Rep. Johnson: Americans must be more globally aware, engaged

Congressman at CSIS Atlanta Summit: Public awareness key to sustaining global health investments in ‘Age of Austerity’

ATLANTA, GA – U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4) today participated in the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) Atlanta Summit on Sustaining American Leadership in Global Health & Water. The Summit was held in conjunction with CARE USA and the World Affairs Council of Atlanta.

Johnson served on the panel entitled, “The Importance of U.S. Global Health Leadership” and emphasized investments in global health as a tool of “soft power” that yields security and peace throughout the world. He encouraged Americans to take a broad view of the U.S. using its great global power to promote the health of not only the less fortunate across the globe but also for its citizens here at home.

“It is in our national security interest to improve health in the developing world and to close the health gap here at home,” said Johnson. “It’s not just about me, my family, my neighborhood, my county, my state or my country. It’s about my world. That’s the perspective we need.”

Rep. Johnson appeared along with Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. J. Stephen Morrison of CSIS and Dr. Mark Rosenberg, president & CEO of the Task Force for Global Health.

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