EL PASO, TEXAS – At a recent conversation hosted by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) spoke about the importance of supporting continued U.S. engagement around the world and why it matters locally to Texas communities. Rep. Escobar was joined by Lieutenant General Anthony J. Rock, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), and Tyler Schroeder, Senior Manager of Government Operations, Boeing, for a discussion with local and national leaders on America’s role in the world and how American leadership in the world helps Texas’ economy and families.

“Never before has our global involvement been more critical. We are seeing democracies fall. We are seeing autocracies grow, expand, and become more empowered,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar. “And all of that plays a role in what happens here at home.”

Escobar added, “I am a big believer in our role globally—investments that we make, the way that we treat neighboring countries, the way we build alliances. All of that creates a more stable world.”

Also speaking about why U.S. leadership globally matters locally were Andrea Hutchins, President & CEO, El Paso Chamber, Taylor Moreno, Program Director, El Paso Children’s Hospital and University Medical Center of El Paso Foundations, and Jon Barela, CEO, The Borderplex Alliance. The conversation, hosted by USGLC, brought together business, non-profit, veteran, faith, and community leaders from El Paso and the wider region.

Lieutenant General Rock spoke to the importance of investment in diplomacy, saying, “We were taught in the professional military education system to focus on the four elements of national power, and it starts with diplomacy… So, it’s diplomacy, information, military, economic, and it’s not pulling one of those levers. It’s pulling all of those levers at the right rate, at the right time, to bring that together.”

Tyler Schroeder, Senior Manager of Government Operations, Boeing, spoke on what’s it worth for America to invest in our development and diplomacy programs, saying, “We cannot get to a state where we’re cushioned from the rest of the geopolitical tensions, from the rest of the economy. Everything that we do on a day-to-day basis is global and we have to understand the responsibility that we have to lead with our values.”

With more than $375 billion in global exports from Texas in 2021, America’s investments in diplomacy and development benefit Texas locally. In 2019, over 3.6 million jobs in Texas were supported by international trade. Of the over 38,000 Texas businesses that export goods, 92 percent are small or medium-sized businesses.

“Texans understand how critical investments in U.S. development and diplomacy programs are when it comes to protecting our national security, advancing our economic interests, and projecting the American values proposition to the world,” said Luke Wenz, USGLC Deputy National Outreach Director. “We welcome Representative Escobar’s leadership and her continued support for global diplomacy and democracy initiatives around the world. Leading globally matters locally, and we’re fortunate to see Texas leaders committed to advancing U.S. leadership on the global stage.”

For the full discussion, watch the event here.

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