Speaking Out From Georgetown: Georgetown Experts Before Congress
Many Georgetown faculty and administrators are experts in fields that relate directly or indirectly to public policy, and they are often called upon to share their expertise with the government in a variety of ways. From time to time they are invited to testify before congressional committees to share their expertise and perspectives. Here, you can find recent Congressional testimony by these Georgetown faculty and administrators.
Dr. C. Christine Fair, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Security Studies Program, School of Foreign Service
Testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
October 1, 2009--Dr. Fair testified on the Afghan elections for president and various provincial councils that occurred in August 2009. She discussed the role that the security situation on the ground played in the election and went on to address US policy for Afghanistan following the election. In her conclusion she stated, "I recommend a reformulation of the question away from whether the United States can protect its interests without a decisive defeat of the Taliban towards how the United States can do so without such a comprehensive defeat." Read her full testimony here.
Dr. Sandra Calvert, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of PsychologyDirector, Children’s Digital Media Center
Testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
July 23, 2009--Dr. Calvert testified on how the Children's Television Act, enacted almost 30 years ago, is still relevant in the digital age. She urged the Committee to act to enhance educational media that is available to children. "I ask you to act so that the dream of a quality media environment for children can become a reality in the early part of the 21st century." Read her full testimony here.
Karen Pollitz, M.P.P.
Research Professor, Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
Testimony before the House Committee on Education and Labor, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
June 23-25, 2009--Dr. Pollitz testified on the health care reform plan being considered by the House of Representatives. She addressed the major components of the plan and provided her assessment of each. She summarized that in her view, "For heath care reform to provide all Americans with secure coverage, changes must be adopted and enforced to ensure that health insurance is always available, affordable, and adequate." Read her full testimony here.
Dr. Bruce Hoffman, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Foreign ServiceCenter for Peace and Security Studies
Testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security
April 2, 2009--Dr. Hoffman testified about the Homeland Security Council and President Obama's call for a review of the nation's security architecture. He urged, "the American national and homeland security structure be organized for maximum efficiency, intelligence and information sharing, and the ability to function quickly and effectively in the face of so dynamic and evolutionary threat environment." He described his assessment of the current terrorist threat and emphasized the role that state and local authorities play in homeland security. Read his full testimony here.
The Honorable Andrew Natsios
Distinguished Professor, School of Foreign ServiceTestimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Development, Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection
April 1, 2009--Professor Natsios, who served as Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development from 2001 to 2006, testified on the reform of foreign aid programs saying, "I am convinced that no great power can maintain its preeminence without a robust foreign aid program." He went on to outline his recommendations for foreign aid programs to be efficient and effective. Read his full testimony here.
Dr. Carol Lancaster, Ph.D.
Interim Dean and Professor of Politics, School of Foreign ServiceTestimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Development, Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection
April 1, 2009--Dr. Lancaster, who was Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development from 1993 to 1996 and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in 1980-81, testified on the role of USAID in the 21st century. "I hope this committee will keep this issue on its agenda until we have the strong development agency we need, the strong voice for development within the administration and the expertise to back up that voice. We are in great danger of losing it at present." She described needed changes in how the agency operates and future challenges of global development. Read her full testimony here.
