See below for a smart, witty poem from the Stimson Center’s Rebecca Williams. Austerity Lite: A Poem Rebecca Williams The House CR passed a few days ago, it cut federal spending and did so with gusto. House Republicans had promised no out-of-control spending, and cut State/AID’s budget, leaving Hillary trembling. Foreign aid supporters say these cuts are Draconian others argue … Continue reading Budget Poetry
The event marked the launch of the Pledge Guarantee for Health and its first transaction, in partnership with many actors including the Government of Zambia. Essentially, the PGH model helps streamline the procurement of lifesaving health supplies while at the same time reducing costs and eliminating waste. As a result of this innovative, fresh approach, more than 800,000 anti-malaria bed nets have been distributed ahead of the deadly rainy season in Zambia.
“I am honored to be joining the USGLC and working to educate Americans about how important our diplomatic and economic development efforts are in the world. From my time in Congress and as a U.S. ambassador, I know personally how critical this small one percent of the federal budget is to achieving our national security and foreign policy goals, as well as demonstrating our core American values at their very best.
Representatives Gerald Connolly (D-VA) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ) authored an op-ed which appeared in today’s Politico about the importance of investing in smart power regardless of one’s political affiliation. The bipartisan piece was geared toward freshman members of Congress – providing a word of advice on the importance of the international affairs budget and it’s impact on national security.
In today’s The Hill, Representative Steve Rothman (D-NJ), a longtime member of the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense and State and Foreign Operations, argues that reducing U.S. foreign assistance will make America less safe.
But of course the question isn’t just about how much we’re spending. The most important question is about how and where we’re investing that money. And here—on the test of brains—Obama’s budget holds much more promise.
Before US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah uttered the first word of his National Institutes of Health (NIH) Barmes Lecture today, NIH Director Francis Collins called attention to the symbolism of the moment: He said it marked the first time that a sitting USAID leader had spoken at NIH. But Shah had more than symbolism in mind.
Below are excerpts from MFAN Partners’ statements in reaction to President Obama’s FY2012 budget request released yesterday and the ongoing debates over the Continuing Resolution for FY 2011 in the House. You can read MFAN’s statement on the budget here. To learn more about the budget debates, click on the following links: U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s Budget Center; InterAction; and ONE’s blog.
As Congress begins debate this week on funding the government for the remainder of 2011, we support current spending levels in the international affairs budget. Foreign assistance is not a nice-to-have perk in a world where complex challenges defy narrow solutions; it is a must-have pillar of our foreign policy alongside diplomacy and defense. In addition, now more than ever, foreign assistance reform must move forward, in order to make sure we can get the most out of every dollar we spend on development.
In case you missed it, watch the clip below for Deputy Secretary Thomas Nides’ briefing on the FY’12 budget request for the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
