Today, Representatives David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Dean Phillips (D-MN), and Peter Meijer (R-MI) announced the reconstitution of the House Diplomacy Caucus. This body is committed to strengthening American diplomacy as America's foreign policy tool of first resort, strengthening alliances, and exploring concrete ways to help the State Department recruit and retain the best possible workforce, while modernizing to meet new challenges.
"I am proud to join a bipartisan group of Congressional foreign affairs leaders in relaunching the House Diplomacy Caucus," said Representative Bera. "In order to tackle the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century, we must elevate the role of diplomacy in our national security, including by strengthening our diplomatic tools and supporting our diplomats."
"As we work to protect democracy worldwide amid autocratic forces gaining power, our diplomatic corps needs strong support from Congress so that it can continue to do its important work," said Representative Cicilline. "This body will enable us to bring our colleagues together and provide united, bipartisan support for our State Department and strengthening our alliances abroad."
"I am proud to join this bipartisan group in the relaunch of the House Diplomacy Caucus," said Representative Fitzpatrick. "I intend to work closely with my colleagues to ensure that our government promotes strong diplomacy and is able to use that diplomacy to foster stronger connections with our foreign allies."
"The world needs American leadership now more than it ever has in the modern history of our country," Representative Phillips said. "With climate change, rising authoritarianism and our citizens feeling the global pressure of supply chain woes and rising gasoline prices, the stakes could not be higher. I am thrilled to join to Reps Cicilline, Wagner, Meijer, Fitzpatrick and Bera in our bipartisan mission to restore faith in American diplomacy in our global village."
"As members of Congress, we have a responsibility to promote and strengthen American diplomacy. Republicans and Democrats alike have a shared interest in this goal, and the bipartisan House Diplomacy Caucus provides lawmakers across the political spectrum the opportunity to engage in this important topic. I am proud to help reintroduce this caucus, and I look forward to the important work it will produce," said Representative Meijer.
"For too long, we have asked more and more of our extraordinary diplomats while giving them less of what they need to do their jobs. In an increasingly unpredictable and unstable world, a strong State Department and empowered diplomats are absolutely critical to secure our interests in the world. I applaud Representatives Bera, Cicilline, Fitzpatrick, Meijer, Phillips, and Wagner for demonstrating their strong support for US diplomatic efforts, our diplomats, and development professionals, and for their leadership of this vitally important caucus," said Andrew Albertson, Executive Director, Foreign Policy for America.
"Successful U.S. foreign policies have always depended on public and especially Congressional support. At such a time of great changes and challenges internationally, we are fortunate to have the interest, experience, and ideas of the new bipartisan House Diplomacy Caucus," said Robert Zoellick, former President of the World Bank, US Trade Representative, and Deputy Secretary of State, and author of America in the World: A History of US Diplomacy and Foreign Policy.
"I thank Representatives Cicilline, Bera, Fitzpatrick, Meijer, Phillips, and Wagner for their initiative to create this forum in Congress to galvanize support for diplomacy. Every day, our diplomats and development professionals work to advance U.S. interests and values abroad, and Congressional support for their mandate is crucial to advancing our global health objectives, human rights, and stronger democratic governance around the world. Given daunting global challenges from pandemics to competing powers with malign influence, the formation of the House Diplomacy Caucus is an important step for the future of the State Department, official and public diplomacy, and impactful non-military aid. They're America's face to the world," said Ambassador (ret.) Mark Lagon, Chief Policy Officer at Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and Foreign Policy for America Advisory Board Member.
"During my years at home and abroad as a Foreign Service Officer, I consistently witnessed how integral bipartisan Congressional support was to the success or failure of US foreign policy as well as to the strength of our foreign policy institutions and instruments. I was proud to twice serve as a US Ambassador nominated by both a Democratic and a Republican President. I am delighted to see the launch of the bipartisan House Diplomacy Caucus, a welcome step to enhance US diplomacy. I am very grateful to US Representatives Bera, Cicilline, Fitzpatrick, Meijer, Phillips, and Wagner," said Ambassador (ret.) Laura Kennedy, Foreign Policy for America Board Member.
"Congratulations to the members of the bipartisan House Diplomacy Caucus for their support for our critically important diplomatic corps and for diplomacy in general. The very fact that this initiative is bipartisan shows an ongoing, if not growing commitment on both sides of the aisle to diplomacy that will make Americans safer and more prosperous. In a time of hyper-polarization on many issues in Washington, it is heartening to see this cooperation among lawmakers on such a worthy cause," said David J. Kramer, Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy, George W. Bush Institute, Dallas, TX and Former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights & Labor.
"Many thanks to Representatives Bera, Cicilline, Fitzpatrick, Meijer, Phillips, and Wagner for leading on such an important issue. Diplomacy does not solely exist in the foreign policy space – it has real domestic implications. Every day, our diplomats help attract job-creating investments in America, negotiate trade deals, support American citizens abroad and promote peace and our national security. Supporting them in this important work is nonpartisan, and I am pleased to see that the House Diplomacy Caucus is launching," said Ambassador (ret.) Robert S. Gelbard.
"Bipartisan cooperation on diplomacy is important to ensure sustained support for our diplomatic professionals. Our Foreign Service Officers are at the front lines of safeguarding American interests throughout the world, and help prevent the proliferation of conflicts. Our unwavering support for a strong diplomatic corps is crucial in times of instability and global upheaval, and I look forward to seeing Representatives Bera, Cicilline, Fitzpatrick, Meijer, Phillips, and Wagner convene a meaningful forum on this important issue," said Ambassador (ret.) Tod Sedgwick.
"The formation of this important caucus is a pivotal step in restoring diplomacy as America's tool of first resort. Given the myriad of challenges facing the United States worldwide, Members of Congress must support a strong and professional diplomatic corps, well-resourced foreign affairs agencies, including the Department of State, and a policy agenda that prioritizes soft power over military action. I applaud Reps. Bera, Cicilline, Fitzpatrick, Meijer, Phillips, and Wagner for spearheading this, and I look forward to their important bipartisan work," said Lionel Johnson, Foreign Policy for America Board Chair.
"During these tumultuous times around the world, diplomacy is needed more than ever before. I am pleased that this bipartisan group of House members has come together to (re-)launch the House Diplomacy Caucus. I hope that this platform will provide the space and tools to enhance the key role that our diplomats and development officials play in securing peace and stability so that our military does not need to put boots on the ground," said Ambassador (ret.) Susan D. Page.
