the QDDR in USAID’s fact sheet on the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, and Secretary Clinton and Administrator Shah mentioned [...]
USGLC National Security Advisory Council Members Admiral James Loy, USCG (Ret.), and General Harry Raduege, USAF (Ret.), appeared yesterday on This Week in Defense saying how important it is for the new Congress to recognize the importance of the International Affairs Budget. As the civilian smart power tools of development and diplomacy have been underfunded [...]
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich spoke recently at a USGLC Putting Smart Power to Work event in Washington about the importance of a strong and effective International Affairs Budget and making the case to Congress for a more balanced approach to foreign policy. He spoke very candidly about the need for the State [...]
The Academy for Educational Development (AED) has announced Steve Moseley is retiring as president and chief executive officer after a remarkable 40 years of service with the organization. Steve is a true pioneer in the international arena, serving as a key player in expanding U.S. education and exchange efforts around the world and helping to [...]
