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A Higher Level of Effectiveness

By John K. Naland

Over the past decade, successive AFSA Governing Boards have steadily increased the scope of AFSA’s advocacy on Capitol Hill. Starting with no staff or budget dedicated to lobbying, AFSA slowly added resources until reaching the point where we now have a full-time Congressional Relations director, a part-time consultant, and occasional interns staffing an office with an annual budget of nearly $150,000.

These investments are paying substantial dividends. As detailed in the Legislative Action Fund letters that we mail to members twice a year, AFSA has been fairly successful in recent years in securing legislative changes on behalf of the Foreign Service and in supporting increases in funding for diplomatic readiness.

It is increasingly obvious, however, that we have been working with one hand tied behind our back. While we enjoy good access to influential congressional staffers who value our views as the “Voice of the Foreign Service,” we find it difficult to get the opportunity to make our case directly to the busy senators and representatives who ultimately decide legislation.

Repeatedly in recent months, when we have gone to Capitol Hill advocating proposals concerning Foreign Service conditions of service, staffers have told us: “Nobody doubts that your proposal is reasonable, but what you lack is a member of Congress at the table during the legislative end-game who will tell colleagues that it is personally important to him or her that AFSA’s proposal be included in the final bill.”

Because their ability to continue to serve their constituents depends on securing re-election, the busy lawmakers whose support we need typically spend the majority of their time on two activities: working to achieve things for their constituents and raising the funds they need to communicate with their constituents. Acting largely on this constituent connection, D.C.-area lawmakers like Sens. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. and George Allen, R-Va., and Reps. Frank Wolf, R-Va., James Moran, D-Va. and Connie Morella, R-Md., have been very helpful to us.

Unfortunately, because Foreign Service members (active and retired) are relatively scarce outside of the D.C. area, most other lawmakers do not view our issues as being constituent issues. But we could get on their radar screens if we were able to assist them in obtaining the funds they need to communicate with their constituents.

Therefore, the AFSA Governing Board, after extensive study and discussion, has voted to establish a Political Action Committee. AFSA-PAC will contribute to the campaigns of candidates who either a) have key roles on committees responsible for funding or oversight of the foreign affairs agencies or b) have elsewhere demonstrated concern for the Foreign Service. AFSA-PAC will make these contributions at events that members of Congress will make time to attend and at which we can explain our proposals on key professional and “bread and butter” issues.

To maintain a strictly bipartisan stance, contributions by AFSA-PAC will be divided evenly between the two major political parties. AFSA-PAC will focus exclusively on candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives. It will not participate in other elections (e.g., presidential, state, county, local, referenda).

Voluntary donations by individuals will be the source of 100 percent of AFSA-PAC’s resources. By law, no AFSA dues may be transferred to AFSA-PAC. In other words, only those AFSA members who voluntarily contribute will be supporting this lobbying effort.