WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign (USGLC) released the following statement from Executive Director Liz Schrayer on the Obama Administration’s commitment to elevating diplomacy and development:

“The U.S. Global Leadership Campaign and its 400 business and NGO members around the country applaud the swift confirmation of James Steinberg as Deputy Secretary of State for Policy and Jacob J. Lew as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Budget. During their confirmation hearing, both nominees pledged to work with Congress to secure the necessary resources for our civilian-led tools of diplomacy and development as essential to protecting America’s national security and addressing the serious global challenges of the 21st century.”

“Deputy Secretaries Steinberg and Lew now join Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her efforts to ensure, as she said last week, ‘that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States’.”

“The USGLC looks forward to working with President Barack Obama and his entire foreign policy team to strengthen the International Affairs Budget that provides the critical resources for implementing a ‘smart power’ agenda and ensuring America has the non-military tools to achieve our national security and foreign policy goals. Our coalition is pleased that the Obama Administration’s commitment to this effort is shared by the 217 Members of Congress who signed a bipartisan letter to Obama in support of a robust International Affairs Budget.”

Interested parties can find key excerpts from the confirmation hearing and read the House and Senate letters to President-elect Obama on the Campaign’s website at www.usglc.org and learn more about President Obama’s global engagement platform and his national security and foreign policy team by visiting the USGLC’s sister organization, the Center for U.S. Global Engagement, at www.usglobalengagement.org.

About the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign
The U.S. Global Leadership Campaign (www.usglc.org ) is a broad-based, nationwide coalition of businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community leaders that advocates for a strong U.S. International Affairs Budget. Members of the USGLC – a vibrant, influential network of 400 organizations and thousands of individuals – engage policymakers in the nation’s capital and educate the public around the country to build support for these essential programs.

About the Center for U.S. Global Engagement
The Center for U.S. Global Engagement (www.usglobalengagement.org), the educational arm of the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign, unites business, civic, military, faith-based, and political leaders around the country to broaden understanding of America’s interests in building a better, safer world.

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