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Dear Board of Directors,

As the Democratic Platform Committee finalizes the 2016 Platform for ratification at the convention, we've just completed our analysis of the Platform draft. Below you'll find the USGLC's six key takeaways from this Platform that places global development and health at the center of U.S. foreign policy. We are off to Cleveland next week, followed by Philadelphia the week after.

Best,

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC

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IMPACT 2016 UPDATE - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Analysis of 2016 Democratic Party Platform

July 14, 2016

After two long days of debate in Orlando this past weekend, the Democratic Party approved its final 2016 Platform for ratification in Philadelphia. The tense negotiation over the document was largely due to additional changes sought by the Sanders campaign to push a range of progressive agenda items. Both the Sanders and Clinton sides claimed various victories, with an advisor for Sanders claiming they got 80 percent of what they wanted - with the exception of a critique of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

As for USGLC core issues, the Platform reinforces the Party's long-standing commitment to America's global leadership along with a full-hearted endorsement of development assistance as an "essential instrument of American power" to "prevent threats, enhance stability, and reduce the need for military force." In addition, the document recognizes that at "less than one percent of the federal budget," our nation's development programs have achieved game-changing outcomes around the world - and it reaffirms a strong support for investing in global health and ending extreme poverty.

The USGLC issued a statement<http://www.usglc.org/2016/07/01/usglc-statement-on-the-democratic-party-platform-draft/> on the release of the draft, welcoming this commitment to American global engagement through development and diplomacy - and called for continued support from both sides of the aisle.

Six key foreign policy takeaways from the draft Platform:

1. American Global Leadership Is Indispensable
The Platform's foreign policy plank highlights the essential role and need for strong American leadership to "to grow our economy, protect our interests, and make our country safer" and that our nation should be "a principled force for peace and prosperity in the world." In a world where the United States faces competition for global influence, the Platform notes we "cannot outsource our position of global leadership and allow other countries to make decisions about our lives, jobs, and safety."

2. Global Development Critical for U.S. Engagement, 1% of Budget
The Platform defines America's civilian tools as pillars of U.S. national security. The document states, "We believe the smart use of diplomacy, development, and economic statecraft can prevent crises, foster stability, and make us safer." In addition, the Platform underscores how development is "less than one percent of the federal budget" and that our nation needs comprehensive approach that uses "all the tools of American power, especially diplomacy and development, to confront global threats and ensure war is the last resort."

The Platform showcases the game-changing results of strategic investments in global development, saying "our development assistance has helped cut extreme poverty in half, drastically decreased child mortality, reduced global hunger, [and] countered deadly pandemics." The Platform also urges "more progress on important global goals like ending extreme poverty and hunger."

3. Platform Prioritizes Global Health
From Zika to Ebola to HIV/AIDS, the Democratic Platform reinforces the need for strong and robust American leadership in combating pandemics and eradicating communicable diseases. The document calls for funding and testing for a vaccine to address Zika. The 2016 version sets a new goal of an AIDS-free generation, saying "we will make [PEPFAR] more effective and increase global funding for HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment."

4. Focus on Women and Girls
As a reflection of core American values, the Platform foregrounds the advancement of women and girls in America's foreign policy. Calling upon the U.S. to be the leading advocate for the rights of women and girls, the Platform calls for their "economic, political, and educational opportunities, and [to] protect them from violence at home and abroad." Further, the Platform specifically pledges that the U.S. will work with our African partners to improve their capacity to respond to crises and protect of their citizens, especially women and girls.

5. U.S. Partnership with Africa
Applauding President Obama's engagement with African partners on a range of foreign policy issues, the Platform asserts that "we will continue to strengthen democratic institutions, fair trade and investment, development, and global health" and support African partners "to respond to crises and protect citizens, especially women and girls" and to respond to terrorist attacks undertaken by extremist groups.

6. Human Trafficking, Refugees, and Multilateral Organizations
The platform also highlights a number of other related issues including:

* Addressing the global refugee crisis, highlighting the more than 60 million displaced from the crises in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe and supporting an "international summit to address this crisis so that every country assumes its responsibility to meet this humanitarian challenge"

* Support for "global institutions and multilateral organizations" that "are an important amplifier of American strength and influence"

* Pledging to "stop the scourge of human trafficking and modern slavery of men, women, boys, and girls" and building on the accomplishments of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000