Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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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. Page 1 of 5
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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 Page 2 of 5
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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
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Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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 Page 4 of 5
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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 Page 5 of 5
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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
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Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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. Page 7 of 5
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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. Page 8 of 5
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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. Page 9 of 5
Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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.
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Testimony of the Hon. Dan Glickman and Amb. Mark Green (Ret.)
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.
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