The Foreign Service Journal, June 2014

54 JUNE 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS As part of our efforts to celebrate the 90th anniver- sary of AFSA and the Foreign Service, we have worked collaboratively with elected and appointed officials to educate the American public about the contributions of Foreign Service employees to national security, economic prosperity and job creation. With almost 3,000 members of the Foreign Service domiciled in the Commonwealth of Virginia, we are proud to report that the Virginia General Assem- bly has passed House Joint Resolution No. 406, which was offered on Feb. 28, com- mending the American For- eign Service Association and honoring the Foreign Service on its 90th anniversary. The resolution, which received bipartisan sup- port in both the House of Delegates and Senate, was introduced by AFSA’s friend and supporter, Delegate Alfonso Lopez (49th District), with the backing of 36 mem- bers of the Virginia General Assembly. Our supporters in the Assembly were delegates Lopez, Bulova, Carr, Cole, Dance, Davis, Helsel, Herring, Hester, Hope, James, Keam, Kory, Krupicka, LeMunyon, Morrissey, Plum, Rasoul, Sickles, Simon, Stolle, Surov- ell, Tyler, Ware and Watts. In the Senate, we received the support of senators Barker, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Gar- rett, Howell, Marsh, Puckett, Saslaw, Wagner and Wexton. We are appreciative of Delegate Lopez’s leadership and offer this success story as another example of how AFSA works diligently to promote public understand- ing of the many outstanding contributions of Foreign Ser- vice employees to American society. Foreign Service Day On March 4, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menen- dez, D-N.J., introduced S. Res. 369, a resolution to designate May 22 as “United States Foreign Service Day” in recognition of the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the U.S. Foreign Service, and to honor those members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty. Co-sponsors as of May 14 were Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Ben Cardin, D-Md., Mark Warner, D-Va., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill. In the House of Represen- tatives, House Committee on Foreign Affairs member Representative Juan Vargas, D-Calif., a member of the freshman class of the 113th Congress, introduced H. Res. 528 on May 9, supporting the establishment of “United States Foreign Service Day.” As we went to press, the measure had five co-spon- sors: Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., and Rep. Tulsi Gab- bard, D-Hawaii. We will keep you updated on progress in both cham- bers. n –Javier Cuebas, Director of Advocacy Orwa Nyrabia, producer and filmmaker, takes questions from the audience after a screening of his award-winning documentary “Return to Homs” at AFSA headquarters on April 22. The film follows two young Syrian men as their lives are upended by the brutal conflict engulfing their country. Mr. Nyrabia, a native of Homs himself, was in town for screenings of the film at FilmFest DC. The event was organized with the help of the Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. “Return to Homs” Screening at AFSA AFSA ON THE HILL Happy 90th from the Virginia General Assembly! K.FERNEKES