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It's Budget Day here in Washington! But since the Administration
sent up their "skinny budget" in March and a document was
leaked last month, is there really anything new to share? Actually,
yes.


I've been watching the President's first overseas trip
- a significant reminder of the importance of American global
leadership. Unfortunately, at the same time, the Administration
released its budget request today calling for a 32% cut -
disproportionate and dangerous - to the State Department and
USAID.


While most Members of Congress have called the budget "dead on
arrival," I have been wildly impressed - though not
surprised - with the growing chorus of powerful voices in
opposition to these cuts: policymakers from both sides of the aisle,
military and faith leaders, and just yesterday - hundreds of
CEOs and business leaders weighed in.

They all agree: These cuts make America less safe.


>> Get USGLC's statement and our top takeaways in the full
budget analysis.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=BVMjrVJ5WoVVCfYHqQOKYQ
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=XeKLLJS_fN16hhdkvQK7LQ


Everything turns to Congress now. If you don't have time to read
all the details, catch the top takeaways on the budget. And skim
through the latest tidbits on politics and foreign policy in the
GLOBAL GAB below.

Best,

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC

THE GLOBAL GAB: POTUS Overseas, Budget Lands in Washington, 225 Biz
Leaders
May 23, 2017


STATE DEPT BUDGET = JOBS. 225 business leaders from across the U.S.
penned a letter to former business icon Secretary Rex Tillerson urging
his support of a strong budget for the State Department and USAID.
Leaders from Coca-Cola, Land O'Lakes, General Electric, Cargill,
UPS, and Walmart - alongside hundreds more - all wrote
that "strategic investments in development and diplomacy make
America safer and more prosperous." FOX News just covered the
story during their 6pm show, along with headlines in the Wall Street
Journal and CNN Money.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=8vYYWb334OqssHrqXtHNVQ

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=leehdMwwpKtqcxyd5nUPeQ

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=tkPEVYLvIJtr6pM4QSObWw


TOP BUDGET TAKEAWAYS. Here are 4 quick takeaways from the
USGLC's full budget analysis:

* A DEEP AND DISPROPORTIONATE CUT. The International Affairs
Budget takes one of the most disproportionate and devastating
cuts - down 32% - in the non-Defense discretionary
budget in the Administration's proposal, taking funding
back to levels not seen since 9/11 when adjusted for inflation.
As a percentage of GDP, funding would drop to its lowest level
since World War II.

* DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES. The proposal also includes a staggering
44% cut for development and economic programs, zeroing out
assistance to 37 countries. This could mark a significant
downgrading of development assistance as a tool for fighting
poverty and advancing American interests around the world.

* GLOBAL HEALTH CUT. Despite broad support for global health
programs from both Republicans and Democrats, the latest budget
proposal reduces global health by 26%. With a cut of this
magnitude, almost every global health program sees at least a
small decrease in funding - with some programs taking
enormous cuts or eliminated completely.

* HUMANITARIAN FUNDS SLASHED. With growing crises and escalating
needs around the world, the budget proposal would cut overall
funding for humanitarian assistance by 44%. The Administration
has said that this level of funding - and the significant
carryover of funds from previous years - will allow the
U.S. to address these humanitarian emergencies, while pushing
other donors to do more to assist in response efforts. A key
area for Congress to watch.

>> Get USGLC's statement and our top takeaways in the full
budget analysis.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=yb44viK3FoY-R5hh10aLxw
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=GhxNId6iaA3pH6EvLYx0mA


LINDSEY GRAHAM. The first reaction to the budget proposal from the
senior Senator from South Carolina: "If we implemented this
budget, we'd have to retreat from the world and put a lot of
people at risk... A lot of Benghazis in the making if we actually
implemented the State Department cuts."


UNITED NATIONS. Ambassador Nikki Haley is also traveling this week
with stops at refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey, plus a visit with
the World Food Program's chief David Beasley. "We're
the No. 1 donor here through this crisis, that's not going to
stop," Haley pledged. Read more on Ambassador Haley's trip
and growing profile in Foreign Policy Magazine.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=JN1zeGuZiTmYyW2rRwUOog


TOP BRASS. Former SOUTHCOM Commander General James Hill just spoke out
against merging USAID into the State Department in a FOXNews.com op-ed
calling such a move "misguided, ill-advised, and a direct threat
to U.S. national security."

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=jR-biA1uxfIRl3QuKzGC-A


ACROSS AMERICA. Top leaders from around the country continue to speak
out:

* Former GOP Congressman - and one of the Freedom Caucus
founders - Matt Salmon made the case in The Arizona
Republic, saying that while he understands "the need to
tighten our belts" the "International Affairs Budget
is categorically the wrong place to start
making...cuts."

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=UlO_X1Lh83tPrpfeJ4uWWw


* And in the Heartland - in an unlikely pairing - a
former Ambassador and a CEO also doubled down on the importance
of America's global leadership for Iowa in The Des Moines
Register.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=Tgwq1vh7rDXIsLYSbJZ6jA

SURVEY SAYS. A new NPR/Ipsos poll reports that a majority of Americans
believe that "America's foreign policy should focus on
maintaining the current global order - with the U.S. at the
center."

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=keL07n3g_OFt_KfkokeFJg


EBOLA IS BACK. An Ebola outbreak was just declared in Democratic
Republic of the Congo with 29 cases reported. The World Health
Organization has expressed some optimism on containing the outbreak
before it spreads further, but experts raise concerns about
under-investing in health systems worldwide. This poses a fresh
challenge for the newly elected WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus, the first African to hold the position.


GATES CHIEF. Gates Foundation CEO, Sue Desmond-Hellman, weighed in on
the proposed cuts to foreign assistance, noting that this budget
"takes square aim at progress by potentially reversing
achievements in health and poverty reduction."


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