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U.S. Global Leadership Coalition


Dear Hunter,

Boehner-Obama_small.jpg

It's only been a month since the election, and Washington
gridlock is back with a vengeance. I am
hopeful that President Obama and Speaker Boehner will
hammer out a deal to keep us from going over the "fiscal
cliff," but
it looks like it will happen with just days to spare. I am
particularly watching the situation and
its impact on the International Affairs Budget.

One of the big questions is how a budget deal will impact the
current fiscal year. For international
affairs programs, the House and Senate passed very different funding
levels
earlier this year. I hear that
congressional negotiators have reconciled these bills, but nothing
will happen
until the larger budget deal is complete.

In the meantime, a few items to share:

Administration
Changes - As
speculation continues on whether Sen. John
Kerry (D-MA) or UN Ambassador Susan
Rice, or either, will be the President's pick for the next
Secretary of
State, you should take a look at our Global Plum Book, which
identifies the 100 key
leadership positions that will shape the next Administration's
strategy for
global development and diplomacy. I will
keep you posted as other key officials switch positions within the
Obama
Administration.
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=TsMr1yQT14o1kpVI_o9bIA

New Committee Leadership - In the House, Rep. Ed
Royce (R-CA), who has been very involved in foreign policy issues was
elected Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep.
Eliot
Engel (D-NY) will take over as Ranking Member for Rep. Howard Berman
(D-CA), who lost his re-election. While we lose one of
Congress'
strongest champions of foreign assistance with Berman's
departure, another
leading champion - Rep. Nita Lowey
(D-NY) - has been tapped to take
the top Democratic slot on the House Appropriations Committee.

Over in the Senate, two friends will take on important
leadership roles. Patty Murray (D-WA)
has been selected to take over the reins of the Senate Budget
Committee, and Bob
Corker (R-TN) will assume
the top Republican slot on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.


New Legislation - As the 112th Congress
enters its final days, there are a few bills of interest. Rep.
Ted Poe (R-TX) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) are sponsoring a
bill to ensure aid transparency and accountability, which bolsters key
aid
effectiveness principles. And yesterday, Rep. Berman (D-CA)
introduced a comprehensive re-write of the 51-year-old Foreign
Assistance Act. While the legislation will not be acted upon
before Congress adjourns, it will serve as an essential framework for
moving
forward.

I hope you and your family enjoy the holiday season, and
I will be in touch as things develop here in Washington, especially in
regards
to budget negotiations.

Liz Schrayer
Executive Director

P.S. I am thrilled to share the news with you that Sen. Richard
Lugar, Rep. Howard Berman, and former World Bank
President and Deputy Secretary of State Robert
Zoellick will be joining our National Advisory Council.


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

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