iF October DIGITAL September-October 2020 | Page 33

country can beat this pandemic by
itself. We must use every tool we have,
including diplomacy, to protect the
life and livelihoods of all our people.”
ON THE ISSUES:
As a member of the Senate Budget,
Homeland Security, and Select Intelligence
Committees, Senator Harris
has helped advance policy on a range
of issues, including global health, human
trafficking, rights for women
and girls, and global climate change.
Diplomacy and Development: Senator
Harris has been a steadfast voice
for strengthening foreign assistance
and diplomacy as key pillars of U.S.
national security and foreign policy,
stating that: “Foreign aid isn’t charity
– it’s in our interest.”
Resources: She has spoken out and
voted against proposed cuts to the
International Affairs Budget. For the
past three years, she has cosigned a
bipartisan letter to the Appropriations
Committee calling for robust funding
for international affairs programs. She
has also signed onto letters in support
of robust funding for refugees and
vulnerable migrant populations and
in opposition cuts to U.S. foreign assistance
to Central America.
International COVID-19 Response:
Harris has advocated for a robust U.S.
global response to the COVID-19
pandemic, signing a bipartisan letter
to Senate leadership calling for a
“significant investment” in emergency
funding to combat the pandemic
around the world.
World Health Organization: Speaking
out on U.S. global health leadership,
Harris has called the move to
withdraw from the WHO “reckless”
and “short-sighted.”
HIV/AIDS: Harris has called for bipartisan
leadership on global health
programs, noting that “combating
AIDS and HIV has been something
that presidents – Democrats and Republicans
– have prided themselves
and us on as something that is part of
our values as a nation.”
The Global Fund: Harris has committed
to fully fund The Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
saying “we have an ability as a
country to have a great role of leadership
in ending the crisis.”
Africa: Harris has spoken out about
the importance of strengthening
U.S.-Africa relations – calling for the
U.S. to “reinvigorate American diplomacy
throughout the continent,
support economic growth, and deepen
security engagements with African
partners” to help address Africa’s
growing population and use our influence
to combat China’s increasing
footprint.
Women and Girls: Harris has supported
efforts to improve the rights
of women and girls around the
world, observing that “when women
and girls are empowered and educated,
communities are stronger and
more stable and economies prosper
and flourish.”
Alliances: Harris has declared on a
wide range of foreign policy challenges
that “our country is strongest
when we stand together with our allies
and when we rally the world to
act instead of simply acting alone.”
She has warned that “withdrawing
from international agreements
and institutions, shunning our allies”
makes the world less safe.
Climate Change: When running
for president, Harris announced she
would recommit to the Paris Climate
Agreement and work to “ensure that
climate refugees are given appropriate
protections under international
law.”
Aid to Central America: Harris has
rejected past proposed cuts to foreign
assistance to Central America,
tweeting that “Refugees are fleeing
violence in Central America & these
investments are crucial to addressing
the root of these problems. Gutting
resources isn’t the answer.”
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