Pictured: Liz Schrayer
4. Trump Unclear on Humanitarian and Foreign Assistance. Trump’s global develop-
ment agenda is less clear. In launching
his campaign, he said we must “stop
sending foreign aid to countries that
hate us.” Later, however, he said that
America will “continue forever to play
the role of peacemaker. We will always
help save lives and indeed, humanity itself … We are a humanitarian nation.”
In a TV interview last April, he weighed
in on our nation’s humanitarian and foreign assistance programs noting that “if
we don’t help” countries facing disasters, then it would create “bigger problems.” Yet, he pivoted back in a recent
letter stating “the billions we spend on
child survival, maternal and child health
and food aid can and must do more to
help impoverished nations become capable of taking care of themselves in
the future.” A key area to watch is who
fills some of the key positions.
5. Pence a Likely Liaison to Congress. Vice
President-elect Mike Pence is expected
to be an important conduit between
the White House and Congress, especially given his tenure in the House and
friendship with Speaker Paul Ryan. A
former House Foreign Affairs Committee
member and noted religious conserva-
tive, Pence was a leading advocate of
the President’s Emergency Response
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), calling it a
“moral obligation” for the U.S. to lead
in confronting the pandemic. However,
even as a vocal supporter of humanitarian programs, his track record on actually funding these efforts is mixed but
hopefully will shift. As Chairman of the
Republican Study Committee, he supported proposals to drastically reduce
or eliminate certain development agencies and programs.
6. Congressional Winners Committed to
Global Engagement. Many USGLC friends
and allies from both sides of the aisle
will return to the House and Senate as
champions of America’s international
affairs programs. Based on our briefings
with more than 160 House and Senate
candidates, the pro-engagement caucus will be strong. From Senator Marco
Rubio (R-FL), who will return to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck
Schumer to new Senators Todd Young
(IN-R) and Tammy Duckworth (IL-D)
both veterans, the 115th Senate will be
full of internationalists. In the House,
watch for newly elected members Mike
Gallagher (R-WI), a marine and former
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
staffer, along with Stephanie Murphy
(D-FL) and Jim Banks (R-IN) to stake
out pro-engagement platforms and
committee assignments.
7. Foreign Assistance Not a Voting Issue.
While the topic never emerged as a
central issue on the national debate
stage, foreign assistance was mentioned positively by winners and challengers on both sides of the aisle. One
senator who won reelection proudly
named global development legislation
as one of his premier accomplishments.
Out of several hundred television ads
focused on foreign policy, Senator Rand
Paul (R-KY) was the only candidate that
ran anti-foreign assistance ads.
8. First 100 Days Inbox: Humanitarian Crises.
Amidst a divided country and numerous
domestic challenges, one area that has
emerged as a consensus priority among
candidates up and down the ballot is the
need to address ongoing humanitarian
crises, particularly in Syria. With more
than 65 million people displaced around
the world the highest number ever and
three level-3 global emergencies, this
will be a key area for the next Administration and Congress to work together.
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