USGLC

Jeffrey Prescott is the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture.

Prescott currently serves as Deputy to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (UN). Jeffrey Prescott served on President Obama’s National Security Council (NSC) from 2015-2017. Before joining the NSC, Mr. Prescott worked for then-Vice President Biden, as deputy national security advisor from 2013-2015 and as special advisor for Asian-American affairs from 2011-2013.

Past statements on development, diplomacy, and U.S. global leadership:

On U.S. Global Leadership: During a PBS News interview, Jeffrey Prescott reflected on America’s leadership position in the world: “We have traditionally stood for something, we’ve stood for equality and opportunity and justice and dignity and we have not just done that for our own people, but we’ve promoted those values for people around the world. And we’ve seen it in our own interest to be the leaders of the free world.” (source)

On Food Insecurity: “The world is facing an unprecedented global food security crisis, with approximately 735 million people around the world suffering from hunger. This is a crisis fueled by compounding factors: by the pandemic, by drought and other climate shocks, and, critically, by conflict.” (source)

On America Farmers: “I believe we should strengthen partnerships with American farmers in our work on agriculture and hunger around the world. American farming is the gold standard, and I’d be honored to connect my early experiences growing up in Kansas and working summers on a Texas farm to this role. Our farmers not only have the power to share their yields with markets all over the world, but also the capacity to share best practices around science and technology to teach people to better feed themselves.” (source)

On China: In Prescott’s testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he said, “We have an imperative to advance American interests and values in the face of unrelenting efforts of our competitors. After all, great power competition does not end at the UN’s front door, certainly not from the perspective of our adversaries. I have a deep expertise and a clear-eyed understanding of the challenge posed by China and know what it takes to compete.” (source)

On Climate Change: Mr. Prescott joined Obama administration alumni to write a piece advocating for the Paris Climate Accords, asserting that “Heading off the worst effects of climate change requires global action: Action by one country alone, no matter how powerful, cannot address the threat.” (source)

On Bipartisan Foreign Policy: Speaking with PBS News, Prescott commented that “There has been a bipartisan foreign policy consensus. Now obviously we don’t agree on every issue … but there are some basic principles.” (source)

On Bipartisan Accountability in Foreign Policy: “The bipartisan support that makes America the most generous donor to the UN system depends on transparency and accountability, and budget discipline.” (source)

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