On February 22, 2007, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) sent a letter to their colleagues in the House of Representatives inviting them to join the “Americans Abroad Caucus, dedicated to the estimated 4 to 6 million American citizens living and working overseas.”

According to Representatives Maloney and Wilson “although they live overseas, many of these Americans continue to vote and pay taxes in the United States. Whether or not they work for American businesses overseas, they help increase exports of American goods and services because they traditionally buy American goods, sell American goods, and create business opportunities for U.S. companies and workers. Their role in strengthening the U.S. economy, creating jobs in the United States, and extending American influence around the globe is vital to the well-being of our nation. Moreover, they are unofficial ambassadors, often the first contact many people around the world have with "America" and are our very informed "antennae" on the world.”

FAWCO salutes these two Members of Congress who have recognized that the time has come for a “forum for discussion of (issues like citizenship, voting and taxation) and a means for utilizing the on-the-ground experience of overseas Americans so that we can better work with and for this important and growing constituency.”

We encourage our members to contact their own Congressional representatives urging them to join the new caucus created to enable constructive and ongoing two-way exchange between our legislators and their overseas constituency.