I strongly believe that the best ambassadors for our country are the American people themselves, and I support legislation and programs that increase opportunities for people-to-people and humanitarian exchanges.  The 5th Congressional District of Georgia boasts many outstanding collegiate, business, and cultural international exchange programs.   Atlanta is also home to the largest passenger airport in the world and a growing, diverse constituency with many international connections.  

I consistently support increases in funding for child survival and health, economic support funds, global HIV/ AIDS assistance, and national service programs like the Peace Corps.

In a time when war and conflict rage on every continent, I strongly believe that through dialogue and engagement  we can make this world a little cleaner, a little better, a little more united for generations to come.  We all have a responsibility to make this little piece of real estate called Earth a better and beloved global community.

Last year, I reintroduced H.R. 2522, the Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act.  With my friend and colleague, Rep. Barbara Lee, I coauthored H. Res. 55 that calls upon the abolition of modern day slavery. On May 1, 2008, I introduced H. Res. 1169, a resolution that calls for the U.S. to recommit to fundamental human and civil rights standards.

As a senior Member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am vocal advocate for workers' rights and environmental standards in global trade policy.  We have a shared, common interest in global warming and our collective susceptibility to natural disasters; as we all know floods, drought, hurricanes, tornadoes, and tsunamis - have no boundaries.

I have joined my colleagues in denouncing the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and urging for peaceful solution to the strife in the Middle East.  I continue to be increasingly concerned about the growing tensions in Africa and Asia, and I believe that we need to reengage with our friends and neighbors in this hemisphere.

In addition to being a founding Member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, I am also a Member of the following foreign affairs Congressional organizations -

• Congressional Human Rights Caucus

• The Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking

• The Bipartisan Taskforce on Non-Proliferation

• The Caucus on Hellenic Issues

• The Congressional Caucus on Indian and Indian Americans

• The Pakistan Caucus

• The Turkey Caucus

• The Friends of New Zealand Congressional Caucus

• The Global Road Safety Caucus

• The Congressional Black Caucus Afro-Latino Working Group

• The Congressional Black Caucus Foreign Affairs Taskforce

Some key foreign policy legislation that I have sponsored or cosponsored:

• H.R. 2522, the Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act (fact sheet / statement of introduction)

• H. Res. 1169, the U.S. Recommitment to International Human and Civil Rights Resolution (factsheet / statement of introduction)

• H. Res. 55, resolution regarding modern day slavery

• H. Res. 618, resolution recognizing the plight of Afro-Colombians

• H. Res. 740, resolution condemning attacks on African Union peacekeepers in Darfur, Sudan

• H. Con. Res. 283, resolution calling for a peaceful resolution to the violence in Kenya

• H. Con. Res. 322, resolution recognizing the 60^th anniversary of Israel

• H.R. 756, Safe and Orderly Withdrawal from Iraq Act

• H.R. 808, Department of Peace and Nonviolence Act

• H.R 1352, Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act

• H.R. 1400, Iran Counter-Proliferation Act

• H.R. 2929, No Permanent Bases in Iraq Act

• H.R. 2965, Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act

• H.R. 3698, Global Service Fellowship Act

• H.R. 3692, Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act

• H.R. 5488, Recovery and Stability of Iraq Act