AFSA Welcomes New Executive Assistant We are delighted to welcome Jahari Fraser to the AFSA team as the new executive assistant to the president. Born outside the Bay Area, with family roots in Jamaica and Guyana, Jahari was raised in Atlanta. He attended Bard College in upstate New York, where he earned a degree in global and international studies, concentrating in global economics, Latin American and Iberian studies, and Spanish literature. As a leadership fellow for the Inspire Brands Foundation, he played a key role in leading a high school internship program, managing in-restaurant fundraising efforts, and overseeing employee-giving initiatives. What excites Jahari most about joining AFSA is the opportunity to witness the full cycle of a Foreign Service career and to contribute to the team’s success in championing its members. His passion for community engagement and operational efficiency will be invaluable to AFSA as we continue advocating for our members. Outside of work, Jahari enjoys creating ceramics, attending music festivals and concerts, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. We welcome Jahari to our team and wish him all the best in his new role. You can contact Jahari at fraser@afsa.org. n Jahari Fraser Three congressional letters, spearheaded by key advocates, were instrumental in making the case. The first letter was led by Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) and was signed by members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), co-chairs of the Senate Foreign Service Caucus, led a second letter addressed to Senate leadership. Finally, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) rallied members from the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia delegations to send a third letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). These efforts helped ensure that OCP was included in the final CR and demonstrated broad, bipartisan support for the issue. Beyond building congressional support, AFSA undertook targeted outreach to House and Senate leaders, focusing on the committees with oversight of foreign affairs and personnel policies. Additionally, AFSA gathered anonymized member testimonials that highlighted the personal impact of OCP and shared these broadly, including across our social media platforms and with congressional partners. In parallel, we mobilized grassroots efforts by equipping our members with the tools to contact their representatives directly. Many of you reached out to your elected officials, and we are grateful for your engagement. AFSA also partnered with organizations such as the American Academy of Diplomacy and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Our communications strategy played a central role in raising awareness about OCP. We conducted media interviews, submitted op-eds to Hill publications, and launched a social media campaign that spanned Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. It’s important to note that throughout our advocacy, we did not encounter any opposition to including the OCP extension in the CR. Looking ahead, AFSA is focused on securing a longterm solution. While the CR extends OCP through Dec. 20, 2024, we are hoping that the FY25 State Department Authorization Act, which extends OCP through FY26, will be attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA has traditionally passed every year, and we are optimistic that it will pass this year with this key OCP provision. However, should the NDAA not provide this extension, we are confident Congress will address the issue through another legislative vehicle, such as a followon CR or an appropriations legislation. Our ultimate goal remains a permanent authorization for OCP. We will also continue to fight for full Washington, D.C., locality pay for all overseas Foreign Service members, rather than the current two-thirds. While achieving permanent authorization and full funding may take time—especially with a divided Congress—we are encouraged by the bipartisan support we have received thus far. This support provides us with new momentum to press for a long-term fix, and we remain committed to prioritizing OCP as part of our broader advocacy strategy. n THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2024 67 AFSA NEWS Overseas Comparability Pay Update Continued from page 63
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