Last Thursday, the Center for American Progress (CAP) hosted House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) and a group of experts as part of the Center’s Sustainable Security series.  Berman headlined the event titled, “U.S. Global Development Policy in the 21^st Century: Implications for Reform.” Just last year, Berman was leading the reform charge on the Hill by introducing the Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act (H.R.2139) alongside Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL).  The bill, which calls for a National Strategy for Global Development, now has 125 bipartisan cosponsors. Since then, Berman has begun the process of rewriting the outdated Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 – set to be released in the coming months.  MFAN Principal Peter McPherson, former Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), sat on a panel alongside:  John Norris, Executive Director, Enough; Eli Adashi, Former Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences and the Frank L. Day Professor of Biology, Brown University; and Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin, President, Middle East Institute.  See excerpts from Berman’s keynote speech and Peter McPherson’s remarks after the jump:

“National security, human security, and collective security must be reflected in U.S. foreign policy and global development policy.”-Chairman Berman

“There is also a coordinated effort among NGOs, corporations, [and] foundations to keep foreign assistance reform on the national agenda and to make sure those of us in Congress are focusing on this issue.” -Chairman Berman

“Many Republicans are talking about foreign assistance reform…there is nothing partisan about making foreign assistance more efficient and effective.” -Chairman Berman

“We want to determine a clear definition with the new bill, but also take into account the Administration’s reviews [PSD, QDDR].” -Chairman Berman

“USAID also needs policy capacity, and people…We all know how to make USAID better, how to get it right.” -Peter McPherson

“We have an iron triangle: advocacy orgs, Administration and congressional earmarks…no place for developing countries.” -Peter McPherson

Tags: Afghanistan, agriculture, Berman, Center for American Progress, development, economic growth, Food Security Initiative, Foreign Assistance Act, foreign assistance reform, house committee on foreign affairs, Kerry, lugar, President Obama, Presidential Study Directive on Global Development Policy, QDDR, Raj Shah, United States Agency for International Development

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