|
|
House Appropriations Ranking Member Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) readily acknowledges the legacy of her colleague across the aisle, recently telling Rep. Lowey, “Your legacy will be a generation of educated girls that will have the power to shape their future and our future…you did that.”
Rep. Granger is a key leader in global security, diplomacy and development efforts. She is Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Ranking Member of the Defense Subcommittee, and served for several years as Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee. Rep. Granger is a long-time champion of national security and global health initiatives, conservation, and poverty reduction and alleviation measures that include an end to human trafficking.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is the longest serving member in the Senate and has been a consistent champion for the world’s most marginalized population for decades. He is the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, where he is a leading proponent of poverty-focused development assistance programs.
With strong bipartisan relationships, Sen. Leahy has been among the most significant and effective champions of global health, development, and humanitarian aid. From helping Syrian refugees to saving people from landmines, he's been unwavering in his dedication to provide smart and effective resources to support the least of these.
Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ/4th), now in his 36th term in Congress, is one of the House’s longest serving members. He has been an active and dedicated leader on foreign assistance from chairing the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Human Rights and Operations to chairing the Subcommittee on Africa. He presently serves as Chairman of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Whether it is clean water, food security, neglected tropical diseases that need a Congressional champion, Chris Smith has consistently stood up for "the least of these."
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL-3) focuses on supporting bills “that help make America strong”. When it comes to U.S. government foreign assistance, he’s got an interesting take.
“I’ll be real honest with you,” the congressman told the audience at this year’s USGLC conference, “I came up here to get rid of foreign aid. But you can’t cut foreign aid. You have to use it more effectively. The only way we can make America great again is if we partner and help [countries] achieve goals and by doing that, we all become stronger. And that’s how we’re going to have a more stable world.”
To that end, this third-term Congressman is co-chair of the Caucus on Effective Foreign Assistance and sponsored the Foreign Assistance Accountability Act of 2014. Rep. Yoho sits on the House Foreign Affairs committee and is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. Congressman Yoho is a vocal champion for protecting U.S. foreign assistance and often says that the best way to fight off insecurity is to provide opportunity in the form of exchanges, trade and economic assistance.
Senator Todd Young (R-IN) is in his first term in the Senate sits on the Foreign Relations Committee. As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with an MBA, his academic background informs his commitment to diplomacy and development. Sen. Young sees the clear connection between the swift and proactive response to humanitarian disasters and protecting our national security. He has expressed concerns about the crisis in Yemen, for example, calling on Saudi Arabia to ensure food and medical supplies are not delayed to the more than ten million Yemenis in dire need. He understands the impact this unstable situation can have on regional security when desperate people will look for help wherever they can get it -- Iran in this case.
Sen. Young has developed a reputation for working across the aisle to develop meaningful legislation, most recently co-sponsoring a bill with Sen. Shaheen to improve foreign policy strategy through diplomacy and development. “Protecting Americans and promoting our values require effective U.S. diplomacy and international development, yet sometimes these efforts are...not sufficiently coordinated across the U.S. government or in support of the National Security Strategy.” The legislation calls on the Department of State to improve strategy with interagency partners like USAID: “Strategy should inform major personnel and organizational decisions at the Department of State, not the other way around.”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee as the second most senior Democrat. The senator has demonstrated forward-thinking leadership and a desire to ensure the U.S. retains its leadership role in the world. She is particularly interested in global women’s rights and empowerment and recently introduced the Keeping Girls in School Act (S. 1171), intended to continue former First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let Girls Learn” initiative to help young girls get and stay in school.
Senator Shaheen elaborated on the purpose of her bill: “Parents who can only afford to send one child to school send their sons, girls are married off at an extremely young age…and adolescent girls who do attend school often face violence and harassment. The Keeping Girls in School Act specifically focuses on these unique obstacles and directs the U.S. government to develop a strategy that ensures every young girl has the opportunity to achieve an education. Girls’ education is directly related to healthy communities, successful economies, and secure nations.”
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) is a leader in foreign policy and foreign assistance strategies. Working across party lines, Sen. Coons has introduced legislation to Electrify Africa, Reform U.S. Global Food Aid, and Increase Humanitarian Support for Syrian Refugees among much more.
Sitting on both the Foreign Relations Committee and the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Committee, Sen. Coons is uniquely placed to understand the policy and funding decisions that need to be made. He is a genuine champion of the most marginalized populations around the globe and a leader in the fight against poverty and disease worldwide. He holds a Master's from Yale Divinity School and co-chaired the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast.
