The Global Citizen: capitol hill

A Hoosier Laments Lugar Loss

Mike Oles | May 11th, 2012
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Law of the Sea Treaty, United Nations, Capitol Hill

It was a bad and sad day for Indiana on Tuesday.

Senator Richard Lugar not only lost in the Republican primary; Tea Party extremists did their best to humiliate America's finest public servant. A few even trespassed onto the senator's farm and put up the obnoxious "Retire Lugar" campaign signs that popped up like weeds across our state this spring.

Through his work on the school board and as Indianapolis mayor, Lugar set the stage for the remaking of the Indiana capital city into a major, world class city. As senator, he made Indiana a better state, but also globally important.

As an Indiana Republican, Senator Lugar made the party a powerhouse, but often saved the GOP from its worst excesses. The man once known as Nixon's favorite mayor was now deemed too moderate for a strong majority of Indiana Republicans.

Here is what some other, more graceful, Hoosiers posted on facebook on Tuesday night:

Senate Foreign Relations Hearing on High Stakes and Hard Choices: U.S. Policy on Iran

Carolyn Blake | March 30th, 2012
Topics: Capitol Hill

This Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on U.S. policy on Iran. Witnesses included the Honorable Thomas Pickering, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, General James Cartwright, former Vice Chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Mr.

A Romney Compromise, or Apocalypse?

Melissa Kaplan | March 22nd, 2012
Topics: Congressional Report Card, International Criminal Court, Election News & Analysis, United Nations, Capitol Hill

I came across an interesting piece by Carter Eskew this week in the Washington Post. The post, "Compromises for Romney?" speculated about concessions Mitt Romney might have to make to please conservatives in his party if he wins the Republican nomination and is elected President this fall. Some of the speculation: John Bolton as Secretary of State; Newt Gingrich as U.N. ambassador; and Rick Santorum as attorney general.

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton Testifies Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Carolyn Blake | March 1st, 2012
Topics: Capitol Hill

On Tuesday I attended the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "National Security & Foreign Policy Priorities in the FY 2013 International Affairs Budget," which featured Secretary of State Hilary Clinton as the key witness. While the foreign assistance portion of the U.S. budget is around 1%, this area of funding has been slightly reduced. In her testimony, Clinton identified the State Department's top five priorities for the coming year within the State Department's proposed budget.

Egypt at a Crossroads

Carolyn Blake | February 22nd, 2012
Topics: Capitol Hill

Last Friday I attended a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the Egyptian crackdown on non-governmental organizations. In December, the Egyptian government raided the offices of several NGOs within the country and is now prosecuting representatives from these organizations. The government claims that the organizations were not registered to be in the country and that they were receiving aid from non-Egyptian organizations. Four presidents from American NGOs affected by the raids testified at the hearing, including the International Republican Institute, National Democracy Institute, Freedom House, and the International Center for Journalists.

Obama Stands Up for International Affairs Funding at Google+ Hangout

Julia Strasser | January 31st, 2012
Topics: Get Involved, UN Funding, Capitol Hill

Monday night President Obama participated in the first Presidential virtual interview ever! This Google+ Hangout event was part of the White House's continued public outreach following the State of the Union Address last Tuesday. Since the president's address last week, the White House has been requesting that people send in questions via all forms of social media, and has been holding Twitter interviews with many of the senior administration officials. This Hangout was the culmination of that week, and it turned out to be a great moment for foreign policy!

Two Julias Tweet-Up at the White House

Julia Strasser | January 25th, 2012
Topics: Get Involved, Election News & Analysis, Capitol Hill

Just six months ago I was not a huge social media user, and never dreamed that Twitter would turn out to be my ticket to the White House. My coworker Julia Bunting and I were invited to watch the State of the Union address at the White House in a room full of advocacy tweeters, and then participated in a live discussion with senior Administration officials afterwards. The live “Tweet-Up” was an amazing experience and I wanted to give you a glimpse of the action.

Ho, ho, ho: Congressional Santas (Mostly) Deliver on International Affairs Funding

Melissa Kaplan | December 19th, 2011
Topics: UN Funding, Peacekeeping, United Nations, Capitol Hill

In my job, it's not that often that I look at the results of the congressional appropriations process with satisfaction, especially in the current economic and foreign policy climate. However, Congress has surprised me this year in two welcome ways.

First, the House and Senate passed a large "omnibus" appropriations package, including funding for the State Department, before their Christmas recess without threat of a government shutdown (okay, it's two and a half months past their original deadline, but why quibble?). Second, the Fiscal Year 2012 budget mostly delivers pretty good results for the international affairs budget. It's a Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa miracle!

Honoring Those that Fight for Human Rights

Julia Strasser | December 9th, 2011
Topics: Gender Based Violence, Human Rights Council, Human Rights, United Nations, Capitol Hill

Yesterday Citizens for Global Solutions joined human rights advocates from all over D.C. and the world for the 2011 Annual Human Rights Luncheon hosted by the United Nations Association of the National Capitol Area. Held in the beautiful Cannon House Caucus Room, the event was an inspiring reminder of what true dedication to a cause can produce - just in time for International Human Rights day this Saturday!

The luncheon was in honor of many long-time human rights advocates. The event paid tribute to Richard Griffs, an extremely active UNA-NCA member and the Chair of the Human Rights Committee, who sadly passed away earlier this week. He was the "force behind the Annual Human Rights Luncheon," and it was clear that he will be sorely missed both at the UNA-NCA and in the field of human rights.

Senators Coons and Collins Speak Out on Genocide Prevention

Melissa Kaplan | November 14th, 2011
Topics: Genocide Prevention, Civilian Protection, Capitol Hill

Senators Coons and Collins circulate letter on genocide prevention

Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter in the Senate, asking their fellow Senators to sign on in support of genocide and atrocity prevention.

The letter, which will be sent to President Obama once it has been circulated to other Senators for their sign-on, commends the Obama Administration's recently issued Presidential Study Directive (PSD) 10, which created an Atrocities Prevention Board and stated that preventing genocide and mass atrocities is in America's national interest. The letter urges the Administration to develop the necessary tools to successfully avert mass atrocities and prevent the conditions that can lead to violence against innocent civilians.