McCollum Honors MN WWII Vets Buried Abroad & Addresses U.S. Foreign Policy
Op-Ed
McCollum Honors MN WWII Vets Buried Abroad & Addresses U.S. Foreign Policy
Dear Friends:
Minnesota's sons and daughters who sacrificed for our country are buried in hallowed ground all around the world and shall always be remembered. It was an honor for me to have the opportunity to pay tribute on the 4th of July to the courageous WWII veterans from Minnesota and across America who gave their lives and are buried in Tunisia. It was a moving and powerful reminder of the service and sacrifice generations of Americans have made for our freedom.
McCollum Honors MN WWII Vets Buried Abroad & Addresses U.S. Foreign PolicyWhile in these two countries, I was able to meet with many Minnesotans who work in the embassies and get their insight about global security and cooperation. I also met with newly-appointed Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and discussed polices related to U.S.-Algerian security cooperation, Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, and the outlook for the bilateral relationship.
As a Member of the National Security Subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, this trip was significant and provided me with the opportunity to sit down with several top government officials to assess U.S. national security interests related to counterterrorism and to conduct oversight on the impact and efficacy of U.S. foreign assistance programs.
Since the Marshall Plan in 1948, America's investments in foreign assistance have saved hundreds of thousands of lives and have helped build democracies around the world while bringing the benefits of expanded trade, reduced threats and global leadership home to American citizens.
U.S. foreign aid needs a comprehensive modernization to increase accountability and improve results. That is why I have introduced H.RES.1268, which recognizes that that United States foreign assistance is a critical instrument for achieving our national security goals and that modernizing United States foreign assistance should become a national priority.
There is much to be done to ensure America's security at home and abroad.
Sincerely,
Betty McCollum Signature
Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Serving Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District
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