Pictured : Liz Schrayer she continues to define a solution-driven agenda on the global stage for women ’ s entrepreneurship and other international issues .
W SPEAKS OUT . In an unusual move to weigh-in on Washington matters , President George W . Bush lauded the work of PEPFAR — the massively successful HIV / AIDS relief program — from the U . S . embassies in Botswana and Namibia . “ Part of my mission is to call attention to the success and to remind our Congress and the Administration that there is more work to be done . We can ’ t stop at this stage of the effort in saving human life ,” said Bush 43 . “ As our Congress reviews the budget … it ’ s really important … look at what works . And I believe saving 11.5 million lives is proof that PEPFAR works .”
THE CHAIRMAN . Fresh off his visit to the world ’ s largest refugee camp in Uganda — just across the border from the famine in South Sudan — the highly influential Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker ( R-TN ) punctuated his concerns over the proposed budget cuts , telling reporters : “ The 1 percent that we spend on diplomacy and assistance , if we spend it wisely , then … the men and women that we love so much in uniform are less likely to get into a hot war or in harm ’ s way .” A picture is worth a thousand words .
ACROSS AMERICA . A snapshot of the chorus of voices popping up around the country :
MINNESOTA MASHUP . In an unusual town hall meeting , two Minnesota lawmakers ( who typically don ’ t agree on much ) joined forces to discuss the humanitarian crises in East Africa . Republican Congressman Tom Emmer sat down with Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar saying that when it comes to saving lives , there is no room for partisan politics . America needs more town hall meetings like this .
KANSAS MAN . Senator Jerry Moran ( R- KS ), a member of the Appropriations Committee , steps out on food security in a recent CNN op-ed : “ This administration ’ s budget proposal , which eliminates funding for the McGovern-Dole Food for Education and makes cuts to USAID , will harm our long-term national security interests and reduce our leadership in the world .”
LOCAL OPINION . A number of op-eds on the importance of international assistance are popping up in key policymaker ’ s backyards . The latest are in the Janesville Gazette Extra , Speaker Paul Ryan ’ s hometown paper , and the Houston Chronicle in the home state of Senators Cornyn and Cruz by former USAID Administrator and fellow Texan Andrew Natsios .
COAST TO COAST . During the congressional recess , the USGLC held over 30 indistrict meetings and several large public events with members of Congress from Washington State to Virginia underscoring that leading globally , matters locally . Next stop Phoenix .
BUSINESS BUZZ . This Thursday , top executives from Coca-Cola , MasterCard , and Starbucks testify before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations presenting the business case for global development . One former Goldman Sachs executive who certainly knows the value of public-private partnerships in the developing world is White House Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell . Watch her share the story of how she got to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue .
SMART STUFF . Former Caterpillar executive Bill Lane in the Wall Street Journal captures Colombia ’ s turnaround story from a narco-terrorist state to key U . S . ally with the help of America ’ s “ smart power .” And former House Intel Chairman Mike Rogers ( R-MI ) shares his highly respected views in the Washington Post that the use of hard and soft power is “ imperative ” for our national security , underscoring that the State Department must be “ streamlined — not starved .”
THE LAST WORD . Reflecting on the wave of support for foreign assistance in the face of steep cuts , Melinda Gates offers a smart reminder : “ the loudest voices of protest came not from overseas , but here at home . Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle , retired US military leaders , and faith leaders all spoke up in defense of foreign aid .”
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