The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THE NEED FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H4652 on June 7, 2017.
The State Department is responsibly for international relations with a budget of more than $50 billion. Tenure at the State Dept. is increasingly tenuous and it's seen as an extension of the President's will, ambitions and flaws.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE NEED FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer) for 5 minutes.
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the importance of the U.S. International Affairs Budget for America's economic prosperity. Recently, more than 220 leaders from America's business community, from Fortune 500 companies to local chambers of commerce, wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson about the strategic investments in development and diplomacy that advance America's interests overseas and support jobs at home.
I am particularly proud that the CEOs of Land O'Lakes and Cargill--
two Minnesota-based companies--helped lead this critical effort. Minnesota businesses understand they need the support of America's diplomats and development professionals at the State Department and USAID in the international marketplace to succeed.
For less than 1 percent of the Federal budget, our diplomats and development workers help create good governance and stability in developing countries around the world. These efforts enable their economies to grow, creating new markets for American goods in a highly competitive global marketplace.
With 95 percent of the world's consumers living outside of our borders, some of our fastest growing economies are in developing countries. Currently, 41 million American jobs depend on international trade, including 800,000 in the great State of Minnesota. We simply can't afford to disengage from the world. We also know that individuals who experience economic growth and trade with one another prefer peace over conflict.
If the United States is to remain an economic powerhouse that continues to create jobs for hardworking Americans here at home, we must invest in our critical development and diplomacy agencies. If we don't, our economic competitors and, God forbid, our enemies certainly will.
I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect funding for the International Affairs Budget.
A Well-Deserved Award
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of Forest Lake Area Schools' early childhood special education teacher, Heide Muhs. Heide is retiring at the end of this school year. Heide is concluding her professional career in education with a huge achievement. Recently she received the Early Childhood Professional of the Year Lifetime Excellence Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made a lasting difference in the lives of children with special needs and their families. This is an area where Heide has excelled during her career.
Heide is no stranger to the needs of these families. For her, it is personal. In fact, she has two adopted sons with special needs. Through her personal experience and unwavering dedication to those in her care, Heide has managed to help and strengthen families throughout central Minnesota.
I am proud to stand here today and to thank Heide for her commitment to our children's future. We wish you the best in your retirement, Heide. You deserve it.
Bush Fellowship for Minnesotans
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of two Minnesotans from my district. Scott Glew of Elk River and Emmanuel Oppong of St. Cloud have received Bush Fellowships.
During his service in the Army National Guard, Scott was deeply affected by the human suffering he witnessed. That is why, in his current job as an educator, Scott is determined to teach his students about global conflicts. He has advocated for making social studies a main component of our students' curriculum. With his fellowship, Scott plans to earn a Ph.D. to expand and improve upon our education curriculum.
Mr. Oppong is originally from Ghana and knows firsthand that mental health is not a priority for many cultures. That is why he works as a counselor for immigrants and refugees dealing with culture shock and trauma. With his fellowship, Emmanuel plans to learn how to raise awareness of mental health issues and implement education plans to improve the health and well-being of our communities.
I am deeply impressed with these individuals and their commitment to the common good, and I wish them well as they pursue their goals.
An Incredible Gold Star
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank Ally Haas, a student at Sartell High School. Recently, Ally completed a project that has helped elementary students at St. Francis Xavier Elementary School by pairing them with high school and college students for weekly tutoring sessions. The project has been incredibly successful.
Due to the success of her project, Ally received a Gold Award from the Girl Scouts. This is the highest award the Girl Scouts has to offer. It is no coincidence that Ally has become such a civic-minded young woman, as she is a fourth-generation Girl Scout. In fact, Ally's mother received the Gold Award in 1985.
Congratulations, Ally. We are proud of you and we are looking forward to your bright future and continued success.
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