Senator Coons, a student of scripture, says the Bible overwhelmingly focuses on justice and tolerance:
"If you’re not spending at least some time thinking about economic justice and inclusion of the outsider and how we treat the marginalized, then you’re missing the core message."
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joins the Senate State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and has already proven to be a key defender and champion of foreign assistance programs. A social and fiscal conservative, Sen. Rubio sees the economic, diplomatic and national security benefits of protecting the less than 1% of funding spent on foreign assistance programs with an unwavering commitment to accountability and transparency. The Senator is also a Member of the Foreign Relations Committee and Chairs the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women’s Issues. In a recent floor speech Senator Rubio highlighted that 12 of the key 15 U.S. trade partners were once recipients of foreign assistance. His pragmatic approach is coupled with his strong personal faith:
“To whom much is given much is expected...I believe in the depths of my heart that our creator has honored America's willingness to step forward and help those around the world, and I believe he will continue to do so as long as we use our blessings, not just for our good but for the good of mankind. I hope that in the weeks to come as we debate the proper role of government and the proper way to fund it, we understand what a critical component foreign aid and the international affairs budget is to the national security and the economic interests and to our very identity as a people and as a nation.”
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) assumes the chairmanship of the House State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (SFOPS), after serving for the past six years as the chair of the House Appropriations Committee (stepping down due to House Republican term limits.) During his time as chair of the full committee, Rep. Rogers worked with the outgoing Chairwoman of the State & Foreign Operations Subcommittee, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), to address pressing global health and diplomatic challenges, such as the Ebola and Zika outbreaks and the Syrian refugee crisis. An active supporter of U.S. Government efforts to provide safe drinking water to some of the world's poorest people, Rep. Rogers was given an award in May of 2014 for his efforts to support clean water. "The United States has been a global leader in promoting international development, particularly clean water, and I am proud to play a small role in this enormous undertaking," Rogers said upon receiving the award.
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) retains her dual role as the Ranking Member of the full House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the House State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (SFOPS). Rep. Lowey has used her combined positions to provide strong support for a range of important, poverty-focused foreign assistance programs, particularly in the areas of child and maternal health and education for children. Rep. Lowey introduced legislation last Congress in the Education for All Act, which makes it an explicit part of U.S. foreign policy to expand access to education for some of the world's poorest children. "Simply put, we cannot build the world we want for ourselves, and for future generations, without education at the center of our efforts," Rep. Lowey said when introducing her bill.
Representative Ted Poe (R-TX) is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. As a member of this Committee and as a former judge, he views access to water as a justice issue. To that end Rep. Poe has spearheaded legislation that will shape U.S. foreign assistance in important ways. He is the original co-sponsor of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014, which reauthorized programs run by the State Department and USAID that provide some of the world’s poorest people with access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation (WASH). Rep. Poe was also the author of an amendment to the Global Food Security Act of 2016, which instructs the State Department and USAID to focus on improving access to clean drinking water for small children in the developing world, since lack of access to clean drinking water is a key cause of undernourishment and stunting, which creates lifelong cognitive impairment.
He also co-authored the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016, to establish guidelines and performance metrics to ensure U.S. foreign assistance programs are achieving intended goals and outcomes. The bill was signed into law in July.
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) is a longstanding and passionate advocate for providing the world’s poorest people access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation. He is the co-author of the two most important U.S. laws on this life-saving issue. He helped write and pass the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, which made access to clean drinking water and sanitation an official part of U.S. foreign policy strategy. He helped write and pass the most recent reauthorization of that law with the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014. It is due to Rep. Blumenauer’s tireless efforts that millions more people around the world will have access to clean water and adequate sanitation.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is both a true champion of foreign assistance and a leading defender of a robust and well-funded military. He is a retired Air Force colonel, famous for quoting military leaders who prioritize winning over more people with compassionate foreign assistance than bombs and bullets. He is active on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Budget, Judiciary and Appropriations committees, and is known for identifying cost effective programs and eliminating government waste. As Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Committee, the Senator writes the annual bill to fund U.S. foreign assistance programs and is passionate about solving the global refugee problem, providing assistance to those in greatest need, and retaining U.S. global leadership through both sound diplomacy and a strong military. He encapsulates Teddy Roosevelt's strategy -- talk softly but carry a big stick.
