Washington, DC – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Yvette Clarke, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, introduced a Resolution (H.Res. 129) to recognize the contributions of the Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program, the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program, the William D. Clarke, Sr. Diplomatic Security Fellowship, and the Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program to advance America’s national security, development, and diplomacy efforts. Senator Cory Booker, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, introduced a companion resolution in the Senate.
The Trump Administration recently terminated the Congressionally authorized Payne Fellowship as part of its unlawful dismantling of USAID.
The full text of the Resolution can be found here.
“The Rangel, Pickering, Clarke, and Payne fellowships are merit-based fellowships that open the doors for high-achieving – but historically excluded – Americans to serve in our diplomatic corps. Yet the Trump administration has already terminated USAID’s Payne Fellowship and the Presidential Management Fellowship Program, I am concerned that this administration’s obsession with eliminating recruitment programs across government leave both the Pickering and Rangel Fellowships vulnerable. It is critical to our national security that Congress preserves these time-tested pipelines for young professionals to enter public service. They ensure our national security workforce not only recruits the best talent our nation has to offer but also reflects the America these agencies represent abroad,” said Ranking Member Meeks.
“Following the short-sighted termination of the Payne Fellowship Program, it’s more important now than ever that Congress recommit to protecting our foreign service programs. The Pickering, Rangel, Clarke, and Payne merit-based programs recruit top-tier talent to serve in our diplomatic corps, while also opening doors for PellGrant recipients, first-generation college graduates, and students from economically disadvantaged and rural communities. These programs are a critical investment in our national security workforce and ensure that the State Department and USAID can continue to expand recruitment and attract the best talent from across the country to keep the U.S. globally competitive,” said Senator Booker.
“By targeting and dismantling programs such as the Rangel, Pickering, Clarke, and Payne fellowships, the current administration is jeopardizing our future diplomatic and development efforts. As we face growing international challenges, it is essential that Congress defend these crucial recruitment pipelines to keep our national security workforces strong, resilient, and representative of the American people. These programs offer unparalleled opportunities for individuals who might otherwise be excluded from public service and have played a critical role in preparing young professionals to lead our diplomatic missions and support national security." said CBC Chair Clarke.
"Since day one, the Trump administration has created chaos and confusion while eliminating vital programs and resources that ensure opportunities and support for all American families. The Rangel, Pickering, Clarke and Payne fellowships have been unfaltering in our efforts to ensure pipeline opportunities for some of the best and brightest students from around our nation, helping them build careers in foreign service and national security. It remains vital that our recruitment for foreign service agencies and officers reflect not only the tapestry of American values but of the American people,” said CHC Chair Espaillat.
“For decades, the Rangel, Pickering, Clarke, and Payne fellowships have attracted the best and the brightest to serve in our nation's diplomatic corps. These merit-based fellowships were designed to give young professionals, regardless of their background or how much money their parents make, the opportunity to represent America's interests abroad. If the current administration is serious about ensuring American leadership on the world stage, they must preserve these critical pipelines that grow our pool of talented diplomats and open doors for people from all backgrounds to enter public service,” said CAPAC Chair Meng.