Bipartisan Support for President’s Request Critical to National Security, Economic Prosperity

Washington, DC — The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition today released the following statement from Executive Director Liz Schrayer on the House’s passage of the FY 2010 State Foreign Operations Appropriations bill:

“Tonight the House of Representatives reinforced America’s commitment to elevating our civilian‐led tools of diplomacy and development by voting to fully fund the $48.8 billion FY 2010 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. This critical funding ensures America has the necessary resources to advance our national security and foreign policy priorities. We applaud State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Nita Lowey (D‐NY) and Ranking Member Kay Granger (R‐TX) for their strong leadership in guiding this bill to passage, and we thank Appropriations Chair Dave Obey (D‐WI), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D‐MD), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R‐VA), and Minority Floor Manager Mark Kirk (R‐IL) for their stewardship of this important legislation.

“The programs funded by this bill are essential to protecting our national security, promoting economic prosperity and demonstrating our humanitarian values around the world. While $1.2 billion, or 2.4 percent, below FY 2009 enacted spending and $3.2 billion, or 6 percent, below President Obama’s budget request, this approved funding will address today’s global instability by fighting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, providing vital food aid, building economic prosperity, and restoring America’s image abroad.

“The USGLC supports President Obama’s commitment to double U.S. foreign assistance by 2015, and this funding is a good first step forward to making this a reality.”

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The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (www.usglc.org) is a broad‐based influential network of 400 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith‐based, academic and community leaders in all 50 states who support a smart power approach of elevating diplomacy and development alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.