Efforts Will Highlight How U.S. Global Engagement Impacts the State’s Economy and Security

Washington, DC —The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) today announced that Governor Phil Bredesen and Senator Bill Frist will co-chair the USGLC Tennessee State Advisory Committee to raise awareness of the important role U.S. foreign policy plays in Tennessee’s economic growth and security.

“We are pleased to serve as the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s honorary chairs at a time when America’s interests abroad have never been greater,” said Governor Bredesen and Senator Frist. “Investing in smart and effective U.S. development and diplomacy tools is exactly what we need to protect our security, advance our economic interests, and demonstrate our finest values as Americans.”

Bredesen and Frist join a distinguished group of bipartisan national leaders, including former Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, former Defense Secretary Bob Gates, and former Tennessee Senator Jim Sasser, in an effort to educate Americans about how critical U.S. leadership in the world is to creating jobs here at home and protecting national security.

America’s civilian tools of global development and diplomacy make up just one percent of the federal budget, but provide a powerful return on investment for taxpayers.  As 95 percent of the world’s consumers live outside the U.S., these tools funded through the International Affairs Budget help to open and build markets for American businesses.  Tennessee is a national leader in foreign investment, and in 2011 alone the state exported $30 billion in goods and services.

“We live in a global economy, and with one in five Tennessee jobs tied to trade, we have no choice but to be engaged in the world,” said Governor Bredesen.  “Countries in the developing world represent the fastest growing markets for U.S. goods and services, and our nation’s investments on the ground pay dividends right here in Tennessee.”

“I have seen how important it is to create opportunities and hope for people around the world,” said Senator Frist. “This is not simply the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing to do, as our top military leaders tell us time and again how essential our diplomatic and foreign assistance programs are to preventing conflicts and providing stability in a very dangerous world.”

The USGLC will host a luncheon event with Senator Bob Corker, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in Nashville on August 22^nd from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel.  The luncheon is free of charge and open to the public.  Click here for additional information and registration.

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, including 100 on the Tennessee State Advisory Committee, who support a smart power approach of elevating development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.

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