WASHINGTON — USGLC President and CEO Liz Schrayer released the following statement on today’s vote in the House of Representatives to pass the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015 (H.R. 3766), introduced by Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA):

We applaud the House of Representatives for unanimously passing important legislation today that continues our efforts to ensure the accountability and effectiveness of our nation’s foreign assistance programs. This bipartisan legislation will further strengthen America’s global leadership and advance our interests and values around the world. We urge the Senate to join the House by passing the companion legislation sponsored by Senators Marco Rubio and Ben Cardin before the end of the year.

The USGLC has long been an advocate for a strong and effective International Affairs Budget and ensuring that our foreign assistance programs continue to be accountable, transparent and results driven. This legislation helps codify the game-changing reforms undertaken by both Republican and Democratic administrations over the past decade, including USAID Forward.

For only one percent of the federal budget, America’s development and diplomacy programs provide a powerful return on investment for our nation’s security and prosperity. We congratulate the bill sponsors and House leadership for their commitment to further enhancing America’s global leadership.

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, military, and community leaders in all 50 states who support strategic investments to elevate development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.