RALEIGH – Congressman David Price (D-NC) told more than 100 Raleigh business and community leaders today that ensuring strong resources and staffing for American diplomatic and development programs is critical to U.S. national security and to North Carolina’s economy.

“There has long been bipartisan consensus that our country is safer, stronger, and more prosperous when America leads,” said Congressman Price. “As conflicts destabilize regions and threaten the lives of millions around the world, American global leadership is needed now more than ever before – not only to save lives abroad, but to keep us safe here at home. Remaining a force for good in the world takes a fully funded, fully staffed State Department and development agencies.”

The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) hosted today’s foreign policy forum on the heels of the Administration’s latest budget proposal, which calls for a severe 30% cut to the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Congressman Price serves on the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and as Ranking Member on the House Democracy Partnership, a bipartisan commission that works to support the development of effective, independent, and responsive legislatures around the world.

“The young democracies of the world look to America as a beacon of hope,” said Shari Bryan, Vice President of the National Democratic Institute. “With mounting humanitarian crises endangering international stability, our nation’s diplomats and development workers are critical to safeguarding democracy abroad while keeping Americans safe at home. U.S. global leadership has empowered citizens and strengthened democratic institutions all around the world—but there is still more work to be done.”

More than 1.2 million North Carolina jobs are tied to international trade, and North Carolina exported close to $30 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2015. Global health work in particular supports more than 26,000 jobs in North Carolina, and pumped $3.7 billion into the state’s economy in 2015.

“It’s not a question of if, but when the next pandemic will strike— so investing in global health programs is directly in our national interest,” said Christopher A. LeGrand, President of DAI Global Health and Chair of the Triangle Global Health Consortium. “By enabling other countries to quickly identify and contain disease outbreaks before they spread, we save lives around the world and here at home. North Carolina, and Research Triangle in particular, has long been a leader in the global health field – a field that helps keep our country and community healthy and pumps nearly four billion dollars into our state’s economy and supports thousands of jobs.”

A strong and growing coalition in North Carolina for more than four years, the USGLC’s North Carolina Advisory Committee brings together more than 100 business, faith, non-profit, and political leaders who understand why American global leadership matters for North Carolina.

“Congressman Price’s steadfast leadership on the Appropriations Committee is invaluable given the current budget environment in Washington,” said Carey Campbell, Director of Outreach for the USGLC. “As a long time champion of America’s diplomatic and development programs, he understands that by supporting emerging democracies, investing in global health initiatives, or responding to humanitarian crises wherever they occur, we not only demonstrate the best of our American values, but we can strengthen our country’s security and North Carolina’s economy.”

Also participating in today’s forum was North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Lance DeSpain, Executive Director of the North Carolina Military Foundation, and Brooks Raiford, President and CEO of the North Carolina Technology Association.

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