Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act

[ProSense]

11/17/2009

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009

Washington, D.C.--- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN), along with Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senator Bob Corker (R-TN),Senator James Risch (R-ID)and SenatorBen Cardin (D-MD), released the statements below following today’s business meeting where the Committee ordered reported by a roll call vote, S.1524, the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009.

“I am pleased to join with many of my colleagues in passing the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009,” said Chairman Kerry. “This legislation demonstrates Congress’s commitment to strengthening the capacity, accountability and effectiveness of our foreign aid programs. With the U.S. facing critical foreign policy and development priorities worldwide, it is vital that we update our foreign aid programs to reflect the new challenges of the 21st century. I look forward to working with the Administration to advance our shared goal of strengthening foreign aid.”

"This bill arises from the conviction that our investments in foreign assistance require much more effective coordination and much more thorough evaluation,” said Senator Lugar. “In the absence of reform, we will continue to spend billions each year without confidence that these funds are achieving the greatest development impact possible."

Senator Menendez said, “This is one of the most significant pieces of foreign assistance legislation that has passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in decades. I am proud that this is truly a bi-partisan bill, developed in a collaborative manner and that it includes input from a wide range of voices. These programs are critical to millions of people around the world, they contribute to our mutual economic health, and are in the direct national security interests of the United States. Furthermore, this legislation implements strong, new accountability and oversight provisions to ensure that foreign assistance is being used as intended and delivering a return on our investment. Today marks an important step, but it is just the beginning. I am committed to continue working with the Committee members and Administration to build up our foreign assistance programs, not just to where they used to be, but to where they need to be.”

“I’ve been able to see our foreign assistance dollars in action and am proud of the role we are playing in producing positive change in the lives of millions around the world, but at the same time, I share the frustration of many Americans that our foreign assistance efforts have often lacked transparency, coordination, monitoring and evaluation,” said Senator Corker, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance. “This bill begins to reinvigorate USAID to improve the coordination, execution and efficiency of U.S. assistance so we can make each dollar go farther. The bill also establishes a body capable of evaluating the impact of our investments to make sure we are truly meeting our foreign policy objectives.”

“This legislation will position the State Department to make better programming and funding decisions by establishing more rigorous transparency mechanisms and authorizing an independent counsel to examine all of our foreign aid programs. Accountability is critical to ensure our foreign aid programs are accomplishing the intended purposes for the benefit of the recipient country and U.S. taxpayers,” said U.S. Senator James Risch.

“Reducing global poverty through development assistance is a moral imperative that also contributes to our national and economic security. By providing greater resources to increase transparency and efficiency, the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act puts us on a glide path toward restoring this vital pillar of our foreign policy,” said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations International Development and Foreign Assistance Subcommittee.

The Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009:

• restores strategic thinking to USAID by reestablishing a bureau for policy and strategic planning;
  
  
• calls for strengthening the coordination of U.S. foreign aid in the field under the guidance of the USAID mission director;
  
  
• increases accountability and transparency of U.S. foreign aid programs by establishing an independent Council in the executive branch – the Council on Research and Evaluation of Foreign Assistance (CORE) – to objectively evaluate the impact and results of all development and foreign aid programs undertaken by the U.S. Government;
  
  
• strengthens personnel at USAID by mandating a comprehensive review of all aspects of human resources and establishing a high-level task force to advise on critical personnel issues.

Edited to add missing text.

[ProSense]

1. No comment? n/t

[Cha]

2. kr

[karynnj]

3. I agree with Menendez - this is one of the most significant pieces

of legislation to come out of the committee in decades. It is amazing what can be done with a Democratic President and a strong Democratic Chair of the SFRC.

[karynnj]

4. Here is some information from Thomas on this

S.1524
Title: A bill to strengthen the capacity, transparency, and accountability of United States foreign assistance programs to effectively adapt and respond to new challenges of the 21st century, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (17)
Latest Major Action: 11/17/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jump to: Summary, Major Actions, All Actions, Titles, Cosponsors, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments
SUMMARY AS OF:
7/28/2009--Introduced.

Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID): (1) an Assistant Administrator for Policy and Strategic Planning to assist in matters related to policy planning, strategic planning, program design, research, evaluation, and budget allocation and management; and (2) a Bureau for Policy and Strategic Planning whose primary duties shall include policy and long-term strategy development, evaluation of program effectiveness, and establishment of resource and workforce allocation criteria.

Establishes: (1) in the Bureau for Policy and Strategic Planning an Office for Learning, Evaluation, and Analysis in Development; and (2) the Council on Research and Evaluation of Foreign Assistance and the Council on Research and Evaluation of Foreign Assistance Advisory Board.

Directs the Administrator of USAID to: (1) develop a comprehensive workforce and human resources strategy and a related task force to support the objective of promoting development and reducing global poverty; and (2) establish career guidelines for Foreign Service officers and civil service officers that incorporate interagency, intergovernmental, or international organization rotational assignments.

Directs the President to require all federal departments and agencies to make publicly available on their Web sites comprehensive and accessible information about U.S. foreign assistance on a program-by-program and country-by-country basis.

Sets forth USAID program fund guidelines.


MAJOR ACTIONS:

***NONE***

ALL ACTIONS:

7/28/2009:
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8198-8199)
7/28/2009:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

11/17/2009:
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

TITLE(S): (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(17), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)


Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. - 7/28/2009
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. - 9/8/2009
Sen Corker, Bob - 7/28/2009
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. - 11/2/2009
Sen Durbin, Richard - 11/2/2009
Sen Feinstein, Dianne - 10/29/2009
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. - 9/30/2009
Sen Hagan, Kay - 10/14/2009
Sen Johnson, Tim - 9/9/2009
Sen Kaufman, Edward E. - 9/30/2009
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. - 10/14/2009
Sen Lugar, Richard G. - 7/28/2009
Sen McCaskill, Claire - 9/29/2009
Sen Menendez, Robert - 7/28/2009
Sen Merkley, Jeff - 9/8/2009
Sen Risch, James E. - 7/28/2009
Sen Shaheen, Jeanne - 8/6/2009

COMMITTEE(S):

Committee/Subcommittee: Activity:
Senate Foreign Relations Referral, Markup, In Committee

RELATED BILL DETAILS:

[ProSense]

7. Thanks.

This is a really important piece of legislation.

[Hippo_Tron]

5. Cue the "we should eliminate foreign aid and spend it in America" crowd

[ProSense]

6. Don't think so. The Obama administration has been criticized for not moving on a

nominee to head USAID, which I think he recently did.

[karynnj]

8. Here are two views on the man nominated to head USAID

STATEMENT FROM SAMUEL A. WORTHINGTON, INTERACTION PRESIDENT & CEO

Washington, DC (November 10, 2009)�"InterAction congratulates Dr. Rajiv Shah on his nomination to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). His nomination is definitely a step in the right direction. The alliance of 187 InterAction member organizations looks forward to working with him on the historic opportunities and challenges facing the U.S. on the humanitarian and global development fronts.

Shah's work at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on food security is very highly regarded. It is our hope that he will bring that same energy and management expertise to an agency that desperately needs strong and vigorous leadership especially considering the complexity of issues he'll find in his in-box.

We want to underscore, however, that Shah will face some immediate challenges as he prepares to take on his leadership role at USAID. The Obama administration, in the absence of a USAID administrator, has embarked on establishing major development policies that will have an impact on what Shah will be able to influence and how he does his work. It is urgently important that he play a lead role in each of the following processes:

� The FY2011 budget process. � The Presidential Study Directive (PSD) on development, which is expected to be completed in January 2010. � Establishing the framework and pillars of the U.S. State Department's Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR). � Policies to guide U.S. development and humanitarian work in Afghanistan and Pakistan

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218557/125789465489.htm

As I knew little about Worthington or his organization and the other article was so much less enthusiastic, I found this from source watch-

Sam Worthington "assumed the President and CEO position of InterAction on October 10, 2006. InterAction is the nation’s largest alliance of relief and development nongovernmental organizations working overseas. Mr. Worthington has served as the Vice Chair of InterAction’s Board of Directors, chaired its PVO Standards and Membership committee, and was co-chair of its Commission on the Advancement of Women. Previously, he served since 1994 as Chief Executive Officer of Plan USA. Plan is a global, 62 country, child-focused development organization. Mr. Worthington also sat on Plan’s global executive management team and chaired Plan’s national CEO team.