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE/1st): In his 7th term, Congressman Fortenberry has been a champion on a range of issues -- from global health, to agriculture and water issues, as well as healthcare for children and the elderly. He has served on the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights and currently serves on the influential Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations. Rep. Fortenberry has the respect of many in the not-for-profit global health and development sector thanks to his keen interest, and dedication to, helping those in greatest need.
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN): Inspired by the call-to-action in a sermon he heard in Tennessee, Senator Corker has become the leading champion of the anti-trafficking movement. After traveling to Manila in 2014 and meeting with a group of women rescued from the sex trade, Senator Corker has led the pursuit to cut in half, forced labor and trafficking, within 7 years. Senator Corker is the lead co-sponsor of the End Modern Slavery Initiative Act, potentially the largest effort in world history to upend an industry that enslaves and exploits 20 million people around the world.
This bill seeks to leverage U.S. foreign assistance, the private sector, and foreign assistance from other countries, to establish a nonprofit foundation dedicated to combating global slavery. The legislation would set up a $1.5 billion international fund to provide grants to programs and projects outside the U.S. working to free victims of modern slavery, and assist countries’ law enforcement in punishing people and companies that profit from human trafficking. With over 40 bipartisan co-sponsors, this legislation is waiting Senate floor time. In February 2016, Sen. Corker also passed a Senate Resolution on the matter.
Senator John Boozman (R-AR): As a Member of both the Senate Appropriations and Foreign Relations Committees, Senator Boozman believes that the federal government’s number one responsibility is to protect the American people and his work supports that overriding goal. As a co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus and a member of the Agriculture Committee, the Senator understands the need for nutritional and agricultural interventions to train populations in sustainable farming techniques to prevent food scarcity. As a member of the Africa and Global Health subcommittee, Senator Boozman understands the preventable nature of most maternal and child mortality and works tirelessly to oversee and fund programs that respond to global disease, humanitarian crises and to increase diplomatic responses to the challenges facing our world. Working across party lines, the Senator is a champion for faith-based organizations and recognizes their efforts to provide life-giving programs to the world’s most marginalized populations.
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA): On April 20th, Senators Casey and Isakson announced the Senate passage of the Global Food Security Act of 2016, which aims to attach global hunger and bolster U.S. national security. As member of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, member of the Joint Economic Committee and appointee to the National Security Working Group, Senator Casey has a unique perspective on national security, economic stability and global agricultural drivers. The Global Food Security Act of 2016 showcases the Senator’s comprehensive strengths and is based on the premise that global food insecurity impacts not only developing nations’ economies and productivity, but also the international economy and U.S. national security.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL): This Senator is a champion for protecting our nation’s foreign policies while advancing security and prosperity, and promoting American values of freedom, democracy, tolerance, compassion and the rule of law. He is a true champion for the world’s most marginalized populations as a strong advocate for U.S. foreign assistance. The Senator works hard to provide access to safe water to the world’s most poor, reduce the global disease burden, and respond to humanitarian crises around the globe as a member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. He is a tremendous champion for global agricultural solutions and food security as a co-sponsor of the Senate Hunger Caucus. Senator Durbin maintains a strong belief that foreign assistance is not only a moral imperative to save lives, but it also strengthens our nation’s standing abroad as a global leader.
Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS): Through his work on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, and the Appropriations Committee, Senator Moran continues his long-time commitment to strengthening the economy, opening up foreign markets to U.S. exports, and fostering the growth of small businesses. Living in the breadbasket of our nation, Senator Moran understands the political, economic and personal instability hunger can cause in U.S. communities and around the globe. As a co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, Senator Moran is helping to raise awareness about food insecurity and malnutrition.
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4) - Throughout her career in public service, Congresswoman McCollum has been a champion for robust international engagement that prioritizes diplomacy and development, along with a strong national defense. She’s a strong advocate for foreign assistance funding to ensure stability around the world.As the world’s most powerful country, Rep. McCollum says “the United States has a responsibility to aggressively pursue initiatives that alleviate poverty, promote democracy and human rights, improve lives, and stabilize communities in the developing world.” America’s modest commitment to foreign assistance and diplomacy supports “proven strategies like long-term development, post-conflict reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance.”
