Usaid Branding Modernization Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, the United States Agency for International Development does an incredible job of providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people all around the globe.

I want to take this opportunity to commend our former colleague, Administrator Mark Green, for his hard work at USAID. I have had many constructive conversations with him since becoming the lead Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I look forward to many more. This bill is actually his idea.

While the primary goal of such assistance is to save the lives of people in desperate need, we also want to ensure the recipients know that it is a gift from the people of the United States of America.

We hear a lot about the need to maximize America's ``soft power.'' There is no better way to win hearts and minds than by saving lives, feeding hungry children, and helping impoverished populations.

This is why I introduced the Branding Modernization Act, together with Chairman Engel.

While this bill places no mandates on USAID and maintains the Administrator's flexibility, it does empower him to brand all of our humanitarian assistance.

It also expands the tools and logos available to the Administrator for implementing a comprehensive branding strategy.

Finally, it requires an audit by the agency's inspector general to ensure that our personnel are complying with branding regulations.

This bill represents smart diplomacy, good governance, and the true compassion of the American people. I believe it deserves our unanimous support.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Engel again for working with me, as usual, on this bill as well as many others, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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