OMAHA, NE – Today, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) hosted U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-2) and other local and national leaders at its annual Heartland Summit in Omaha, NE. The event, with support from Heartland Initiative Chair Cargill, brought more than a hundred local business, veteran, and community leaders—with thousands more joining online—together for a critical discussion on the importance of diplomacy, development, and democracy and why it matters to the national and economic security of communities and families across Nebraska and the Heartland. Speakers specifically discussed how American agriculture drives economic growth and global food security, in addition to how America’s global leadership protects the Heartland.

The event also featured remarks from Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), Cargill’s Ann O’Riley, Taryn Frideres, Chief of Staff, Office of Gov. Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Deputy Secretary of State Cindi Allen, and Ian Vickers, President & CEO, Global Partners in Hope.

America’s investments in diplomacy and development globally benefit Nebraska locally, with nearly $8.9 billion in global exports from Nebraska. More than 255,000 jobs in Nebraska were supported by international trade. Of the nearly 1900 Nebraska businesses that export goods, 81 percent are small or medium-sized businesses. Through thousands of local businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs, Nebraska families are benefiting from America’s leadership on the global stage.

“The United States is the indispensable power—we’re the voice for freedom and the values that we hold dear… We can’t become an isolationist country… When we do that, the world becomes more dangerous, and it eventually comes to our shores… We have got to use all of our instruments of power… diplomatic, information, military, economic… it can’t just be military,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02).

“We get a huge bang for the buck—what is that 1% budget, part of the nation’s budget—into international affairs… Yes, we need to have the world’s greatest United States military… but the point is really, day in and day out, U.S. leadership resides in international affairs,” said Rep. Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, U.S. Air Force (Ret.).

“One of the things that we firmly believe in is a crisis in one region can impact the entire food system, and our fates are interconnected… When you look at the interconnected nature of our food system, one major incident in a specific region will always significantly have a ripple effect in trade patterns, production consumption, and ultimately, food security,” said Ann O’Riley, Merchandising Manager, Cargill.

“I have been personally surprised at how often my background in foreign policy is relevant to my current job—how engaged governors, and particularly Heartland governors, are in foreign policy… Our farmers and producers and egg manufacturers are probably more engaged in global politics than almost anyone you know, they follow it extraordinarily closely,” said Taryn Frideres, Chief of Staff, Office of Governor Kim Reynolds.

“America’s role in the world and its leadership and engagement globally are critical to the national and economic security of families and communities across Nebraska and the Heartland,” said Alex Grant, USGLC National Outreach Director. “At USGLC, we bring a diverse network of leaders together from all across the country, including 12 states from the Heartland, who believe that strategic investments in development and diplomacy are essential to protecting and projecting the very best of American values.”
 

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