Last month, I was on the road in Philadelphia, PA, where the USGLC hosted a lively discussion on America’s Role in the World, and its impact on Pennsylvania.  Attended by over 400 business, community, faith, humanitarian and military leaders in the Greater Philadelphia Community, the program reflected the recent foreign policy debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney, and the Impact of the 2012 election on the International Affairs Budget.

Featured speakers, Stephen Hadley and Lawrence Summers – though clearly from different political parties – articulated strong agreement on the importance of America’s leadership in the world.  I thought Hadley really summed up the bipartisan nature of our issue beautifully when he said, “…when the election is over and someone becomes president, I think the real message of our foreign policy is there is an awful lot of continuity from administration to administration.”

Special thanks are due to our fantastic partners, Team PA Foundation, World Trade PA, and the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government.  We were delighted to welcome Matt Zieger, Wil Muskens, and David Thornburgh respectively, and hear their stories and experiences on the importance of development and diplomacy programs, and the impact they can bring to Pennsylvania.

We were thrilled to have over 25 members of the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee attend the event from across the state, as well as staffers from three Senate Offices, five Congressional Offices, and two State Representatives.  The event was a huge success, and I am enthusiastic about our coalition in the state of Pennsylvania.

We continue to wish the people of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley area a speedy recovery following Hurricane Sandy.