WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, more than 500 business, veteran, agricultural, and local elected leaders from across the country convened in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s (USGLC) Global Impact Forum alongside national security and foreign policy leaders at a time of rising global threats to the United States from Russia, China, and Iran.

As part of the Forum, business, veteran, faith, and local elected leaders from around the country will be on Capitol Hill for more than 140 meetings with Members of Congress to discuss why investments in diplomacy and development matter for the security and economic interests of American families.

The USGLC also kicked off its new Global Economic Hub to deepen the understanding of how economic security is national security, and why America’s diplomatic and economic tools matter for U.S. national interests.

From the rising threats from America’s adversaries and competitors to global food security to the role AI and global development, the Forum engaged on some of the most pressing global issues impacting the United States and featured leading voices from some of America’s top businesses and NGOs, including Abt Global, Cargill, Catholic Relief Services, Chemonics, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Deere & Company, Deloitte, FHI360, Gilead Sciences, Google, Merck, Mercy Corps, Meta, Pfizer, and UPS.

Quotes from the 2024 Global Impact Forum:

Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor, The White House

“You cannot fight a war of conquest that has been launched and waged by your neighbor on your territory, if you don’t have an economy, of course, to generate the resources to be able to keep your soldiers on the front line. So the idea that somehow we can support the military effort, but not support Ukraine’s economy belies everything we know about sustaining an effective military campaign.”

General CQ Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Department of Defense

“I’ve spent a lot of time in our embassies around the world. I’ve spent a lot of time with our allies and partners. I’m a big believer in collaboration… I know we cannot do all we do as a military by ourselves, and the value of our partnerships with the interagency, the value with our allies and partners, is so important… What happens in one part of the world does not stay in one part of the world.”

Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture

“I think when the U.S. is on the field, the world’s a safer and better place. When the U.S. makes the decision to take itself off the field, I think that vacuum is not filled by any other country and it creates chaotic circumstances.”

Amos Hochstein, Deputy Assistant and Senior Advisor to the President for Energy & Investment, The White House 

“On the issue of understanding economic policy and national security and how they’re intertwined, I would argue that the mistake that we make is that we say, are they connected? But they’re not, they’re one.”

Chad Wolf, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer, America First Policy Institute and Former Acting Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

“I have seen where development dollars and development resources have been used effectively to advance American interest. I think you’ve got to be clear with the American people about that.”

Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, U.S. Army (Ret.), Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO
“There’s no better example of the intertwining of national security and economic security than Europe and our relationship with Europe… A $7 trillion economic relationship is secured by NATO, arguably the most durable, strongest, most important security arrangement that we have… If we want to get serious about this connection between economic security and national security… we’re gonna have to spend like it.”

The Honorable David Beasley, Former Executive Director, World Food Program; 113th Governor of South Carolina

“In the short term, we’ve got to end wars and conflict, so we don’t have mass migration and destabilization and hunger… If you’re not going to do it [support global food programs] out of the goodness of your heart, you better do it based on your financial interests and your national security interests.”

U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05)
“The tradeoff is between a stable world — a fed world, if you will — that feels at peace with itself. And if they’re not fed, it will cost us much more money.”

U.S. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37)
“I think that international sports activities are probably the single best, most fun, most effective convening mechanisms to talk not just about sports, but also to talk about diplomacy, to talk about development, to talk about cultural exchange, and to bridge cultural gaps. And I think at a time when folks are feeling isolated more than ever before, the importance of sports cannot be overstated.”

Enoh Ebong, Director, U.S Trade & Development Agency

“So why should American companies be interested in investing in Africa? Quite frankly, the scale of the opportunity… 95% of consumers are outside of the United States. Africa has the fastest growing population, especially young people… So, that scale of economic growth and population growth leads to a huge push to integrate both regionally and across the continent, and that kind of integration is going to produce so much opportunity and we need to be there.”

Mayor Steve Patterson, City of Athens, Ohio
“One of the best things that we can be doing is to encourage and stimulate economic growth in Ukraine,” said Steve Patterson, Mayor of Athens, Ohio. “Because at the end of the day, and I truly believe this as a mayor of a small city in Southeast Ohio, it also makes our economy stronger to sit there and have these levels of partnership.”

Mary Maker, UN Goodwill Ambassador, UNHCR Representative
“I always say hope is something powerful. But over time it diminishes. And for me I wanted to get outside the camp wall so badly, I wanted to dream, I wanted something outside that environment,” said Mary Maker, UN Goodwill Ambassador, UNHCR Representative. “And for me, I latched on to education even knowing that less than 1% could ever make it out there, but I had to make it right. It’s really daunting, but you can always reignite that hope. That’s what I do, but there’s just one Mary. I want the millions of Marys in this room to start initiatives and to speak up for refugees like I do.”

Liz Schrayer, President & CEO, USGLC
“Rarely has there been a more significant moment when global stability impacts American stability. It’s why I am honored to join hundreds of business, veteran, agricultural, and local elected leaders from across the country for critical meetings Capitol Hill to speak out on the imperative for America to be engaged in the world at this perilous moment on the global stage.”

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