June 17, 2019

The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Majority Leader Speaker of the House U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader Minority Leader U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy:

We write as current and former governors, mayors, state senators, state representatives, and local elected officials in all 50 states to share how America’s International Affairs Budget provides a significant return on investment for our communities. While we must continue to invest here at home, American leadership around the world and investments in development and diplomacy help build a more prosperous and peaceful world that benefits the American people.

Growing our local economies and creating more jobs is a critical part of our public service, and we know we must compete on the global stage to secure the long-term economic interests of our communities. With 95% of the world’s consumers outside our borders, our country’s economic success is inherently linked to international engagement. In fact, over 36 million jobs nationwide are directly supported by global commerce. By effectively investing in new markets overseas, we can create better paying jobs and identify new customers for American goods and services. We can’t sit back and let other countries like shut us out of these critical markets. Further, with international students and visitors contributing an additional $300 billion to our local economies and directly supporting over 1.5 million jobs, millions of depend on U.S. State Department-supported exchange programs.

In addition to the direct economic impact, programs funded by the International Affairs Budget allow our citizens to engage in humanitarian and citizen diplomacy efforts. More than 1,100 of our state and local communities partner with Sister Cities in over 140 countries, and we are proud of the more than 7,000 Americans currently serving in 64 countries through the Peace Corps. These programs are an important export of American values that foster peace, cooperation, and stability around the world.

For just 1% of the federal budget, our international affairs programs directly promote the security, prosperity, and health of our fellow citizens. We thank you for your continued support of our nation’s civilian-led development and diplomacy tools. It’s an investment that strengthens our economy and creates more opportunities for our children’s future.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

The Honorable George Allen The Honorable Jim Davis The Honorable Brad Henry Commonwealth of State of Florida State of Governor (1994-1998) State Representative (1988-1996) Governor (2003-2011) U.S. Senator (2001-2007) U.S Representative (1997-2007) State Senator (1992-2003) State Delegate (1983-1991) The Honorable Tom Feeney The Honorable James Hodges The Honorable Kit Bond State of Florida State of South Carolina State of Missouri State Representative (1990-2002) Governor (1999-2003) Governor (1973 - 1977, 1981 - U.S Representative (2003-2009) 1985) The Honorable Bob Holden U.S. Senator (1987 - 2011) The Honorable Sue Myrick State of Missouri State of South Carolina Governor (2001 - 2005) The Honorable Bob Kasten U.S. Representative (1995-2013) State Representative (1983 - 1989) State of Wisconsin City of Charlotte, NC State Senator (1973-1975) Mayor (1987-1991) The Honorable U.S. Senator (1981-1993) State of The Honorable Earl Pomeroy Governor (1999-2005) The Honorable State of North Dakota State Senator (2009-2015) State of Nebraska State Representative (1980 - 1985) City of Lincoln, NE Governor (1991 - 1999) U.S. Representative (1993 - 2011) Mayor (1991-1999) U.S. Senator (2001 - 2013) The Honorable Joe Schwarz The Honorable Robert Miller The Honorable Charles Robb State of Michigan State of Nevada Commonwealth of Virginia State Senator (1987-2002) Governor (1989-1999) Governor (1982-1986), Lieutenant U.S. Representative (2005-2007) Lieutenant Governor (1987-1989) Governor (1978-1982) U.S. Senator (1989-2001) The Honorable John Baldacci The Honorable Tim Pawlenty State of State of Minnesota The Honorable Jim Barcia Governor (2003-2011) Governor (2003-2011) State of Michigan State Representative (1995-2003) State Representative (1993-2003) U.S. Representative (1993-2003) Bay County, MI The Honorable Haley Barbour The Honorable County Executive State of Mississippi Commonwealth of Governor (2004-2012) Governor (1995-2001) The Honorable State of Nebraska The Honorable John Carlin The Honorable Bill Ritter State Senator (1974 - 1978) State of Kansas State of U.S. Representative (1979 - 2004) Governor (1979-1987) Governor (2007-2011)

The Honorable James Blanchard The Honorable Richard Celeste The Honorable Mark Schweiker State of Michigan State of Ohio Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor (1983-1991) Governor (1983-1991) Governor (2001-2003) U.S. Representative (1975-1983) Lieutenant Governor (1975-1979) State Representative (1971-1974) The Honorable Bob Taft The Honorable Dan Boren State of Ohio State of Oklahoma The Honorable Ernie Fletcher Governor (1999-2007) State Representative (2002-2004) Commonwealth of Kentucky U.S. Representative (2005-2015) Governor (2003-2007) The Honorable Edward Buchanan The Honorable Kathy The Honorable Jim Folsom, Jr. State of Dahlkemper State of Alabama Secretary of State Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor (1993-1995) U.S. Representative (2009-2011) The Honorable Jim Cawley Erie County, PA The Honorable Jennifer Commonwealth of Pennsylvania County Executive Granholm Lt. Governor (2011-2015) State of Michigan Governor (2003-2011)

