Partnership for a Secure America

Partnership for a Secure America (PSA) is a nonprofit founded by former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman (Republican of New Hampshire) and former U.S. Representative Lee H. Hamilton (Democrat of Indiana) to advance bipartisanship on today’s critical national security and foreign policy challenges. Leveraging the leadership of its distinguished Advisory Board, PSA has unique credibility and access to forge common ground and fashion thoughtful, fact-based policy that promotes America’s national interests.

Advisory board

The PSA Advisory Board is chaired by former Congressman Lee Hamilton and consists of former foreign policy and national security officials from the legislative and executive branches:

Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State, 1997–2001
Howard Baker, U.S. Senator (R-Tennessee), 1967–1985
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, U.S. Senator (R-Kansas), 1978–1997
Samuel Berger, National Security Advisor, 1997–2001
Warren Christopher, Secretary of State, 1993–97*
Slade Gorton, U.S. Senator (R-Washington), 1981–1987 and 1989–2001
Lee H. Hamilton, U.S. Representative (D-Indiana), 1965–1999
Gary Hart, U.S. Senator (D-Colorado), 1975–1987
Rita Hauser, chair, International Peace Institute, 1992–present
Carla Anderson Hills, United States Trade Representative, 1989–1993
Thomas Kean, Governor of New Jersey, 1982–1990
Anthony Lake, National Security Advisor, 1993–1997*
John Lehman, Secretary of the Navy, 1981–1987
Richard C. Leone, President, Century Foundation, 1989–present*
Robert McFarlane, National Security Advisor, 1983–1985
Donald McHenry, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, 1979–1981
Sam Nunn, Senator (D-Georgia), 1972–1996
William Perry, Secretary of Defense 1994-1997
Thomas Pickering, Undersecretary of State, 1997–2000
Warren Rudman, U.S. Senator (R-New Hampshire), 1980–1992*
Ted Sorensen, White House Special Counsel, 1961–1963*
John C. Whitehead, Deputy Secretary of State, 1985–1988
Frank G. Wisner, Undersecretary of State, 1992–1993

[*]Former members of the Advisory Board

Goals

To heighten public awareness of and support for a bipartisan national security and foreign policy;
To bring leading Democrats and Republicans together to seek common ground in national security and foreign policy; and
To accomplish the above tasks through the use of the most effective tools of modern communications.

PSA’s policy statements signed by influential policy leaders are pivotal in advancing bipartisan consensus, and have garnered coverage by leading newspapers around the country.

PSA’s programs engage the broader Washington policy community in a series of educational, training, and networking opportunities designed to address the underlying breakdown of our national discourse. The Congressional Partnership Program^[1] is specifically designed for Congressional staff to foster capacity for bipartisan action on critical US challenges.

PSA’s policy outreach catalyzes dialogue at the national, state and local levels to inform the debate.

History

PSA was launched on August 3, 2005 by former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman (Republican of New Hampshire) and former U.S. Representative Lee H. Hamilton (Democratic of Indiana)in an event at the National Press Club. PSA's founding Directors and current Board of Directors Co-Chairs are former Clinton Administration official Jamie Metzl and former Chief of Staff to Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), Charles N. Andreae. PSA's Executive Director is Andrew K. Semmel.^[2]

In September 2005 PSA co-sponsored a major foreign policy conference in Washington, D.C., "Terrorism, Security and America's Purpose: Towards a More Comprehensive Strategy". Over 1,000 people in the foreign policy field attended the conference, which examined centrist approaches to combating terrorism at home and abroad.

Since that time, PSA has developed and published 16 bipartisan statements including: "Statement of Bipartisan Principles",^[3] "Addressing the Terrorist Threat",^[4] "Treatment of Prisoners",^[5] "State of the Union: America Still Dangerously Vulnerable",^[6] "U.S. Dues and UN Reform",^[7] "Darfur Action Now",^[8] "Energy Independence",^[9] "Uniform Interrogation Standards",^[10] "WMD Report Card",^[11] "Renewing the U.S.-UN Relationship",^[12] "U.S. and Russia: A Window of Opportunity",^[13] "Our Best Weapon Against Nuclear Proliferation",^[14] "Climate Change Threatens All Americans",^[15] "Science Diplomacy is Crucial to U.S. Foreign Policy",^[16] "Transparency = Security",^[17] and "The Right Move for U.S.?".^[18] These statements are intended to educate and steer the national conversation on critical security issues and are developed through the guidance of PSA's esteemed Advisory Board. Statement signatories include former Cabinet officials, Members of Congress, National Security Advisors, Governors, Ambassadors, Military Officials, and other high-profile experts.

PSA’s bipartisan efforts over the years have made headlines in hundreds of major national and international media outlets that reach tens of millions of readers and viewers, including: ABC News, CNN/CNN International, Fox News, CSPAN, Foreign Affairs, MSNBC, National Public Radio, NBC News, The Chicago Tribune, Xinhua (China), The Daily Telegraph (UK), Roll Call, The Daily Times (Pakistan), The Boston Globe, The Saudi Gazette, The Hill, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, The Moscow Times, USA Today, The New York Times, Politico, The New Nation (Bangladesh), and many more.

Across the Aisle

In June 2006, PSA launched its blog, Across the Aisle, as a public forum for discussion of foreign policy and national security issues in a bipartisan context. Across the Aisle has generated thoughtful, provocative arguments on these important issues, while identifying common ground between Democrats and Republicans. Its regular contributors include senior think tank fellows, professors, and former government officials, whose views span the political spectrum.

Congressional Partnership Program

Started in 2009, this semi-annual program is for Congressional staff interested in generating dialogue and developing the skills and relationships required to advance bipartisanship on national security and foreign policy issues. Through policy seminars and networking activities, this unique program aims to equip the next generation of foreign policy and security experts to respect differences, build common ground and achieve US national interests. Activities in the program include Strategic Negotiation and Communication Training; Simulated NSC Deputies Committee Meeting; Meetings with Former Officials; Meetings with NSC, White House, State Department and Pentagon Staff; Partnership Retreat; Partnership Project.

For four years, the program has attracted hundreds of congressional staff participants from House and Senate offices that span across the political spectrum. Current and former officials that have met with participants for off-the-record discussions on foreign policy and national security priorities include Senator Dick Lugar, Secretary Chuck Hagel, Ambassador Thomas Pickering, Undersecretary Michele Flournoy, National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane, Homeland Security Advisor Fran Townsend, and Governor Tom Kean.^[19]

National Security Reports

PSA has commissioned and written reports to educate and provide assessments on pressing foreign policy and national security issues. Seven such reports have been published: "Iran’s Political System",^[20] "At the Water’s Edge",^[21] "Pakistan’s Nuclear Security",^[22] "WMD Report Card",^[23] "Nuclear Terrorism",^[24] "Biological Terrorism",^[25] and "Chemical Terrorism".^[26]

Official website

http://www.psaonline.org/