In Congress, McCollum has worked for robust American leadership to advance international development, global health and human rights. She is the co-chair of the Global Health Caucus, and has been a champion to improve maternal and child health, combat global hunger, make key investments in agricultural development, and protect girls from early marriage. She is an active sponsor of legislation including the Global Food Security Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA): Shortly after Sen. Isakson joined the Foreign Relations Committee in 2006 and the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee, he began to travel extensively throughout Africa.Those experiences profoundly impacted his views on everything from fighting terrorism, to global health and women’s rights. In 2011 he told a gathering, “There is an endgame to poverty - when you end poverty, you begin prosperity. When you begin prosperity, you end terrorism.” Senator Isakson was instrumental in passing the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the recently Senate-passed Global Food Security Act of 2016, which recognizes the important role that agricultural development plays in economic growth, as well as the value of leveraging resources and expertise from U.S. academic institutions, NGOs, faith-based and volunteer organizations in the private sector.
Representative Ander Crenshaw (R-FL/4th): As a member of the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Crenshaw is a true champion of foreign assistance programs. He oversees all U.S. Foreign Assistance funding and is a vocal leader for protecting the foreign assistance budget. He knows that these programs are smart investments for our global stability, even in times of fiscal constraint. As co-chair on the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance, he supports low-cost interventions with high-impact. He is also the co-chair of the Congressional Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Caucus. With his combined knowledge of military, defense, fiscal and humanitarian issues, Rep. Crenshaw provides vision that fosters the development of efficient foreign assistance programs.
Representative Adam Smith (D-WA/9th): Rep. Smith understands the connection between national security and development. As Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Committee and having previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance, Rep. Smith has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to achieving a more modern and streamlined foreign assistance strategy. To that end, he has sponsored important legislation that includes the Global Poverty Act of 2009, co-sponsored the Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009, and more specific humanitarian measures such as the Newborn, Child and Mother Survival Act of 2009 and the Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act of 2010.
Senator Lindsey GrahamU.S. Senator Lindsey Graham was honored for his strong support for U.S. programs that help solve the global safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) crisis. The Senator’s leadership has played a significant role in ensuring that the U.S. directs more resources toward WASH, which is among the most effective, efficient, and cross-disciplinary forms of development assistance.
The WASH Advocate award was presented by former Senator Slade Gorton. Sen. Gorton thanked Sen. Graham for his strong support for the Water for the Poor Act and for understanding that access to clean water not only saves lives, it also helps create friends and allies in important regions of the world.
Rep. Granger is a key leader in global security, diplomacy and development efforts. She is Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Ranking Member of the Defense Subcommittee, and served for several years as Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee. Rep. Granger is a long-time champion of national security and global health initiatives, conservation, and poverty reduction and alleviation measures that include an end to human trafficking.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is the longest serving member in the Senate and has been a consistent champion for the world’s most marginalized population for decades. He is the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, where he is a leading proponent of poverty-focused development assistance programs.
With strong bipartisan relationships, Sen. Leahy has been among the most significant and effective champions of global health, development, and humanitarian aid. From helping Syrian refugees to saving people from landmines, he's been unwavering in his dedication to provide smart and effective resources to support the least of these.
Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ/4th), now in his 36th term in Congress, is one of the House’s longest serving members. He has been an active and dedicated leader on foreign assistance from chairing the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Human Rights and Operations to chairing the Subcommittee on Africa. He presently serves as Chairman of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Whether it is clean water, food security, neglected tropical diseases that need a Congressional champion, Chris Smith has consistently stood up for "the least of these."
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL-3) focuses on supporting bills “that help make America strong”. When it comes to U.S. government foreign assistance, he’s got an interesting take.
“I’ll be real honest with you,” the congressman told the audience at this year’s USGLC conference, “I came up here to get rid of foreign aid. But you can’t cut foreign aid. You have to use it more effectively. The only way we can make America great again is if we partner and help [countries] achieve goals and by doing that, we all become stronger. And that’s how we’re going to have a more stable world.”
To that end, this third-term Congressman is co-chair of the Caucus on Effective Foreign Assistance and sponsored the Foreign Assistance Accountability Act of 2014. Rep. Yoho sits on the House Foreign Affairs committee and is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. Congressman Yoho is a vocal champion for protecting U.S. foreign assistance and often says that the best way to fight off insecurity is to provide opportunity in the form of exchanges, trade and economic assistance.
