The Washington Foreign Law Society
is pleased to announce its upcoming
2024 Gala Dinner
Honoring
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Beginning at 6:00 PM
Army and Navy Club (901 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20006)
This year the WFLS will honor U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (Md). Senator Cardin will receive the Harry LeRoy Jones Award for his stewardship of U.S. foreign policy at a time of deep global geopolitical upheaval, and for his steadfast commitment, as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and of the Helsinki Commission, to promoting the rule of law, defending democracy, and upholding respect for human rights across the world.
The WFLS bestows the Harry LeRoy Jones Award annually upon an honoree who promotes the rule of law–and international law in particular–and has a profound and lasting impact on institutions dedicated to justice, international law, or scholarship. Past recipients of the award include U.S. Supreme Court Justices Stephen Breyer, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg; U.S. Senators George J. Mitchell and Richard Lugar; UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights John Ruggie; IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde; World Justice Project Founder William H. Neukom; former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker; former Judge Thomas Buergenthal of the International Court of Justice; U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke; and USTR Katherine Tai.
Senator Cardin will be introduced by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (Ms).
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin
Chair, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
An outspoken advocate for the environment and health care, Ben Cardin has been a national leader on foreign policy while representing the people of Maryland in the U.S. Senate, and before that in the House of Representatives. He is a former Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates. Senator Cardin has worked across party lines to further U.S. national security and to ensure that democracy, anti-corruption, transparency, good governance and respect for civil and human rights are integrated into American foreign policy efforts.
In addition to his role as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Cardin is a member of the Senate committees on Finance, Environment & Public Works, and Small Business & Entrepreneurship. The interconnectivity of these assignments allows Cardin to promote policies, legislation and programs that help grow local and national economies and create job opportunities; support small businesses and our middle class; conserve clean air and water; advance progress and innovation in clean energy and public transportation; and promote transparency, and civil rights.
A strident defender of the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America, Cardin is a champion of protecting our clean air and water and cleaning up toxic waste in our communities. He is a leader in the fight for environmental justice and against the disproportionate impacts of pollution and climate change on underserved communities. He has taken the lead fighting for resources to fix our crumbling water infrastructure. His commitment to reduce pollution and protect our environment fuels his advocacy for federal investments in transportation infrastructure that reduce pollution and improve public transit options. Recent efforts on infrastructure have led to investments around his home state of Maryland, including projects to expand capacity and build resilience at the Port of Baltimore, an important hub for global commerce and economic growth.
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker
Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee
United States Senator Roger F. Wicker has represented the state of Mississippi in the U.S. Senate since 2007. Wicker is the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee for the 118th Congress. His other committee assignments include the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Environment and Public Works Committee; and Rules and Administration Committee. Wicker also serves as a member of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Congressional Board of Visitors.
From 1995 to 2007, Wicker served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He started his career in public service in the Mississippi Senate representing Lee and Pontotoc counties. He also served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, retiring from the reserve in 2004 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He received his bachelor and law degrees from the University of Mississippi. Wicker and his wife, Gayle, live in Tupelo and have three children and eight grandchildren.
Individual tickets for the 2024 WFLS Gala are available at the following prices:
· General Admission: $175
· WFLS Member Admission: $135
· Student Admission: $120 (must show current student ID upon entrance to the Gala dinner)
· Student WFLS Member Admission: $100 (must show current student ID upon entrance to the Gala dinner)
The WFLS greatly appreciates the financial support of its members, individual supporters, and Sponsors. Sponsorships for the WFLS Gala are available at one of the following donor levels: Platinum ($10,000), Gold ($5,000), or Silver ($2,500). Sponsors and their levels will be recognized at the Gala and in announcements, publicized in the program and the WFLS website, and given a table at the Gala.
Corporations, law firms, universities, and others interested in becoming a Gala sponsor should direct any questions to washingtonforeignlawsociety@gmail.com
Revenue from the annual Gala helps the WFLS increase its capacity to pursue its mission of promoting discussion of and scholarship on international law and comparative legal issues through its monthly programming, at which speakers from the U.S. Government, international institutions, foreign countries, and private practice address topics of current interest in the international arena.
Please save the date and plan to join us for this very special event in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
The Washington Foreign Law Society wishes to thank the following organizations and individuals for their generous support:
DEBRA AND MICHAEL DECKER
