Watch the full event here: https://youtu.be/kS4agxHV_Lo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a meeting with Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) and more than 75 local business, political, and community leaders, stakeholders from across the political spectrum agreed that America’s investments in global leadership through U.S. diplomacy and development have important impacts throughout the state of Illinois—and in communities around the world, particularly those facing major COVID-19 outbreaks.

“As COVID-19 and other challenges demand the world’s attention, American leadership is fundamental to addressing them, including the devastating impacts on communities at home and abroad. We cannot overlook how critical investments in America’s global health, diplomacy, and development programs are to strengthening our global leadership and helping our allies in need, while also responding to these growing international concerns,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. “As a member of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, I am especially focused on America’s international COVID-19 response in countries like India and Brazil where U.S. assistance is badly needed to help curb the spread of the virus, both further abroad and here at home.”

“Amid this pandemic, Congressman Krishnamoorthi has worked tirelessly to keep Illinois safe and in recent weeks has been fighting on the frontlines to ensure India and other countries have the resources they need to push back against surging COVID outbreaks. Since day one, Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been a strong advocate for America’s leadership on the world stage and a key voice in Congress for tackling COVID-19 and other global challenges whose impacts can reverberate to our shores,” said Jason Gross, Executive Director, USGLC. “From championing legislation to address the climate crisis to countering Russian influence and pushing for greater distribution of COVID vaccines, we’re grateful for Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s leadership and look forward to working with him to advance America’s global engagement to benefit communities across Illinois, particularly when it comes to our national security, economic prosperity, and humanitarian values.”

Many of today’s participants are members of the USGLC’s Illinois Advisory Committee, a strong and growing coalition that brings together more than 130 business, faith, non-profit, veteran, and political leaders who advocate for strong development and diplomacy resources alongside defense to support U.S. global engagement.

As today’s participants emphasized, Illinois is a beneficiary of America’s global investments. In 2019, Illinois exported more than $59.9 billion worth of goods in 2019, with international trade supporting more than 1.59 million jobs in the state. U.S. agencies have also worked alongside Illinois companies to represent their interests overseas—financing over $2 billion in exports through the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank since 2014 and $2.4 million in exports through the U.S. Trade and Development Agency since 1992.