Senator Todd Young (R-IN) is in his first term in the Senate sits on the Foreign Relations Committee. As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with an MBA, his academic background informs his commitment to diplomacy and development. Sen. Young sees the clear connection between the swift and proactive response to humanitarian disasters and protecting our national security. He has expressed concerns about the crisis in Yemen, for example, calling on Saudi Arabia to ensure food and medical supplies are not delayed to the more than ten million Yemenis in dire need. He understands the impact this unstable situation can have on regional security when desperate people will look for help wherever they can get it -- Iran in this case.
Sen. Young has developed a reputation for working across the aisle to develop meaningful legislation, most recently co-sponsoring a bill with Sen. Shaheen to improve foreign policy strategy through diplomacy and development. “Protecting Americans and promoting our values require effective U.S. diplomacy and international development, yet sometimes these efforts are...not sufficiently coordinated across the U.S. government or in support of the National Security Strategy.” The legislation calls on the Department of State to improve strategy with interagency partners like USAID: “Strategy should inform major personnel and organizational decisions at the Department of State, not the other way around.”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee as the second most senior Democrat. The senator has demonstrated forward-thinking leadership and a desire to ensure the U.S. retains its leadership role in the world. She is particularly interested in global women’s rights and empowerment and recently introduced the Keeping Girls in School Act (S. 1171), intended to continue former First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let Girls Learn” initiative to help young girls get and stay in school.
Senator Shaheen elaborated on the purpose of her bill: “Parents who can only afford to send one child to school send their sons, girls are married off at an extremely young age…and adolescent girls who do attend school often face violence and harassment. The Keeping Girls in School Act specifically focuses on these unique obstacles and directs the U.S. government to develop a strategy that ensures every young girl has the opportunity to achieve an education. Girls’ education is directly related to healthy communities, successful economies, and secure nations.”
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) is a leader in foreign policy and foreign assistance strategies. Working across party lines, Sen. Coons has introduced legislation to Electrify Africa, Reform U.S. Global Food Aid, and Increase Humanitarian Support for Syrian Refugees among much more.
Sitting on both the Foreign Relations Committee and the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Committee, Sen. Coons is uniquely placed to understand the policy and funding decisions that need to be made. He is a genuine champion of the most marginalized populations around the globe and a leader in the fight against poverty and disease worldwide. He holds a Master's from Yale Divinity School and co-chaired the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast.
Senator Coons, a student of scripture, says the Bible overwhelmingly focuses on justice and tolerance:
"If you’re not spending at least some time thinking about economic justice and inclusion of the outsider and how we treat the marginalized, then you’re missing the core message."
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joins the Senate State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and has already proven to be a key defender and champion of foreign assistance programs. A social and fiscal conservative, Sen. Rubio sees the economic, diplomatic and national security benefits of protecting the less than 1% of funding spent on foreign assistance programs with an unwavering commitment to accountability and transparency. The Senator is also a Member of the Foreign Relations Committee and Chairs the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women’s Issues. In a recent floor speech Senator Rubio highlighted that 12 of the key 15 U.S. trade partners were once recipients of foreign assistance. His pragmatic approach is coupled with his strong personal faith:
“To whom much is given much is expected...I believe in the depths of my heart that our creator has honored America's willingness to step forward and help those around the world, and I believe he will continue to do so as long as we use our blessings, not just for our good but for the good of mankind. I hope that in the weeks to come as we debate the proper role of government and the proper way to fund it, we understand what a critical component foreign aid and the international affairs budget is to the national security and the economic interests and to our very identity as a people and as a nation.”
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) assumes the chairmanship of the House State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (SFOPS), after serving for the past six years as the chair of the House Appropriations Committee (stepping down due to House Republican term limits.) During his time as chair of the full committee, Rep. Rogers worked with the outgoing Chairwoman of the State & Foreign Operations Subcommittee, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), to address pressing global health and diplomatic challenges, such as the Ebola and Zika outbreaks and the Syrian refugee crisis. An active supporter of U.S. Government efforts to provide safe drinking water to some of the world's poorest people, Rep. Rogers was given an award in May of 2014 for his efforts to support clean water. "The United States has been a global leader in promoting international development, particularly clean water, and I am proud to play a small role in this enormous undertaking," Rogers said upon receiving the award.
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) retains her dual role as the Ranking Member of the full House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the House State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee (SFOPS). Rep. Lowey has used her combined positions to provide strong support for a range of important, poverty-focused foreign assistance programs, particularly in the areas of child and maternal health and education for children. Rep. Lowey introduced legislation last Congress in the Education for All Act, which makes it an explicit part of U.S. foreign policy to expand access to education for some of the world's poorest children. "Simply put, we cannot build the world we want for ourselves, and for future generations, without education at the center of our efforts," Rep. Lowey said when introducing her bill.
