insight
NATO, Nikki Haley, and the border crisis
Written by Liz Schrayer, USGLC
THE BUILD ACT. The House
passed new legislation to put
America’s development finance
agenda on steroids – a strong bi-
partisan vote that keeps strong,
effective, and results-driven
development programs on the
agenda. Shout-out to Represen-
tatives Yoho and Smith alongside
Chairman Royce and Ranking
Member Engel. Here’s our con-
gratulatory statement – now all
eyes are on the Senate to take
up the legislation.
Today’s action in the House to
pass the BUILD Act by voice vote
is yet another strong bipartisan
example of Congress prioritizing
effective and results-driven glob-
al development programs. A new
and robust development finance
institution will enable our nation’s
businesses to be much more
competitive in some of today’s
34 iF Magazine | August 2018
fastest growing markets around
the world while working to fight
global poverty.
The BUILD Act, with the support
of the Administration and OPIC
President Ray Washburne, would
not have passed the House with-
out the leadership of Represen-
tatives Yoho and Smith alongside
Chairman Royce and Ranking
Member Engel, who are building
on years of bipartisan leadership
on global development.
While development finance is not
a replacement for foreign assis-
tance, today’s vote clearly rep-
resents a win to strengthen an
underutilized and critical part of
America’s global economic tool-
kit. We urge the Senate to con-
sider the BUILD Act as soon as
possible.
Also on the move: U.S. Over-
seas Private Investment Corpo-
ration chief, Ray Washburne, is
in Africa on his first official trip to
unveil OPIC’s new “Connect Af-
rica” initiative.
NATO AND AID. While much of
the world was focused on Euro-
pean defense spending at last
week’s NATO Summit in Brus-
sels, how does the debate shift
when considering not just mili-
tary spending but also global
development investments? Our
own John Glenn tackles the topic
on the USGLC’s Global Impact
Blog. And the answer just may
surprise you.
KOCH
DIPLOMACY.
The
Charles Koch Foundation and Big
Think count the Marshall Plan as
one the top 5 accomplishments