The Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL), a bipartisan coalition of 150,000 veterans, students, and citizens today endorsed former Congressman and U.S. diplomat Tom Perriello (D-Va.) in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, citing his extensive experience advancing American diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, conflict prevention, and development around the world.

Perriello, the Democratic nominee and former representative for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District (2009–2011), has held key State Department positions, including Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region and Sudan. As Special Representative for the 2015 Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, he led key State Department and USAID reforms to modernize American diplomacy and international aid.

He has also signed A4AL’s Two Penny Pledge, committing to allocate 2% of the federal budget to diplomacy, development, and humanitarian aid to strengthen global stability and prevent conflict.

“Tom Perriello has spent much of his career demonstrating what effective American diplomacy and development look like in practice,” said Asher Moss, founder and executive director of the Alliance for American Leadership. “He has worked to prevent wars, protect civilians, strengthen democratic institutions, and get humanitarian assistance to people trapped by conflict. His support for the Two Penny Pledge reflects something his career has repeatedly demonstrated: investing in diplomacy and development gives America powerful tools to advance our interests and save lives before crises require far more costly interventions. We are proud to endorse Tom’s campaign to return to Congress.”

Press contact: presssecretary@a4al.org