Representative Ted Poe (R-TX) is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. As a member of this Committee and as a former judge, he views access to water as a justice issue. To that end Rep. Poe has spearheaded legislation that will shape U.S. foreign assistance in important ways. He is the original co-sponsor of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014, which reauthorized programs run by the State Department and USAID that provide some of the world’s poorest people with access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation (WASH). Rep. Poe was also the author of an amendment to the Global Food Security Act of 2016, which instructs the State Department and USAID to focus on improving access to clean drinking water for small children in the developing world, since lack of access to clean drinking water is a key cause of undernourishment and stunting, which creates lifelong cognitive impairment.
He also co-authored the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016, to establish guidelines and performance metrics to ensure U.S. foreign assistance programs are achieving intended goals and outcomes. The bill was signed into law in July.
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) is a longstanding and passionate advocate for providing the world’s poorest people access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation. He is the co-author of the two most important U.S. laws on this life-saving issue. He helped write and pass the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, which made access to clean drinking water and sanitation an official part of U.S. foreign policy strategy. He helped write and pass the most recent reauthorization of that law with the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014. It is due to Rep. Blumenauer’s tireless efforts that millions more people around the world will have access to clean water and adequate sanitation.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is both a true champion of foreign assistance and a leading defender of a robust and well-funded military. He is a retired Air Force colonel, famous for quoting military leaders who prioritize winning over more people with compassionate foreign assistance than bombs and bullets. He is active on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Budget, Judiciary and Appropriations committees, and is known for identifying cost effective programs and eliminating government waste. As Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Committee, the Senator writes the annual bill to fund U.S. foreign assistance programs and is passionate about solving the global refugee problem, providing assistance to those in greatest need, and retaining U.S. global leadership through both sound diplomacy and a strong military. He encapsulates Teddy Roosevelt's strategy -- talk softly but carry a big stick.
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE/1st): In his 7th term, Congressman Fortenberry has been a champion on a range of issues -- from global health, to agriculture and water issues, as well as healthcare for children and the elderly. He has served on the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights and currently serves on the influential Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations. Rep. Fortenberry has the respect of many in the not-for-profit global health and development sector thanks to his keen interest, and dedication to, helping those in greatest need.
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN): Inspired by the call-to-action in a sermon he heard in Tennessee, Senator Corker has become the leading champion of the anti-trafficking movement. After traveling to Manila in 2014 and meeting with a group of women rescued from the sex trade, Senator Corker has led the pursuit to cut in half, forced labor and trafficking, within 7 years. Senator Corker is the lead co-sponsor of the End Modern Slavery Initiative Act, potentially the largest effort in world history to upend an industry that enslaves and exploits 20 million people around the world.
This bill seeks to leverage U.S. foreign assistance, the private sector, and foreign assistance from other countries, to establish a nonprofit foundation dedicated to combating global slavery. The legislation would set up a $1.5 billion international fund to provide grants to programs and projects outside the U.S. working to free victims of modern slavery, and assist countries’ law enforcement in punishing people and companies that profit from human trafficking. With over 40 bipartisan co-sponsors, this legislation is waiting Senate floor time. In February 2016, Sen. Corker also passed a Senate Resolution on the matter.
Senator John Boozman (R-AR): As a Member of both the Senate Appropriations and Foreign Relations Committees, Senator Boozman believes that the federal government’s number one responsibility is to protect the American people and his work supports that overriding goal. As a co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus and a member of the Agriculture Committee, the Senator understands the need for nutritional and agricultural interventions to train populations in sustainable farming techniques to prevent food scarcity. As a member of the Africa and Global Health subcommittee, Senator Boozman understands the preventable nature of most maternal and child mortality and works tirelessly to oversee and fund programs that respond to global disease, humanitarian crises and to increase diplomatic responses to the challenges facing our world. Working across party lines, the Senator is a champion for faith-based organizations and recognizes their efforts to provide life-giving programs to the world’s most marginalized populations.
