Congressional
Briefing on The FY 2004 International Affairs Budget: Why Is It Important
to Us?
February 28, 2003
InterAction,
in conjunction with the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign and the Congressional
Research Service, held a briefing on the FY2004 international affairs
budget. Larry Nowels of the Congressional Research Service provided
a background and summary of the FY2004 budget request as well as the
historical context of international affairs spending over the past two
decades. Jason Gross of the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign discussed
the changing landscape of congressional support for international programs
in the post 9-11 era and an overview of the 150 account. Nisha Desai
of InterAction provided analysis of the foreign operations spending
requests, including the new initiatives and funding levels for core
development and humanitarian and programs identified by the Global Partnership
for Effective Assistance Campaign.
Background:
The U.S. foreign assistance programs and foreign policy budget are fundamental
tools of U.S. foreign policy. In outlining his "National Security
Strategy for America", President Bush noted that "including
all of the world's poor in an expanding circle of development--and opportunity--is
a moral imperative and one of the top priorities of U.S. international
policy". Now more than ever it is in America's national security
interest as well as our moral interest to invest in programs that improve
the social and economic well-being of the world's most poor and vulnerable
as well as in our international diplomatic and economic capabilities.
SPEAKERS'
BIOS
Larry
Nowels, Congressional Research Service
Larry Nowels is a Specialist in Foreign Affairs at the Congressional
Research Service. During his 27 year career at CRS, he has written extensively
on U.S. foreign assistance policy making, including the congressional
role in legislating and overseeing American foreign aid programs. He
has also specialized in international affairs budget issues, both from
a historical and current perspective. Mr. Nowels further served on detail
assignments to the House Budget Committee and the House Appropriations
Foreign Operations Subcommittee. View
Nowels' charts from presentation.
Jason
Gross, U.S. Global Leadership Campaign
Jason Gross is the Director of Government and Business Affairs for the
U.S. Global Leadership Campaign, a coalition of over 300 businesses
and NGOs who advocate together for greater American global engagement
and resources. Previously, Jason served as a Professional Staff Member
of the U.S. House International Relations Committee, handling European
issues and served on the personal staff of Representative Sam Gejdenson
(D-CT-2). He has worked as consultant on international and domestic
public finance issues and he holds a Masters Degree in International
Relations from the London School of Economics.
Nisha
K. Desai, InterAction
Nisha Desai is the Director of Public Policy at InterAction, the largest
alliance of U.S. based international humanitarian and development non-governmental
organizations. Nisha works with InterAction’s 160 members to coordinate
advocacy in support of their campaign, the Global Partnership for Effective
Assistance and on other issues affecting the relief and development
community. Prior to joining InterAction Nisha served for three years
on the professional staff of the House International Relations Committee
under Ranking Members Tom Lantos(D-CA) and Sam Gejdenson (D-CT). On
the HIRC, Nisha was responsible for budget and oversight issues relating
to the State Department, the US Agency for International Development
and International Affairs agencies. She has also previously worked at
the US Agency for International Development, the American Red Cross,
and The Kamber Group, a prominent Washington public affairs firm.
