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While health care certainly dominated the headlines this week,
I've got a few interesting items to share on the foreign policy
front. After the jaw-dropping news that the Administration had singled
out the State Department and USAID for disproportionate cuts of
one-third - the voices of opposition have been rather
resounding.


Below I share how our country's most senior uniformed generals
reinforced the importance of America's civilian tools while
testifying at Congressional hearings. Plus, more than 100 of our
nation's leading pastors sent a compelling letter to Capitol
Hill. One Senator said to me: "Generals and pastors - oh
my!"


While on Capitol Hill this week, it became clear that our message is
getting through and that the support is strong - from the Senate
Majority Leader to the House Minority Leader, along with a new
bipartisan Congressional letter. But it's also clear that the
budget challenges are just extraordinary. Check out this edition of
the GLOBAL GAB to find out the latest.

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC


THE GLOBAL GAB: Generals and pastors make some noise
March 25, 2017


EVANGELICALS, CATHOLICS SPEAK OUT. More than 100 top Christian leaders
- including two 2017 inauguration ceremony speakers -
captured the attention of lawmakers in a letter to Capitol Hill:
"It is our moral responsibility to urge you to support and
protect the International Affairs Budget" noting "we
cannot turn our back on those in desperate need." Adding to the
chorus of voices, the heads of World Vision and Catholic Relief
Services penned The Christian, Conservative Case for Foreign Aid in
the Washington Post with significant coverage of the letter in
conservative press.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=uPpVEkP92trPoMfkMhQiIA


ACTIVE DUTY. In a remarkable show of force, five of our nation's
most senior generals testified on Capitol Hill over the past two weeks
warning Congress against cuts for their civilian counterparts on the
frontlines: General-turned-Secretary Jim Mattis called diplomacy and
development "part and parcel" for how to defeat ISIS.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford says the ISIS
fight requires all our capabilities: "diplomatically,
economically, and militarily." The NATO and EUCOM Commander said
diplomatic cuts "make the job more difficult." When asked
if he thought the State Department was taxpayer waste, the CENTCOM
Commander said point blank: "I do not." And the AFRICOM
Commander stated "we can't kill our way to victory" in the
fight against ISIS and Boko Haram.


TAKING THE HILL. Reinforcing the troops, top retired military leaders
marched on Capitol Hill to share the letter signed by more than 120
retired three and four-star generals and admirals in support of our
civilian agencies. In a wide range of meetings from the Freedom Caucus
Chairman to House Minority Leader, they told lawmakers that "Now
is not the time for retreat" and urged support for
America's diplomats and development professionals. Check out the
CNN coverage.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=jylkzc7MOxsouSYKP_mI2g


ON THE RECORD. This week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
weighed in again, telling the Associated Press: "America being a force
is a lot more than building up the Defense Department. Diplomacy is
important, extremely important, and I don't think these reductions at
the State Department are appropriate." And on the same day, former
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former National Security
Advisor Stephen Hadley testified on Capitol Hill against
"gutting" the State Department and America's
civilian programs.


WAY TO GO YOHO. House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ted Yoho surprised
many when testifying before a House Appropriations Subcommittee:
"I'm a guy that came up here to get rid of foreign aid. I
ran on that... But in my four years here I've become much
more learned... At a time when American leadership is needed more
than ever, we must continue to invest in the International Affairs
Budget." The Chair of the Subcommittee, Hal Rogers, called the
Administration's proposal a "puny request" for the
State Department and foreign assistance.


FOGGY BOTTOM. Fresh off hosting 68 countries for a summit on
countering ISIS, Secretary Rex Tillerson just met with the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee over lunch this past week - his
first meeting with the whole committee since his confirmation. While
many hot spot issues were brought to the table, the State Department
budget was a major topic of concern raised by Republicans and
Democrats from across the spectrum. Tillerson is apparently launching
a review, following a recent executive order, to find ways to make the
Department and USAID more effective, not convinced that all the
personnel are necessary.


FAMINE WATCH. At the same lunch, top Senators delivered a bipartisan
letter urging a "diplomatic surge" to "prevent
millions of people from dying unnecessarily from starvation" due
to the famines and called for immediate help to open up access for
food relief. Shout out to Senators Young and Cardin - the
sponsors - and signers Rubio, Markey, Gardner, Shaheen, Flake,
Coons, Murphy, and Booker.


KOREA CRISIS. As tensions between the U.S. and North Korea flare, a
new UN report found that 40% of North Koreans - more than 10
million - are undernourished. The report also noted that more
than 70% of the population relies on food aid, and an estimated 18
million people suffer from food insecurity and depend on government
food rations.


TRADE TROUBLE. Was the recent proposal to eliminate the U.S. Trade and
Development Agency a misread of the data? The Washington Post points
out that this tiny agency delivers an economic punch way above its
weight: a return of $85 in U.S. exports for every $1 spent on its
programming, and it directly boosted U.S. exports by $3 billion last
year.


NATIONAL ACTS. With tens of thousands of citizen advocates calling on
their elected officials as part of a national mobilization effort,
March has been a big month in Washington with high-impact advocacy
events from the ONE Campaign, ChildFund, the National Peace Corps
Association, and Save the Children. Coming this week: 15,000+
advocates attending the AIPAC Policy Conference head to the Hill to
advocate for full support of the International Affairs Budget -
perhaps the largest gathering on this issue.


WHY IT MATTERS. The always-inspiring Bill Gates in TIME Magazine on
why America can't retreat: "When you help a mother save
her child's life, she never forgets. Withdrawing now would not
only cost lives, it would create a leadership vacuum that others would
happily fill."


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