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA): On April 20th, Senators Casey and Isakson announced the Senate passage of the Global Food Security Act of 2016, which aims to attach global hunger and bolster U.S. national security. As member of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, member of the Joint Economic Committee and appointee to the National Security Working Group, Senator Casey has a unique perspective on national security, economic stability and global agricultural drivers. The Global Food Security Act of 2016 showcases the Senator’s comprehensive strengths and is based on the premise that global food insecurity impacts not only developing nations’ economies and productivity, but also the international economy and U.S. national security.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL): This Senator is a champion for protecting our nation’s foreign policies while advancing security and prosperity, and promoting American values of freedom, democracy, tolerance, compassion and the rule of law. He is a true champion for the world’s most marginalized populations as a strong advocate for U.S. foreign assistance. The Senator works hard to provide access to safe water to the world’s most poor, reduce the global disease burden, and respond to humanitarian crises around the globe as a member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. He is a tremendous champion for global agricultural solutions and food security as a co-sponsor of the Senate Hunger Caucus. Senator Durbin maintains a strong belief that foreign assistance is not only a moral imperative to save lives, but it also strengthens our nation’s standing abroad as a global leader.
Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS): Through his work on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, and the Appropriations Committee, Senator Moran continues his long-time commitment to strengthening the economy, opening up foreign markets to U.S. exports, and fostering the growth of small businesses. Living in the breadbasket of our nation, Senator Moran understands the political, economic and personal instability hunger can cause in U.S. communities and around the globe. As a co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, Senator Moran is helping to raise awareness about food insecurity and malnutrition.
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4) - Throughout her career in public service, Congresswoman McCollum has been a champion for robust international engagement that prioritizes diplomacy and development, along with a strong national defense. She’s a strong advocate for foreign assistance funding to ensure stability around the world.As the world’s most powerful country, Rep. McCollum says “the United States has a responsibility to aggressively pursue initiatives that alleviate poverty, promote democracy and human rights, improve lives, and stabilize communities in the developing world.” America’s modest commitment to foreign assistance and diplomacy supports “proven strategies like long-term development, post-conflict reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance.”
In Congress, McCollum has worked for robust American leadership to advance international development, global health and human rights. She is the co-chair of the Global Health Caucus, and has been a champion to improve maternal and child health, combat global hunger, make key investments in agricultural development, and protect girls from early marriage. She is an active sponsor of legislation including the Global Food Security Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA): Shortly after Sen. Isakson joined the Foreign Relations Committee in 2006 and the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee, he began to travel extensively throughout Africa.Those experiences profoundly impacted his views on everything from fighting terrorism, to global health and women’s rights. In 2011 he told a gathering, “There is an endgame to poverty - when you end poverty, you begin prosperity. When you begin prosperity, you end terrorism.” Senator Isakson was instrumental in passing the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the recently Senate-passed Global Food Security Act of 2016, which recognizes the important role that agricultural development plays in economic growth, as well as the value of leveraging resources and expertise from U.S. academic institutions, NGOs, faith-based and volunteer organizations in the private sector.
Representative Ander Crenshaw (R-FL/4th): As a member of the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Crenshaw is a true champion of foreign assistance programs. He oversees all U.S. Foreign Assistance funding and is a vocal leader for protecting the foreign assistance budget. He knows that these programs are smart investments for our global stability, even in times of fiscal constraint. As co-chair on the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance, he supports low-cost interventions with high-impact. He is also the co-chair of the Congressional Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Caucus. With his combined knowledge of military, defense, fiscal and humanitarian issues, Rep. Crenshaw provides vision that fosters the development of efficient foreign assistance programs.
Representative Adam Smith (D-WA/9th): Rep. Smith understands the connection between national security and development. As Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Committee and having previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance, Rep. Smith has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to achieving a more modern and streamlined foreign assistance strategy. To that end, he has sponsored important legislation that includes the Global Poverty Act of 2009, co-sponsored the Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009, and more specific humanitarian measures such as the Newborn, Child and Mother Survival Act of 2009 and the Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act of 2010.
Senator Lindsey GrahamU.S. Senator Lindsey Graham was honored for his strong support for U.S. programs that help solve the global safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) crisis. The Senator’s leadership has played a significant role in ensuring that the U.S. directs more resources toward WASH, which is among the most effective, efficient, and cross-disciplinary forms of development assistance.
The WASH Advocate award was presented by former Senator Slade Gorton. Sen. Gorton thanked Sen. Graham for his strong support for the Water for the Poor Act and for understanding that access to clean water not only saves lives, it also helps create friends and allies in important regions of the world.