National Security Caucus

The National Security Caucus (NSC) originated in 1978 as the Congressional Division of the National Coalition for Peace through Strength. -- According to the American Security Council linked web page for the National Security Caucus (NSC), which shares the same acronym as the National Security Council (NSC),

The bipartisan National Security Caucus was originally known as the Congressional Division of the Coalition for Peace Through Strength. It was formed in 1978 in response to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, and during its first decade the lawmakers primarily concentrated on defense issues.

In the post Cold War era the NSC lawmakers have fostered wide ranging activities concerning foreign policy, free market economics, human rights, public diplomacy and democracy building - in addition to traditional defense related issues.

During the past four years, the NSC was able to organize 22 Congressional Delegations to 63 countries. Many of these trips were organized by the American Security Council. Caucus members were also able to meet with 16 Heads of State in Washington. The NSC believes foreign travel is essential for policy makers with global responsibilities, but unfortunately many lawmakers are reluctant to leave the United States. This attitude is emphasized by the fact that 210 members of the German Bundestag visited Washington last year but not one member of the U.S. House or Senate visited Bonn!

In an effort to advance the peace process, NSC organized seven trips to Bosnia as well as many of the early fact finding missions to Kosovo. The keynote speaker at the NSC's conference on the Asian economic crisis was former U.N. Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar and our most recent Global Policy Forum was attended by senior representatives from 34 nations and 17 ambassadors....

The 275 lawmakers in the National Security Caucus range from conservative Republicans to liberal Democrats, but they all recognize that the United States is the only country that has the will and capacity to meet many global challenges. They know that there are many other forces which will fill the global vacuum if America's role decreases....

The National Security Caucus (NSC) is a bipartisan Congressional Member Organization which was originally formed in 1978. The NSC has always emphasized the importance of developing a close working relationship among lawmakers from both political parties. The late Senator Henry Jackson (D-WA) best stated the NSC's guiding principle when he said, "In matters of national security, the best politics is no politics."

NSC lawmakers participate in activities to develop a consensus-based and comprehensive solutions to foreign policy, defense, homeland security and international economic problems. The NSC has consistently emphasized the importance of working for long-term policies that will bolster every aspect of America's security.

The National Security Caucus is a Congressional Member Organization. The members share official resources to jointly carry out activities. The NSC does not have a separate corporate or legal identity apart from the Members of Congress who comprise it.

The NSC lawmakers met with the presidents of Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, South Korea, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. They also met with the prime ministers of Poland, Pakistan and Vietnam.

The Caucus has successfully promoted international initiatives regarding free trade, democracy and human rights. The NSC lawmakers are responsible for the release of political prisoners from Egypt, maintaining the freedom radio stations in the former Yugoslavia, monitoring international elections and securing humanitarian assistance for lesser developed countries.