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Dear USGLC Board of Directors,

This was an extraordinary week for our cause, and all of you should be very proud. Much to share, and much to do, but given how many of you are traveling, I wanted to share a few thoughts.


1. Senate Rejected Paul Amendment to Cut 50% of International Affairs Budget.

On Thursday afternoon as part of the annual "vote-a-rama," the Senate overwhelmingly defeated an amendment 96-4 by Senator Paul to increase defense spending by $190 billion by cutting foreign aid 50% and a few domestic accounts. The other YES votes were Senators Enzi (R-WY), McConnell (R-KY), and Vitter (R-LA).

Two years ago during the last vote-a-rama, 26 Senators voted with Paul to cut foreign assistance by 33%. While not solely due to our issue, the vote tally was a resounding rejection to Mr. Paul's amendment. Earlier in the day, I spoke with Senator Graham and he was hoping to get half of the GOP caucus to oppose the amendment. I told him that we were revving up our troops to ensure a much larger number. I think even he was surprised.

There are many reasons for this victory, and I don't want to overestimate the challenges that remain (and frankly had Paul written a better amendment, the votes could have been very different). However, let me share a few:

§ Senator Graham's leadership is unmatched. He is unrelenting in his advocacy and played a very key role corralling his colleagues.

§ The timing of the Gates-Affleck-Stavridis congressional hearing and subsequent clutch where we visited with one-third of the GOP caucus was absolutely key (see the details below.)

§ For two years, we have worked to engage many of the same Senators who supported Senator Paul last time - organizing in-state operations with local events and strong Advisory Committees. In the past 48 hours, the Senators heard from their key constituents.

§ We had met with almost all of the freshmen Senators during the campaign and last week, our military leaders visited with many of them - all opposed Senator Paul.

§ The USGLC coalition at-large weighed in - many of you sent letters, made phone calls, and joined us in meetings over the past few months.


Of course, my colleagues continued professionalism and skills were unmatched. The collective impact was clear in the vote.

Meeting with Senator Paul's Trusted Advisors
One side note to share is that we arranged for a very small delegation, including Bill Gates, to meet with Senator Paul's most trusted advisors on Thursday afternoon and had a very thoughtful and productive discussion. This was a direct benefit of our Africa trip. While I am certain that Senator Paul remains a skeptic on foreign assistance, I thought it was very useful and a smart step forward. More at the May Board meeting on this.


2. USGLC Participated in All - Star Hearing & Outreach on Foreign Assistance.

Thursday morning, just hours before the start of the vote-a-rama, an all-star cast - including Bill Gates, Ben Affleck, and our NSAC co-chair Admiral Jim Stavridis - testified<http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/webcast/state-foreign-operations-subcommittee-hearing-diplomacy-development-national-security> before the Senate State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee in support of foreign assistance. The idea for the hearing was created at the USGLC dinner on a napkin as Senator Graham and I talked about his incoming role as Chairman of the subcommittee.

Senator Graham said it was one of the best hearings he had attended in years, and I certainly agree! All the witnesses were superb. Here are a few links:

§ Photos from the hearing<https://www.flickr.com/photos/usglc/sets/72157651172844438/> (including Ben Affleck and his wife, Jennifer Garner)

§ Washington Post Article<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2015/03/26/cause-celeb-can-ben-affleck-save-foreign-aid/>

§ Witnesses' testimony<http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings-and-testimony/state-foreign-operations-subcommittee-hearing-diplomacy-development-national>

Immediately following the hearing, Senator Graham convened the witnesses in the Vice President's office right off the Senate floor, just an hour before the Paul amendment vote. He was relentless, pulling in his colleagues for nearly an hour, including 25 Senators, including almost all of the freshmen Republican members. Everyone from SFRC Chair Bob Corker and SFAC John McCain to freshmen Senators Joni Ernst and Tom Cotton visited with Admiral Stavridis and the other witnesses.

I had a chance to talk with many of them including Senators McCain, Ayotte, Burr and Corker about our state events; Senators Sullivan, Daines, Tilles and Johnson about their recent visits with our military leaders; Senators Fischer and Scott about our DC leadership events last year. While several said it was still a tough vote, they told me having Admiral Stavridis and the others in D.C. was very helpful. I am certain that the hearing and the clutch made a difference in the vote count one hour later.


Next week, I will be sending a very important request to each of you -to send a thank you note on your business/organization letterhead to all 96 Senators that opposed the Paul amendment. As one Senator said to me "it is really important we hear from people that this issue matters."


3. USGLC Hosts Chief of Missions at State Department

We were honored to be asked again this year by the State Department to host a reception for all U.S. Chiefs of Mission in town for their annual conference - though next year they promised to give me more than 5 days' notice! Thank you to Coca-Cola and The Boeing Company for serving as the event sponsors, as the program gave us an opportunity to thank the 180 U.S. Ambassadors and senior State Department officials for all they do to represent America. I know the board members that were able to attend found it very valuable.


4. USGLC Co-Chairman Carolyn Miles Named One of Top World Leaders


Congratulations to our Board Co-Chair and President & CEO of Save the Children for being named one of Fortune Magazine's 2015 list of The World's 50 Greatest Leaders<http://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/carolyn-miles-36/> - alongside Pope Francis, Bill and Melinda Gates, and John Roberts. Well-deserved Carolyn - we couldn't be prouder to be associated with you!


Our next Board meeting will be held on May 12-13, with meetings on the 12th followed by special guests joining us for the late afternoon and dinner and again for breakfast on the 13th. Details will be sent to you in a separate email, but I hope you will join us as we have much to discuss.

I depart for Ethiopia and Kenya for our last trip of the season with a few members of Congress. I will report on the trips, and our Presidential outreach when I see you in May. Wishing you happy Easter and Passover holidays.

Liz

Liz Schrayer
President & CEO, USGLC

P.S. Read USGLC's Board member Michael Gerson's article from Friday's WP, The Next Epidemic<http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-next-epidemic/2015/03/26/aee9f344-d3e8-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html?hpid=z6>, reinforcing Bill Gates' message from his latest article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Their frightening argument about Ebola's wake-up call is a powerful advocacy message for us.