UNITED STATES SENATE
November xx, 2003
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC20500
Dear President Bush,
We are writing to express strong, bipartisan support for a robust increase in the FY05 International Affairs Budget as a critical addition to our military and intelligence capabilities in the fight against terrorism and the effort to build global stability.
Since September 11, 2001, we have worked together to fight global terrorism and protect U.S. national security. We recognize that at a time when global stability is vital to our interests, the International Affairs Budget can strengthen our national security in assisting the formation of international coalitions, combating weapons of mass destruction, and helping people build a future. These programs can help build markets for U.S. exports through funding embassies and export promotion and good governance programs that boost our nation’s goods and services around the world. This budget can provide assistance to those in need, strengthen democracies, and respond to global challenges such as infectious diseases, hunger, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and maternal and child health.
Chronicling the underfunding of our Foreign Operations budget over the past two decades, Richard Sokolsky and Joseph McMillan of the NationalDefenseUniversity, have written “The events of September 11 made it painfully clear that the political, social and economic problems of other countries have a direct impact on American national security…A robust and focused foreign assistance program is one of the weapons we must have to prevail.”
The State Operations side of the International Affairs Budget is just as vital to our interests. Secure embassies, capable telecommunications, and robust international exchange programs spread America’s message of freedom and democracy around the globe. In a just-released report commissioned by Congress, and chaired by Ambassador Edward Djerejian, the costs of historic underfunding of State Operations were clear: “The importance of public diplomacy in meeting the strategic challenge that America faces in the Arab and Muslim world requires a dramaticincrease in funding. The current level is absurdly and dangerously inadequate, and no amount of reprogramming of existing resourcescan correct this.”
We are more convinced than ever that America must remain engaged in the world and utilize all of the tools and resources that strengthen U.S. national interests -- including the International Affairs Budget. As you prepare the FY05 Federal Budget, we urge you to support substantially increased funding for international affairs programs. As eight former U.S. National Security Advisors wrote to Dr. Condoleezza Rice last December, “The increase in our international affairs budget will serve as a vital complement to military and intelligence upgrades in this country’s long term battle against global terror.”
Sincerely,
MIKE DEWINE DIANNE FEINSTEIN
GORDON SMITHRICHARD DURBIN
cc - The Hon. Josh Bolten, Director, Office of Management and Budget
The Hon. Colin Powell, Secretary of State
The Hon. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
November xx, 2003
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC20500
Dear President Bush,
We are writing to express strong, bipartisan support for a robust increase in the FY05 International Affairs Budget as a means to enhance U.S. security, promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and express the compassion of the American people for those that suffer from hunger, disease and extreme poverty.
Since September 11, 2001, we have worked together to fight global terrorism and protect U.S. national security. The International Affairs Budget is an integral part of that effort, supporting programs that contribute to the formation and strengthening of international coalitions, combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and help build international markets for U.S. goods and services through sensible export promotion and good governance programs. This budget also helps us respond to global challenges such as the scourge of HIV/Aids and other infectious diseases, maternal and child health, hunger, illiteracy, and environmental degradation.
Chronicling the underfunding of our Foreign Operations budget over the past two decades, Richard Sokolsky and Joseph McMillan of the NationalDefenseUniversity, have written “The events of September 11 made it painfully clear that the political, social and economic problems of other countries have a direct impact on American national security…A robust and focused foreign assistance program is one of the weapons we must have to prevail.”
The State Department operations component of the International Affairs Budget is just as vital to our interests. Secure embassies, capable telecommunications, and robust international exchange programs spread America’s message of freedom and democracy around the globe. In a just-released report commissioned by Congress, and chaired by Ambassador Edward Djerejian, the costs of historic underfunding of State Department operations were clear: “The importance of public diplomacy in meeting the strategic challenge that America faces in the Arab and Muslim world requires a dramatic increase in funding. The current level is absurdly and dangerously inadequate, and no amount of reprogramming of existing resources can correct this.”
We are more convinced than ever that America must remain engaged in the world and utilize all of the tools and resources that strengthen U.S. national interests -- including the International Affairs Budget. As you prepare the FY05 Federal Budget, we urge you to support substantially increased funding for international affairs programs. As eight former U.S. National Security Advisors wrote to Dr. Condoleezza Rice last December, “The increase in our international affairs budget will serve as a vital complement to military and intelligence upgrades in this country’s long term battle against global terror.”
Best wishes,
AMO HOUGHTONHOWARD L. BERMAN
Member of CongressMember of Congress
cc - The Hon. Josh Bolten, Director, Office of Management and Budget
The Hon. Colin Powell, Secretary of State
The Hon. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor