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Hunter,


As the drama of "La La Land and Moonlight" was unfolding
last Sunday night, I read on my Twitter feed the first news that the
Administration's first budget draft would foreground
"significant cuts" focused in two areas - the EPA
and the State Department. The WSJ and AP later reported the cuts could
slash funding for the State Department and USAID by as much as 37%
- back to draconian and disproportionate levels not seen since
9/11.


On learning this disturbing news, the USGLC went into action
overnight. We released a letter to congressional leaders on Monday
morning, signed by 121 retired three and four-star military officers.
These generals and admirals stressed that "now is not the time
for retreat" and urged lawmakers to ensure that resources for
our civilian forces "keep pace with the growing global threats
and opportunities we face."
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=nuTWSh3Zu_BbOHJtZVof9Q


For days, the story of these military leaders opposing cuts to
civilian agencies dominated the headlines - from FOX and CNN to
the Wall Street Journal and the NY Times. Capitol Hill weighed in
against these cuts with strong voices from across the political
spectrum growing louder by the hour.


It's hard to believe that in the entire federal budget, this 1%
is such a focus area. We always knew the political vulnerabilities,
but we also know that with rising famines, refugee crises, and global
turmoil, these programs are more important than ever.


Check out the GLOBAL GAB below with details on this fast changing
story. But also, let me know what else we can all be doing to stop
these troubling cuts.

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC


THE GLOBAL GAB
March 4, 2017


BUDGET BATTLES. With the Administration's proposal to increase
military spending and leave entitlement programs untouched, intense
pressure is back on non-defense discretionary spending once again.
Reports of wildly disproportionate cuts to the State Department and
USAID compared to other agencies brought significant pushback,
including rumors of more than 60% cuts for economic and development
programs and more than a third for humanitarian aid.


TOP BRASS. Some of the biggest national security luminaries signed the
letter to Congress this week supporting diplomacy and development
including Generals Hayden, Petraeus, and Zinni alongside Admiral
Stavridis - highlighting the now-famous line from
General-turned-Secretary Mattis: "If you don't fund the
State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition."
Also weighing in this week, General Powell called the proposal
"ridiculous" and said "I hope Congress will not
support it."


NO RETREAT. Doubling down on the military leaders' message
- General Dan Christman, one of the signers - was featured
on Bret Baier's FOX News show and told Americans that he was
gravely concerned about taking a "hacksaw" to this
"tiny sliver of the budget" adding that this "cut is
both disproportionate and extremely dangerous" for our national
security. This message was everywhere from the TODAY Show and CBS
Evening News to Morning Joe and Andrea Mitchell Reports, and covered
in hundreds of stories from the LA Times and the Miami Herald to the
Kansas City Star and the Chicago Tribune.
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=C8BG6yglpPAGdJGxaxIWgA

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=2HRZ_kaeRFz4Fm_2b9XMBw


SEC STATE WEIGHS IN. Secretary Rex Tillerson is in the game, having
just appealed the overall topline numbers and is reportedly fighting
to restore cuts to core economic and development accounts, security
assistance, and humanitarian aid. Some reports suggest that the
Secretary has "agreed in principle to the 37% cuts" but
wants to spread it out over three years.


INTERNAL MEMO. A leaked State Department memo also says that Tillerson
is "deeply concerned about the timing and the size of the
reductions" and "will appeal" in a way "that
makes us leaner and more efficient." The memo goes on to state
that the Department will make the "strongest argument possible
in our appeal" to ensure the U.S. "remains active, engaged
and influential throughout the world" and urges that "any
changes to our mission... occur in the context of the National
Security Strategy." Important to watch how the former ExxonMobil
chief negotiates his first budget.


