WASHINGTON, DC – Liz Schrayer, President and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), released the following statement on the passing of former United States Senator and Missouri Governor Christopher “Kit” Bond:

USGLC is deeply saddened by the passing of former U.S. Senator and Missouri Governor Christopher “Kit” Bond—a kind and steady champion of American leadership on the global stage and a founding co-chair of our Missouri State Advisory Committee.

He was not only an advocate for “smart power”—he literally wrote a book on it, explaining: “Smart Power is using a combination of military power, and economic, diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives. Smart Power recognizes that before a person can choose his politics, he must have enough to eat, and a safe community in which to live.”

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Senator Bond understood that America’s investments in development and diplomacy are not just moral obligations—they are strategic imperatives. He tirelessly championed U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific, building strong relationships across East and Southeast Asia, and advocating for improved trade, education exchanges, and economic partnerships as tools for global stability and American prosperity.

Senator Bond’s lifelong belief in the power of American values and leadership lives on through the Bond International Scholars Award at the University of Missouri, through generations of policy leaders he influenced, and through our coalition’s continued work to build a better world and a stronger America.

USGLC was truly honored and humbled that he led our efforts in Missouri over the years and personally, he was a guiding light for me, adding great inspiration to my work. We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and the people of Missouri he served so honorably. His voice, vision, and unwavering belief in America’s role as a force for good will be sorely missed—and always remembered.