September 22, 2012

Senate Shows Strong, Bipartisan Support for Foreign Assistance

Senators Reject Paul Amendment’s Call to Retreat in the World

Washington, DC —USGLC Executive Director Liz Schrayer released this statement this evening on the Defeat of Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) amendment to cut aid to Egypt, Libya, and Pakistan:

“We are grateful for the strong bipartisan support the Senate demonstrated today for American global leadership by defeating an amendment to cut foreign aid.  This is a clear rejection of American retreat from the world and a strong endorsement of the critical need for development and diplomacy.  I commend the many strong voices from both sides of the aisle who counseled against this amendment.

“As our National Security Advisory Council Co-Chairs General Mike Hagee, USMC (Ret.) and Admiral Jim Loy, USCG (Ret.) said in their letter to Senators this morning, ‘U.S. assistance is not a gift to recipient nations.  It is not a tool to make other countries like us. It’s a critical component, along with a robust military, of America’s national security strategy.’

“Certainly there are legitimate concerns given the tragic events in Libya last week, but rather than pull back, now is the time for the U.S. to demonstrate its leadership and remain an active participant on the global stage.”

The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (www.usglc.org) is a broad-based influential network of 400 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic and community leaders in all 50 states who support a smart power approach of elevating development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.

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