The Honorable Troy Findley The Honorable Alex Sink The Honorable Steve Conway State of Kansas State of Florida State of Lieutenant Governor (2009-2011) Chief Financial Officer (2007- State Senator State Representative (1994 - 2003) 2011) The Honorable The Honorable Lee Fisher The Honorable Shan Tsutsui State of Nebraska State of Ohio State of Hawaii State Senator (2009-2017) Lieutenant Governor (2007-2011) Lieutenant Governor (2012-2018) State Senator (2003-2012) & The Honorable The Honorable John Hager Senate President (2010-2012) State of Nebraska Commonwealth of Virginia State Senator Lt. Governor (1998-2002) The Honorable Paul Worley State of Ohio The Honorable Ronnie Cromer The Honorable Lavon Commissioner (2013-2016) State of South Carolina Heidemann State Senator State of Nebraska The Honorable Michael Lieutenant Governor (2013-2014) Baumgartner The Honorable Lou State of Washington D'Allesandro The Honorable Elaine Marshall State Senator (2011-2018) State of State of North Carolina Spokane County, WA State Senator Secretary of State Treasurer The Honorable Manny Diaz, Jr. The Honorable John R. The Honorable Dennis Baxley State of Florida McKernan, Jr. State of Florida State Senator State of Maine State Senator Governor (1987-1995) The Honorable Myron Dorn U.S. Representative (1983-1987) The Honorable State of Nebraska State of Vermont State Senator The Honorable John Merrill State Senate Minority Leader State of Alabama The Honorable Mike Gierau Secretary of State The Honorable John Blake State of Wyoming Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Senator The Honorable Scott D. Moore State Senator State of Nebraska The Honorable Gene Green Secretary of State (1994 - 2000) The Honorable State of Texas State Senator (1986 - 1994) State of State Senator (1987-1993) State Senator State Representative (1981-1985) The Honorable John Nelson State of Nebraska The Honorable Lisa Brown The Honorable Joe Gruters Lieutenant Governor State of Washington State of Florida State Senator (1997-2013) State Senator The Honorable Mark Ritchie State Representative (1993-1997) State of Minnesota The Honorable Rob Hogg Secretary of State (2007-2015) The Honorable Capri Cafaro State of Iowa State of Ohio State Senator The Honorable Kim M. Robak State Senator (2007-2016) State of Nebraska The Honorable Lieutenant Governor (1993 - 1999) The Honorable John Cavanaugh State of Nebraska State of Nebraska State Senator The Honorable State Senator (1972-1976) State of North Dakota The Honorable Pam Jochum Governor (1992 - 2000) The Honorable State of Iowa U.S. Department of Agriculture State of Minnesota State Senator Secretary of Agriculture (2008 - State Senator (2003-2009) 2009) City of St. Paul, MN The Honorable Karen Keiser Mayor (1994-2002) State of Washington State Senator

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The Honorable Tim Hanna The Honorable David Meyer The Honorable City of Appleton, WI City of Fairfax, VA City of Oakland, CA Mayor Mayor Mayor

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The Honorable Darla LeClair The Honorable Deb Sofield City of Two Rivers, WI City of Greenville, SC Councilwoman Councilwoman (2001-2005) Greenville Water System, Commissioner of Public The Honorable Kathy Littlefield Works City of Scottsdale, AZ City Councilwoman The Honorable Gill Sorg City of Las Cruces, NM The Honorable Kevin Malecek Mayor Pro-Tempore Lake County, OH Commissioner The Honorable Debra Stark City of Phoenix, AZ The Honorable Maury Molin City Councilwoman Borough of East Stroudsburg, PA Councilman The Honorable Charles Starnes City of Plainview, TX The Honorable Lee Morris Mayor Pro Tempore (2010-2018) Fulton County, GA Vice Chairman and Commissioner The Honorable Mike Suarez City of Tampa, FL The Honorable Sandra Murman Councilman (2011-2019) Hillsborough County, FL Commissioner The Honorable Sarah Trustem City of Dickinson, ND The Honorable Vic Rawl Commissioner Charleston County, SC County Council Chairman The Honorable Andru Volinsky State of New Hampshire The Honorable Jane Raybould Executive Councilman City of Lincoln, NE Councilwoman The Honorable Stacey Walker Linn County, IA The Honorable Board of Supervisors Chairman State of Washington State Senator (1991-2017) The Honorable Kelly Walsh Pierce County, WA City of Decatur, GA Councilwoman Councilwoman

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