MFAN will be taking a closer look at these pieces of legislation, through the perspective of our Partners, and, more broadly, how reform is affecting the way policymakers think about development issues. See below for the first piece in this recurring series from Aaron Emmel, Government Affairs Officer, PATH.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
After the jump, see a list of current Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) Members.
As the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) continues to gain new members, we bring you our latest profile of Montana’s Congressman at large, Denny Rehberg.
MFAN has created a set of eight standards to serve as a guide for policymakers as they consider new legislation related to global development. Though MFAN continues to believe that an overhaul of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) is the most effective way to address today’s challenges, applying the following reform standards to develop ment-related legislation will help support progress on key reforms.
To continue our profiles of new Congressman who have recently joined the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA), we take a look at Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison. This democrat rounds out the bipartisan caucus with an extensive record in support of foreign assistance and related programs. See below for a list of Rep. Ellison’s most notable actions and be sure to check back for more profiles.
