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KNOW NOW Conference Call: The U.S., Japan and Asia

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited East Asian capitals last week, following Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's golf summit with President Donald Trump, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' trip to Japan and South Korea in February. WACA presents a KNOW NOW briefing by Jim Schoff, senior fellow in the Asia Program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on the U.S.-Japan alliance, North Korea's nuclear threat, and security and economic challenges from China and the region. 

Register for the KNOW NOW call, to be held Today, March 21, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET. 

James L. Schoff, senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment, focuses his research on U.S.-Japan relations and regional engagement, Japanese politics and security, and the private sector's role in Japanese policymaking. He previously served as senior adviser for East Asia policy at the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense and as director of Asia Pacific Studies at the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis. (Full bio)

Schoff is the author of a new book, Uncommon Alliance for the Common Good: The United States and Japan After the Cold War. He is available for speaking engagements at Councils.
KNOW NOW: Sharp Cuts for International Affairs Budget

The Trump administration unveiled its first budget proposal, for FY2018, which would cut funding from large parts of the federal government to offset an increase in defense spending of $54 billion. Cuts to more than 18 other agencies would include slashing $10.9 billion, or 29%, from the budget for the Department of State, USAID, and the Treasury's International Programs. If implemented, these proposed cuts would reduce funding levels for diplomacy and development and programs to levels not seen since 9/11. 

The nonpartisan U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) will conduct a National Mobilization Week (March 20-24) to urge Congress to protect resources for America's international affairs budget. 

On Thursday, March 23, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET, WACA will host a KNOW NOW briefing by Lindsay Lee Plack, USGLC's Government Relations Director, to discuss the the implications of these proposed budget cuts and USGLC's efforts to stop them. A  Mobilization Toolkit  is offered to Councils and individuals wishing to participate in this effort. 


Lindsay Lee Plack, Director of Government Relations at USGLC, oversees the coalition's engagement with Capitol Hill and other policymakers. Previously, at the Glover Park Group, she managed government and public affairs work for a range of internationally-focused clients, including foreign governments, nonprofits, and multinational corporations. Plack also served as a senior lobbyist at The Oldaker Group. Prior to joining the private sector, she was an aide to Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), handling national security, foreign policy, and related appropriations portfolios.


KNOW NOW conference calls feature global thought leaders hosted by WACA, as well as local authorities in government, business, academia and cultural fields who are identified and moderated by local Councils. 

Council CEOs: Submit your ideas for local experts to bring community and national issues of global dimensions to our network, using our national conference call platform. Please email Lian Esehaki at lesehaki@worldaffairscouncils.org

The World Affairs Councils of America 

1200 18th St., NW, Suite 902, Washington, DC 20036

Phone (202) 833-4557  Fax (202) 833-4555

Email waca@worldaffairscouncils.org Website www.worldaffairscouncils.org