USGLC Applauds House Passage of FY 2010 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations...

USGLC Applauds House Passage of FY 2010 State, Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill

Bipartisan Support for President's Request Critical to National Security,
Economic Prosperity

WASHINGTON, July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Global Leadership
Coalition today released the following statement from Executive Director Liz
Schrayer on the House's passage of the FY 2010 State Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090709/DC44636LOGO )

"Tonight the House of Representatives reinforced America's commitment to
elevating our civilian-led tools of diplomacy and development by voting to
fully fund the $48.8 billion FY 2010 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations
bill. This critical funding ensures America has the necessary resources to
advance our national security and foreign policy priorities. We applaud
State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Ranking
Member Kay Granger (R-TX) for their strong leadership in guiding this bill to
passage, and we thank Appropriations Chair Dave Obey (D-WI), Majority Leader
Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), and Minority Floor
Manager Mark Kirk (R-IL) for their stewardship of this important legislation.

"The programs funded by this bill are essential to protecting our national
security, promoting economic prosperity and demonstrating our humanitarian
values around the world. While $1.2 billion, or 2.4 percent, below FY 2009
enacted spending and $3.2 billion, or 6 percent, below President Obama's
budget request, this approved funding will address today's global instability
by fighting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, providing vital food aid, building
economic prosperity, and restoring America's image abroad.

"The USGLC supports President Obama's commitment to double U.S. foreign
assistance by 2015, and this funding is a good first step forward to making
this a reality."

The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (www.usglc.org) is a broad-based
influential network of 400 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign
policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic and community leaders in
all 50 states who support a smart power approach of elevating diplomacy and
development alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.

SOURCE U.S. Global Leadership Coalition

Matt Corso, +1-202-730-4153, or Tom Vogel, +1-202-730-4179, both of U.S.
Global Leadership Coalition