EMAIL DETAILS

Dear Board of Directors,

After the drama of August around our collective efforts to kill the rescissions package, we were looking forward to a quieter few days in early September. But alas, Washington never disappoints!

A few quick updates to share:

1. AUGUST IN-DISTRICT EVENTS MATTERED. This summer, the team held more meetings with candidates than ever before in our own race to November to ensure an “internationalist wave.” More on this at the upcoming Board of Directors meeting. One item that sticks out is our in-district events, particularly those in the Heartland.


* In Erie, PA – we hosted Republican Study Committee member Rep. Mike Kelly with a homecoming appearance from former-Governor Tom Ridge
* Rep. Kelly, who has a mixed record on our issues, gave one of the most supportive speeches to date to kick-off the event, proving once again that these events work.
* Visiting his old district, former Congressman Ridge, was blown away at the caliber of the more than 150 local leaders in the room!
* Special thanks to fellow board member, Bill Lane, who participated in the panel discussion, driving home the business message.


* In Gator Country, the USGLC hosted BUILD Act sponsor, Rep. Ted Yoho
* Before a packed audience of 100 business, veteran, and community leaders, Rep. Yoho, once again shared his incredible turnaround story from campaigning against foreign assistance when he first ran for Congress to his current position: “If you get rid of foreign aid, you’ll have more conflict in the world.”
* Good read in the Gainesville Sun<https://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20180829/jackson-streeter-strengthen-us-investments-overseas> by one of our Florida Advisory Committee members, a former officer and surgeon in the U.S. Navy, appearing just days after our event.
* Shout out to Martin Lowery of NRECA who made the trek down to Florida.


* A Private Salt Lake City Moment with Senator Mike Lee and Administrator Mark Green
* Since Senator Lee is one of two senators that has offered foreign assistance cutting amendments, it was significant to host him for a two hour discussion with over 40 top business and community leaders, including some of the largest exporters in the state.
* Mark Green brought enormous credibility to the discussion, helping Lee see the transformation of aid and how it is delivering effective results. At the end of the event, Lee’s chief of staff told us, “Let’s next have a public event with Senators Lee and Romney!”
* I had the opportunity to meet with Mitt Romney’s campaign manager, who is likely to become his Chief of Staff. He joined us at the breakfast and expressed the candidate’s excitement to play a leading role in foreign policy overall, and our issues in particular, once in the Senate.

2. THE TRUMP-PAUL ALLIANCE. While one of the bigger cable news headlines this week was Rand Paul’s suggestion that the White House administer polygraphs to weed out the anonymous NYT op-ed author, there’s another Trump-Paul alliance we need to be watching.


* In a story last month, POLITICO highlighted<https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/08/rand-paul-trump-russia-putin-768472> how “Both Paul and Trump routinely rail against foreign entanglements, foreign wars, and foreign aid – positions characterized as isolationist by critics and as ‘America First’ by the president and his supporters.”

* Also, Senator Paul is one of the remaining holds on the BUILD Act in the Senate and wrote an op-ed<https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/08/23/rand-paul-opic-foreign-investment-program-does-not-deserve-support/1076668002/> taking on OPIC in Kentucky’s Courier Journal.

3. OUR MILITARY LEADERS TAKE THE HILL. Next week, John and I will have the privilege of visiting Capitol Hill with leaders of our National Security Advisory Council for the second time this year.


* We have secured a meeting with OMB Director Mick Mulvaney for the group – though we don’t have any expectations of a turnaround! Look forward to sharing the details, assuming he doesn’t cancel.

4. CR FOR SFOPS – 7 LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO GO. Congress is heading toward one of its most productive appropriations seasons in a very long time. As many as 9 spending bills are expected to be signed into law before the end of the fiscal year – unfortunately SFOPS is not expected to be one of them.


* The likely scenario is that the State Department, USAID and other agencies funded through SFOPS will operate under a Continuing Resolution until after the election – our hunch is December.


* One thing to watch: the SFOPS bill is not in good company. With a fight over funding for a border wall likely at the end of the year – and SFOPS is one of only 3 bills not finalized (the other 2 being Homeland Security and Commerce-Justice-Science, both having a stake in the immigration fight). We’re closely watching how the topline funding level could be impacted as the immigration battle intensifies.

Fall Board Meeting. I’m looking forward to seeing you for our October 2-3 Board of Directors Meeting in Washington, D.C. Please plan to be with us from 10:00am on Tuesday, October 2 until 10:00am on Wednesday, October 3. Our meeting will take place at The St. Regis Hotel (923 16th Street NW) in Washington, DC and we’ll share the final agenda and meeting times in advance. To RSVP, or if you have any questions, please contact Melissa Lieberman at mlieberman@usglc.org<mailto:mlieberman@usglc.org>.

Many thanks,

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC