Development and Diplomacy a Cost-Effective Investment for America  

Washington, DC — The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition released the following statement on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s 302b funding allocations from Advisory Council Members former Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci and former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge:

“We are grateful the Senate Appropriations Committee recognizes the strong return on investment America receives from our International Affairs Budget.  Heeding the call of top military and business leaders, the Senate’s allocation ensures America remains engaged in the world to protect our national security, keep our economy growing, and demonstrate our values as a nation.

“The International Affairs Budget is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent conflicts that would require much more costly military intervention and to build new trading partners in the developing world.  Neither our security nor our economy can afford attempts to isolate our nation and pull back from the world.”

“As the appropriations process continues, we look forward to working with both the House and Senate to ensure America’s smart power tools of development and diplomacy have the resources necessary to meet the challenges we face around the world.”

Please visit USGLC’s up-to-the-minute online Budget Center for detailed analysis on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s FY 2014 International Affairs Budget allocation.

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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