Modern Legislation: Moving from Policy to Practice

By: Staff Person
July 25, 2011

My staff and I have been working assiduously on a wholesale rewrite of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. In early September, I plan to release it in discussion draft form. This draft is the product of years of research, investigations, briefings, and consultations—with our partners in the field, with the Administration, and with a wide range of experts and organizations involved in development and international relations. And it reflects the input and feedback we have received from the concept paper and three discussion papers we have released since July 2009.

Modern Legislation: Moving from Policy to Practice

By: Staff Person
July 22, 2011

So why does it matter that there has not been a comprehensive annual foreign aid authorization or a new FAAct in over 25 years? We often hear that the President can find the authority needed to carry out any foreign assistance activity somewhere in the FAAct or in annual appropriations. That may be largely the case but it misses some key points.

CCEFA Profile: Rep. Aaron Schock

By: Staff Person
July 20, 2011

As the youngest Congressman in the House of Representatives, Rep. Schock brings unparalleled vitality and a proactive spirit to the CCEFA. Despite his age, he has garnered the respect of senior Representatives, earning himself the position of Deputy Republican Whip in the House along with appointments to a number of highly coveted committees. CCEFA marks the tenth Caucus he has joined since assuming his place as the Representative for Illinois’ 18th District.

A 21st Century Marshall Plan?

By: Staff Person
July 19, 2011

For a more in-depth discussion on the “Arab Spring,” MFAN will be hosting an event on Thursday, July 21, from 10:00-11:30am entitled, “The New Middle East: Can Foreign Assistance Bolster the Arab Spring?” For more information on the event or to RSVP, please click here.

USGLC Annual Conference Round-Up-Part 1

By: Staff Person
July 18, 2011

MFAN Partner the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition hosted its annual Washington conference last week with a day-long forum that focused on the economic link between development and U.S. leadership and growth. “Investing in the Future: A Smart Power Approach to Global Leadership” brought together high-ranking government officials like Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, General James Cartwright, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, and World Bank President Robert Zoellick, among others to discuss how employing our smart power tools—diplomacy and development—can enhance our economic prosperity at home while bolstering our image abroad.

Modern Legislation: Moving from Policy to Practice

By: Staff Person
July 12, 2011

Below is the second piece in our Modern Legislation blog series from Connie Veillette, MFAN Principal and Director of the Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance Initiative at the Center for Global Development. The series explores just one pillar of MFAN’s updated reform agenda, From Policy to Practice. Former Republican Congressman Mark Green wrote the first piece in the series about how reform offers a unique opportunity for Congress to lead. Stay tuned for more!

EVENT: Foreign Policy and MFAN Host Event on Middle East Assistance

By: Staff Person
July 11, 2011

“The New Middle East: Can Foreign Assistance Bolster the Arab Spring?” Keynote Speech by The Honorable Tamara Cofman Wittes Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Followed by a Panel Discussion with John Norris, Executive Director of the Sustainable Security and Peacebuilding Initiative, Center for American Progress Ehaab Abdou, Co-founder, Nahdet El Mahrousa … Continue reading EVENT: Foreign Policy and MFAN Host Event on Middle East Assistance

Raj Shah Hosts Session on Youth and International Development at the White House

By: Staff Person
July 8, 2011

USAID Administrator Raj Shah answered questions from young Americans at the White House on Thursday afternoon. In a discussion moderated by Kalpen Modi, Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Administrator Shah highlighted a number of USAID’s priorities. He spoke about accountability under USAID Forward, Feed the Future as a driver of self-sufficiency, and … Continue reading Raj Shah Hosts Session on Youth and International Development at the White House

CCEFA Profile: Rep. Dennis Ross

By: Staff Person
July 7, 2011

See below for our latest Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) profile of the first-term Congressman from Florida, Dennis Ross. We’ve already profiled the Co-Chairs Ander Crenshaw and Adam Smith, as well as Representatives Keith Ellison, Denny Rehberg, and Laura Richardson. Stay tuned for more to come!

Modern Legislation: Moving From Policy to Practice

By: Staff Person
July 6, 2011

However, these trends also create an opportunity for today’s policymakers to write their own exciting new chapter. The economic downturn creates a renewed mandate for careful scrutiny of our current programs and practices. The influx of new lawmakers, many of whom have remarkable records of accomplishment and success in the private sector, bring new leadership potential to Capitol Hill. Taken together, these trends give Congress everything it needs to take on a long-overdue mission: reforming our foreign assistance framework.