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Resources for American Leadership Fact sheet released by the Bureau of Public Affairs U.S. Department of State, December 15, 1999

"We are talking about one percent of the federal budget. But that one percent may determine 50 percent of the history that is written about our era. And it will affect the lives of 100 percent of the American people." -- Madeleine Albright

America is the world's leading economic and military power, with interests on every continent. We will enter the 21st century confronted both by unprecedented opportunities and new dangers. The question is whether we will have the resources needed to provide the kind of international leadership our citizens deserve and our interests demand.

Today, only about one penny out of every dollar the United States Government spends is used for international affairs. But this penny can make the difference between prosperity and hardship for our citizens; peace and war for our country; freedom and repression for our world.

Below is a sample of why the funds we invest in our international affairs programs are a bargain.

Safeguarding American Security: In guarding against the security threats of the 21st century, the State Department will often be America's first line of defense. We rely upon our diplomats to negotiate agreements that halt the spread of nuclear arms; resolve dangerous regional disputes, counter terrorists, and curb the flow of illegal drugs into our neighborhoods. And we are getting results. In recent years, we have helped deactivate 5,000 nuclear warheads in the former Soviet Union, ease Middle East tensions, forge peace in Northern Ireland, bring more than 200 suspected criminals and terrorists to the bar of American justice, and cut coca production in Bolivia and Peru.

Building American Prosperity: U.S. foreign policy helps America to remain the dynamic hub of the world economy. We work overtime to help ensure that U.S. farmers, business people, and workers have a level playing field on which to compete for foreign investment and trade. We also negotiate market-opening trade agreements that expand opportunities for the sale of American products and services abroad; promote and license exports that contribute tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy; and work to ensure the protection of American intellectual property rights.

Promoting American Values: A key objective of U.S. foreign policy is to promote values that reflect the interests, character, and ideals of the American people. We do this by our support for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and for humanitarian efforts that annually provide life-giving aid to more than 20 million people. Thanks to the productivity of the American farmer, America is the world's largest provider of emergency food assistance.

Our Diplomatic Missions: More than two million American travelers each year rely on our diplomatic posts for passports and emergency help. We also process annually more than eight million requests for US visas, screening to promote American business and tourism, while protecting our citizens from known terrorists and criminals.

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