"Mr. Worthington is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, serves on the Advisory Committee for Voluntary Foreign Assistance (ACVFA) at USAID, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) at the United Nations, sits on the Boards of the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign, The Alliance to End Hunger, and he is an International Trustee of Religions for Peace. His numerous leadership roles include Chairing the global NGO Impact Initiative on behalf of the office of the UN Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery (President Clinton). Mr. Worthington is a founder of the Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI) and until recently served on its Program Policy Council. HACI is a partnership of leading NGOs working to address the impact of AIDS on children.

"Mr. Worthington has a Masters degree with distinction from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont. He also did post graduate research at the Institut Universitaire des Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Rhode Island College.

"As a Fulbright Scholar, he analyzed and evaluated United Nations international development program methodologies at the International Labor Office in Switzerland.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Samuel_A._Worthington

To me, his background gives strength to the praise he gave the nominee.

Here is Politico - which I don't trust including specifically this writer:

Outsider USAID nominee prompts ambivalence among some insiders

A more mixed take on the Rajiv Shah nomination for USAID Administrator from Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Foreign Assistance Subcommittee with close ties to the USAID and NGO community.

“I look forward to meeting Dr. Shah, and to a prompt confirmation hearing, during which we can discuss his vision of how USAID can regain its position as the primary development agency of the U.S. government," Cardin said in a statement.

“Development should be a principal element of our global engagement and international policies. A strong USAID administrator would ensure our foreign assistance efforts should be part of a coherent vision for U.S. engagement with developing countries.”

< skip - Note did anyone find this a "mixed take" - it is entirely as neutral as can be >

For their part, the chairman and ranking members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee expressed enthusiasm about the Shah pick: "I am pleased that the Administration has announced their nominee, Dr. Rajiv Shah, to be the" USAID administrator, said Chairman John Kerry, saying he'd been very concerned about the vacuum in leadership at the development agency.

"For development to play its full role in our national security structure, USAID must be a strong agency with the resources to accomplish the missions we give it," ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) said. "The issues that we face today - from chronic poverty and hunger to violent acts of terrorism -require that we work seamlessly toward identifiable goals. I look forward to discussing ways to improve and support the development mission that benefits our long-term security as we proceed with the confirmation process."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/1109/Outsider_USAID_chief_nominee_prompts_ambivalence_.html

This looks like a classic case of Politico pushing controversy or contention where there is none. The comments of all three Senators are more on the job than on the nominee, who has not yet had a hearing. That is absolutely appropriate. What the Senators' comments and the comments in the first article agree on is that there has been a major reshaping on how we intend to do foreign aid. This likely includes the already passed legislation on aid to Pakistan, aid to counter world hunger and this just marked up and passed out of committee bill. While all three of these efforts originated in the SFRC and in the case of the two already passed represented work that was started in the last Congress, they needed the strong agreement of the administration to insure that the implementation will match the spirit of the legislation.

It really has to be good for both Kerry and Lugar to be forces behind what will likely be seen as a major overhaul in how foreign aid is done.

[karynnj]

9. Why on earth is this being unreccomended? There is nothing controversial here

This is a major bill. If people have problems with the bill, the post is STILL useful as it provides information. It would seem that a comment coherently describing what is wrong with it would be more useful.

The unreccomend seems to be being used in a very obnoxious way here and on other threads. (In fact the dumbest case of using it was a thread where people unreccomended a thread that Hillary Clinton was in Afghanistan for Karzai's reswearing in. It is hard to think of something that was more newsworthy on the entire forum. I reccomended it, but noticed after reading the thread that the reccomends were down. No matter what anyone thinks of Karzai, Clinton, or the OP, this is a valid piece of news.)