May 21, 2009 (Washington, D.C.) — This statement is delivered on behalf of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) by MFAN Co-Chairs David Beckmann and George Ingram:
In an important speech today at the Brookings Institution, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) outlined a bold and comprehensive vision for a stronger, more effective U.S. foreign policy, saying: “If we are to rise to meet…new challenges, this much is clear: Development and diplomacy must retake their rightful place alongside defense at the heart of America’s foreign policy.”
MFAN shares Chairman Kerry’s belief that U.S. non-military foreign assistance programs that alleviate poverty, fight disease, and create opportunities in the developing world are both investments in the U.S. national interest and critical expressions of American values. We also strongly support the Chairman’s pledge to introduce legislation that will begin the process of modernizing the U.S. foreign assistance system in order to make sure these investments are more coordinated and transparent, as well as more effective at getting help to the people who need it most. MFAN thanks Senator Kerry for his leadership on elevating global development issues, and we look forward to offering him support as he takes on these crucial tasks.
