Voice of America featured Director of policy outreach Sarah Jane Staats in an article on the new US Congress.
From the article:
The House may also be inclined to support new trade agreements, according to Sarah Jane Staats, the director of policy outreach at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC.
"Dave Camp (R-Michigan) is likely to be the head of the House Ways and Means Committee and Kevin Brady (R-Texas) the (likely) chair of the Trade Subcommittee (of the Ways and Means Committee), says Staats. "They’ve been extremely good on the role of the US in the world and the importance of trade to the domestic economy and to global development. So I am hopeful there."
Development experts are concerned budget cuts could affect administration initiatives to curb global hunger and promote good health Staats also sees continued cooperation on foreign policy issues including two administration priorities: the Global Health Initiative for fighting malaria, HIV and neglected diseases, and the 3.5 billion dollar initiative to boost the production of small farmers and agricultural industries in the developing world, Feed the Future.
"In the past, there has been enormous bipartisan support for global health," says Staats, "and we saw huge increases in combating AIDS under Bush…Feed the Future is newer and has not received the attention it needed in past years, but again builds on some sentiments shared across the aisles [of Congress]."
Analysts say there will likely be budget cuts in some foreign assistance and humanitarian programs. However, Staats is hopeful budget pressures will also force much-needed reforms to the government’s strategy for overseas development. That could mean the better use of trade and other policy tools to support development, and changes in how, and where, the US focuses its efforts.