This morning, members of the USGLC’s Leadership Circle met with Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA-17) to thank him for his steadfast leadership in support of the International Affairs Budget and to present him with the USGLC’s Global Engagement Award.  Congressman Farr has signed the Congressional Letter to the President in support of the International Affairs Budget for the past eight years.   This year he spoke up during a House Democratic Caucus meeting with President Obama in support of the President’s full International Affairs Budget request. 

After Rep. Farr took issue with the $5.3 billion cut made by the House Budget Committee to the President’s $53.9 billion International Affairs Budget request, the House leadership pledged to restore as much funding as possible to fund America’s smart power tools of development and diplomacy.

Rep. Farr expressed his appreciation for the diverse group of organizations that make up the USGLC and their work to ensure Congress understands the vital importance of the International Affairs Budget in addressing the global challenges of the 21st Century.