Call on Congress to Support Foreign Assistance
- by: Save the Children
- recipient: U.S. Congress
The United States plays a powerful role in responding to humanitarian emergencies. U.S. leadership has played a critical role in addressing widespread hunger and malnutrition. When Members of Congress return this fall, they will have a short window of time to consider 2012 spending levels. Great strides have been made in the past few years for children around the world – more kids are in school, infant mortality rates continue to fall, and children have a better chance of living up to their full potential. Due to the tough budget climate, Congress is considering massive cuts to programs that help save children’s lives, threatening to reverse the progress that has been made. Save the Children needs your help to show members of Congress that their constituents care about programs that help the world’s poor and vulnerable children. Send a letter today asking your member of Congress to support foreign assistance funding in 2012, so that we can continue to create a better world for children everywhere.
As your constituent, I urge you to support strong U.S. leadership in foreign assistance by ensuring robust funding in the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2012.
I've seen the news coverage about the food crisis in the Horn of Africa, and I know that U.S. funding is working to reduce hunger and malnutrition there. The United States has a long history of investing in programs that save children’s lives, address hunger, and educate young children around the world. Working together with developed and developing country partners, more kids are in school, infant mortality rates continue to fall, and children have a better chance of living up to their full potential. Despite great progress, more work remains to be done to promote healthy newborns, send more girls to school, and reduce malnutrition rates.
During these difficult economic times, it is important that we reduce the deficit, but it is important that we do it the right way. Reducing the debt will take a long-term approach, and cuts to the 150 Account, which contains programs that reach the most poor and vulnerable, would hurt our long-term security, stability and economic prospects. The international affairs budget supports programs with low-cost interventions that generate high-impact results, saving lives in the fight against disease, poverty, hunger and illiteracy. We must continue to invest in these programs to help alleviate poverty, strengthen societies, foster stability and security, and spur long-term economic growth at home and abroad.
Poverty-focused programs account for about 1% of the federal budget, and these programs should not take a disproportionate cut in the upcoming Appropriations debates.
Please protect children and families – in the Horn of African and around the world - from budget cuts that cost lives. Your support for robust funding for 150 Account will send a clear and unambiguous message that the U.S. is a compassionate and caring country, and reinforce strong U.S. leadership in protecting children everywhere. Therefore, I strongly urge you to vote against cuts to the international affairs budget.
I look forward to your response on this important issue.
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