View
213
Download
1
Category
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
April 14, 2011: USGLC Chairman Dan Glickman and Senior Director Mark Green testifying before the House State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
Citation preview
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 1 of 5
1360 words
Introduction
Chairwoman Granger, Ranking Member Lowey, and members
of the Subcommittee, it is an honor to appear before you today
to discuss the FY 2012 International Affairs Budget. We are here
today representing the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a
―strange bedfellows coalition‖ comprised of businesses like
Boeing, Caterpillar, and Walmart, and leading humanitarian
NGOs like CARE, Catholic Relief Services and World Vision.
USGLC brings together Republicans and Democrats, national
security and foreign policy experts, and business, faith-based
and community leaders all across the country who are united in
their support of a strong International Affairs Budget smart power
funding.
In recent months, the Obama Administration has used the
phrase ―Winning the Future‖ to describe its governing
platform.
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 2 of 5
Republican lawmakers have coined the phrase ―Path to
Prosperity‖ to describe their vision and plan. Regardless of
which term you prefer, we strongly believe that the
International Affairs Budget should be viewed as an essential
part of a brighter future for Americans.
USGLC We certainly recognizes the fiscal challenges our nation
is facing and, as former lawmakers ourselves, we know that you
have difficult choices ahead of you. Every agency will need to
tighten its belt. However, for the reasons we’ll discuss, we urge
you to do everything you can to oppose deep and
disproportionate cuts to the International Affairs Budget and
ensure that our these tools of diplomacy and development so
they can remain strong and productive.
International Affairs Budget is a Critical Tool to Our National
Security
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 3 of 5
We believe that the International Affairs Budget requires strong
funding because quite simply, it is an essential part of our
national security. First, in the immediate sense, we must have
adequate diplomacy and development robust smart power
resources to hasten the day when our military men and women
can return home from conflict zones where they are serving so
courageously.
This summer, as you know, we will begin the transfer of our
mission in Iraq from military to civilian leadership. Deep cuts
in our civilian funding at this time could jeopardize the fragile
gains we’ve made.
On this count, you don’t need to take our word for it. General
David Petraeus recently testified that he needs strong civilian
partners in our Afghanistan mission because it ―is a
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 4 of 5
comprehensive civil-military counterinsurgency campaign.‖
General Petraeus is hardly alone in his conclusion.
Last year, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen sent a letter to
Congress in support of international affairs funding with a
handwritten note saying starkly, ―the more significant the cuts,
the longer military operations will take, and the more and more
lives are at risk!‖
Maintaining robust ―smart power‖ tools of diplomacy and
development alongside a not only complements strong defense or
hand power, it enhances our national security by preventing
conflicts before they require costly military action. As fmr-Sec.
of State Condoleezza Rice has said, ―we must now use our
foreign assistance to help prevent future Afghanistans—and to
make America and the world safer.‖
But, It’s not just in the frontline states where these programs do
so much to keep America safe. Around the world, well-designed
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 5 of 5
development and diplomacy programs are critical in helping
partner nations build stronger institutions & greater capacity to
address the conditions that can lead to despair and instability.
As our first Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge has
noted, ―The programs supported by the International Affairs
Budget are as essential to our national security as defense
programs. Development and diplomacy protect our nation by
addressing the root causes of terrorism and conflict.‖
It’s interesting to note that those who serve on the front lines of
our national defense are often the most vocal supporters of
these civilian tools. For example, 70 retired U.S. military
leaders – 3- and 4-star Generals and Admirals -- recently sent a
letter to Congress cautioning against cuts to these programs.
It was for all of the foregoing reasons that, beginning in In 2007, the
Bush Adminsistration began including the International Affairs
Budget as part of national security funding in all of its annual
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 6 of 5
budget requests. The Obama Administration has continued
this practice, as have your colleagues in the Senate and even the
bipartisan deficit reduction commission.
We urge the House to continue this bipartisan legacy because
America’s strength is maximized when all of its foreign policy
tools – military and civilian – are strong.
International Affairs Budget Critical to U.S. Economy
Another reason to oppose deep cuts is that the International
Affairs Budget is ―essential to creating jobs and spurring
economic growth here in the U.S.‖ These are not our words.
They are what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in its recent
letter to Congress urging opposition to deep budget cuts.
Trade and economic development programs funded through
the International Affairs Budget help foster conditions that
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 7 of 5
create more stable markets and new opportunities for American
businesses and entrepreneurs.
They build stronger political, legal, and economic policy
regimes in developing countries that foster innovation and
market development and are often much more conducive to
American investment and products.
Ask any business leader and she will tell you that central to
spurring U.S. economic growth is tapping into emerging export
markets overseas. Already nearly half of America’s exports are
to developing countries – and this will continue to grow.
For example, for the State of Texas, three of the five largest
export markets are now Brazil, Mexico, and China.
And growing our exports is a critical part of job creation. More
than 1 out of 5 American jobs are tied to international trade, and
this share is also growing.
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 8 of 5
When it comes to the impact of international affairs programs
on our economy here at home, the question is not whether we
can afford to continue them but whether we can possibly afford
not to.
Reform of Smart Power Programs is Underway
During these very difficult fiscal times, it’s obviously imperative
that We believe International Affairs programs are must be
accountable, transparent and results-driven. The good news is
that diplomacy and development leaders have been taking
concrete steps in that direction for the last several years.
President Bush’s establishment of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation in 2003 and Secretary of State Rice’s
―Transformational Diplomacy‖ initiative enhanced the
strategic focus of our development assistance programs.
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 9 of 5
Secretary Clinton has expanded upon these efforts, in part
through the recently completed Quadrennial Diplomacy and
Development Review. At USAID, they are beginning a
monumental effort to better monitor and evaluate all of
USAID’s programs and to even allow the American people to
see exactly where federal dollars are going With the new online
with a foreign assistance ―dashboard,” USAID development
projects now can be tracked and measured online for everyone to see.
As part of these new reforms, the Administration is also
focusing on greater selectivity in where and how the United
States invests its aid resources.
The Administration’s FY In the 2012 budget plan, there are puts
this into practice through various proposals to redeploy resources
from existing programs and places to where they will be most
effective.
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 10 of 5
At a time when reform in our diplomacy and development
framework is With these reforms well underway, it’s critical to
provide the resources and personnel necessary to support these
reforms steps so that they can bear fruit.
Conclusion
As former members of this body, we know that Americans often
mistake how much our nation actually spends on our
international programs. Poll after poll shows that most people
think we spend about twenty-five times more on foreign
assistance programs than we actually do. In those same polls,
however, when asked how much our nation should be spending
on these programs, most say we should be spending about ten
times more than we actually do.
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
Page 11 of 5
And how many Americans know that today USAID is operating
with less than half of the personnel it had forty years ago? I
dare say many policymakers aren’t aware of this either.
There is not a doubt in our minds that the International Affairs
Budget is profoundly in the best interest of our nation. For
literally a penny on the dollar, this is a cost-effective way to
advance our security and prosperity -- and to open hearts and
minds to America’s message of liberty, fairness, and free
markets.
Madame Chair, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition urges the
Subcommittee and all of your colleagues to oppose deep and
disproportionate cuts to these investments in a safer, more
prosperous world.
Thank you again for this opportunity to testify.
Recommended