DEAD ON ARRIVAL. With the support of the military leaders, members of
Congress from across the ideological spectrum weighed in -
rejecting the proposal to drastically cut funding for development and
diplomacy. Lawmakers stepped up to speak out from Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who said "I'm not in favor
of reducing" this account to House Armed Services Committee
Chair Mac Thornberry (R-TX) who recognized that we need a "wide
range of tools to advance our national interests." Other
standouts:


* "Dead on arrival" declared Senator Lindsey Graham
(R-SC).
* "We always want to put America first... this is part
of that... If you really want to help the American people,
you have to ensure that the world that we live in is a more
stable place" said Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) in an
impassioned and nearly 20-minute floor speech.
* In a top endorsement, the super-important House Appropriations
Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) said: "I think
foreign aid is pretty important myself."
* "Very concerned by reports of deep cuts" said
Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), adding it "could damage efforts
to combat terrorism, save lives, and create opportunities for
American workers."
* "All in great jeopardy" said Ranking Member Patrick
Leahy (D-VT) on our nation's ability to counter violent
extremism, fight pandemics, and control the spread nuclear
weapons.
* 102 House Democrats wrote to Secretary Tillerson: "If we
gut our foreign affairs budget, we signal that another country
- maybe one with different values and priorities -
can take center stage when it comes to global leadership."
* And many more Republicans and Democrats spoke out in floor
speeches, press conferences, and on social media including
Senators Collins, Coons, Durbin, Gardner, Isakson, Kaine,
Markey, McCain, Menendez, Merkley, Murphy, and Reed, and
Representatives Bass, Beyer, Cole, Dent, Dent, Deutch, Hoyer,
Lee, Lowenthal, Meeks, Schiff, and Smith.


Please take one minute to thank these lawmakers on Twitter - it
matters - and we made it really easy here at this link.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=_CFhud39BNXCgLbaXlF8bg


BIPARTISAN POWER. In the midst of all the hyper-partisanship -
R's and D's continue to stand side-by-side in support of
foreign assistance. They even retweeted one another! The week
crescendoed when Foreign Relations members, Senators Cardin (D-MD),
Rubio (R-FL), Shaheen (D-NH), and Young (R-IN) penned a joint letter
to the Administration's budget director expressing
"profound concern" about "deep cuts to
America's international affairs spending." And who says
they don't like each other!


BOOKS NOT BOMBS. During this week's national CNN Town Hall with
Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain, the two defense hawks doubled
down in their support of global development and diplomacy. And if you
want to see one of the all-time great human moments in politics, watch
the ending as the two Senators talk about their deep friendship and
respect for one-another. Priceless.


WHAT'S NEXT? The White House's official budget request to
Congress is slated to arrive March 16, but rumors suggest an earlier
drop is possible. All the work shifts to Congress at that point where
lawmakers will write their own budgets and of course have the final
say through their power of the purse. Stay tuned.


MIAMI HEAT. During the tumultuous town hall congressional recess, we
were honored to host Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) - a key
Appropriations Committee member - for a packed public event in
his home district to engage with his constituents on America's
role in the world. Diaz-Balart shared: "I will continue to fight
to protect this crucial element of our foreign policy, of our national
security policy, of our diplomatic policy, which is overseas
investment in foreign assistance."


FAMINE WATCH. On top of the growing famine crisis in South Sudan
- where 40% of the population is in desperate need of
humanitarian assistance - UNICEF reports almost 1.4 million
children suffering from severe malnutrition could die this year as
famine looms in Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen. An important reminder of
the imperative for America's global leadership.


TOP ED. President Bush's former speechwriter Michael Gerson and
President Obama's USAID Administrator Raj Shah penned a powerful
op-ed in last week's Washington Post - a must read on the
case for U.S. foreign assistance: 'America first'
shouldn't mean cutting foreign aid.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=G7N0_25HexJ1IiCfE8oy_w


122 MILLION. It's no secret that Bill Gates is a
number-cruncher. So in Bill and Melinda's power couple annual
letter, they showcased the numbers driving global development gains:
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=SI0Fz6mFtob_WIwtY0KWWQ

122 million children's lives saved; 86% of kids worldwide are
receiving vaccines; and ZERO - "the number we're
striving toward every day... Zero malaria. Zero TB. Zero HIV. Zero
malnutrition. Zero preventable deaths." An important weekend
read.


The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
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