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Memorandum
To: Board of Directors
From: Liz Schrayer
Re: Back to "School" Update
Date: September 8, 2015

As Congress returns from summer recess, I wanted to share a few updates and provide an outlook for the weeks ahead:

[http://www.usglc.org/downloads/2015/09/charlotte-observer1.jpg]<http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article32999451.html>1. USGLC in North Carolina with Senator Tillis. Last week I was in Charlotte for our largest statewide event to date featuring freshman Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), who was a tremendous champion for our cause. The Senator - a self-identified "defense hawk" - said:
"When America is in retreat - whether it is through our military... or foreign aid engagement - the world suffers... And that's why I support foreign aid... I think we have to go back and educate people on that return on investment."

Highlights:

* Participants included nearly 600 business, faith and community leaders including more than 100 veterans.
* Governor Pat McCrory (R) introduced Senator Tillis followed by a panel with retired General James Conway, USGLC Board Member Sarah Thorn of Walmart, and moderator David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network.
* USGLC Board member Aaron Williams of RTI chaired the VIP reception, welcoming senior staffers from the majority of NC's Congressional delegation.
* A dozen partner organizations participated in our North Carolina Smart Power Expo.

Press:

* [http://www.usglc.org/downloads/2015/09/tillis-panel-small1.jpg] Our press coverage was extraordinary and equaled more than $30,000 in publicity value, and reached more than 250,000 people.
* The Charlotte Observer ran "Tillis defends giving foreign aid"<http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article32999451.html> on the front page and I was interviewed<http://www.fox46charlotte.com/good-day/14212267-video> on a local FOX affiliate morning show.

If you are able to join us for our upcoming statewide events, contact Jessica at jmueller@usglc.org<mailto:jmueller@usglc.org>:

* September 18 in Milwaukee with Senator Johnson (R-WI) featuring General Conway
* October 15 in Phoenix with Senator Flake (R-AZ) featuring General Ward

2. Impact 2016 Outreach Continues. Recently, several of us travelled to Texas to meet with senior officials from the campaigns of Governor Perry and Senator Cruz. I was pleased with both meetings, and will share with you details of these and other meetings when we meet in October. Here are a few highlights:

* [http://www.usglc.org/downloads/2015/09/summer20151.jpg] <http://usglc.org/summer2015> Check out our two-minute video<http://usglc.org/summer2015> of the candidates' soundbites from this summer.
* We will announce our bipartisan Impact 2016 co-chairs: Secretaries Albright and Ridge and Senators Daschle and Frist next month around the October debates, and launch our new Impact 2016 website.
* We are lining up our surrogate forums in NH and SC this fall, and just locked in a big event with Senator Joni Ernst in IA for November 23.

3. Big Issues in Congress. As Congress returns this week there are several items to watch.

* The chatter about a government shutdown in September has subsided as it looks like Republican leadership has identified a path to a continuing resolution (CR) that funds the government through mid-December and includes level funding for the International Affairs Budget. Whether the authorization for the Ex-Im Bank is included in the CR remains unlikely, but possible.
* When Congress left in July, Gayle Smith's nomination to head USAID had been held by Senator Cruz. We have worked with our congressional allies to find a way forward and are hopeful but realistic on the difficulties ahead.
* As we are all watching the tragic story of refugees flooding into Europe, it is a sad reminder of the lack of resources needed to address the numerous humanitarian crises throughout the world. Our work of advocating for America's engagement in the world through the International Affairs Budget has never been more important.

4. Board Information & Updates. I look forward to seeing you for our October Board Meetings on October 6-7. We have just confirmed Hillary Clinton's senior foreign policy advisor Jake Sullivan as our dinner guest for October 6. I will be sending you a note about the itinerary under a separate cover.

In the meantime, some good and welfare:

* Greta Lundeberg of Boeing welcomed her son August Frank into the world on August 12 and both mom and baby, and big sister Beatrix are happy and healthy.
* Congratulations to Aaron Williams of RTI International who was named to the Executive Board of UNICEF by President Obama last week.
* Congratulations to President Michael Crow of ASU whose recent book "Designing the NEW American University" has received raves from Bill Clinton to Jeb Bush.
* We continue to wish speedy recoveries to Jo Ann Emerson of NRECA and Geralyn Ritter of Merck.

See you in October.