Political Quotes

“USIP is neither a Republican nor a Democratic institution. The Institution was created in 1984 by bipartisan legislation signed into law by President Reagan. Since then, USIP has saved the United States billions of dollars by investing in peace. Let me share just one short example of the incredible work that USIP has done. After 52 years of war and more than a quarter million lives lost, Colombia's armed conflict ended with the signing of a peace agreement last year in Cartagena. The peace agreement was reached, in no small part, thanks to the incredible work of the United States Institute of Peace and its chief of operations in Colombia, Ginny Bouvier. Under her leadership, USIP trained female mediators, religious organizations, Afro-Colombian leaders, and many others in methods to support peaceful resolution of conflict. Ginny recently passed away, far too young, at the age of 58, but I would like to believe that her legacy of peacebuilding in Colombia can live on through continued congressional support for USIP. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting this harmful amendment.”