Wednesday
May202009
Blueprints Drawn Up for 2010 International Affairs Budget
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 8:06AM
By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the proposed international affairs budget is a “major investment” as she testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday. Clinton said in her opening statement that President Obama’s 2010 budget request for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development is $48.6 billion.
Clinton explained that she knew what a significant request and said, “We know that this request comes when some agencies are experiencing cutbacks. But it is an indication of the critical role the State Department must play to help advance our nation’s interests, safeguard our security, and make us a positive force for progress worldwide.”
Clinton offered a description of how the State Department and the USAID should exercise their global leadership effectively. The description included the “three D’s” that she said must be harnessed. The “three D’s” are diplomacy development and defense according to Clinton.
There are many issues that the State Department and the USAID are currently dealing with and Clinton said, “We need good people and we need enough of them.” According to Clinton’s opening statement, that is why the 2010 budget request includes $283 million to accommodate the hiring of over 740 new Foreign Service personnel. This increase in the budget coincides with the President’s promise of expanding the Foreign Service.
Clinton said the State Department and the USAID will have the opportunity to use “smart power to implement smart policies.” The top three priorities of focus are: urgent challenges and regions of concern,including Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iraq, and the Middle East; transnational challenges; and development assistance.
Clinton closed her opening statement by saying to Committee Chairman John Kerry, “Mr. Chairman, we’re pursuing all of these policies because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is the smart thing to do. No country benefits more than the United States when there is greater security, democracy, and opportunity in the world.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the proposed international affairs budget is a “major investment” as she testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday. Clinton said in her opening statement that President Obama’s 2010 budget request for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development is $48.6 billion.
Clinton explained that she knew what a significant request and said, “We know that this request comes when some agencies are experiencing cutbacks. But it is an indication of the critical role the State Department must play to help advance our nation’s interests, safeguard our security, and make us a positive force for progress worldwide.”
Clinton offered a description of how the State Department and the USAID should exercise their global leadership effectively. The description included the “three D’s” that she said must be harnessed. The “three D’s” are diplomacy development and defense according to Clinton.
There are many issues that the State Department and the USAID are currently dealing with and Clinton said, “We need good people and we need enough of them.” According to Clinton’s opening statement, that is why the 2010 budget request includes $283 million to accommodate the hiring of over 740 new Foreign Service personnel. This increase in the budget coincides with the President’s promise of expanding the Foreign Service.
Clinton said the State Department and the USAID will have the opportunity to use “smart power to implement smart policies.” The top three priorities of focus are: urgent challenges and regions of concern,including Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iraq, and the Middle East; transnational challenges; and development assistance.
Clinton closed her opening statement by saying to Committee Chairman John Kerry, “Mr. Chairman, we’re pursuing all of these policies because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is the smart thing to do. No country benefits more than the United States when there is greater security, democracy, and opportunity in the world.”
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