Public Policy & Advocacy Briefs/Reports
This week’s edition includes an analysis of the House State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, a preliminary look at the Senate SFOPs bill and the introduction of the Global Food Security Act.
This week’s edition includes an analysis of the House State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, a preliminary look at the Senate SFOPs bill and the introduction of the Global Food Security Act.
WASHINGTON (July 25, 2013) – InterAction welcomes the bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate for funding of vital poverty-focused accounts, and applauds the continued leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPs) Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in prioritizing support for vital international development and humanitarian assistance.
More than 30 organizations engaged in efforts to end global hunger and malnutrition have signed a letter of support for the Global Food Security Act of 2013 (H.R. 2822). The legislation, introduced by Representatives Betty McCollum (MN-4), Aaron Schock (IL-18) and James McGovern (MA-2), is a positive step forward in building the political will needed to end global hunger and malnutrition in this generation, the organizations said.
More than 30 organizations engaged in efforts to end global hunger and malnutrition have signed a letter of support for the Global Food Security Act of 2013 (H.R. 2822). The legislation, introduced by Representatives Betty McCollum (MN-4), Aaron Schock (IL-18) and James McGovern (MA-2), is a positive step forward in building the political will needed to end global hunger and malnutrition in this generation, the organizations said.
This week’s edition includes an analysis of the House FY2014 SFOPs appropriation bill, InterAction’s statement on the SFOPs subcommittee markup of the bill and a summary of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations’ hearing on the resource curse in Africa.
This week’s edition includes a brief update on Hill activity for the week as well as a look ahead at appropriations.
Statement from InterAction on the crisis in Jonglei State, South Sudan on the two-year anniversary of independence.
Interfaith Working Group for Foreign AssistanceFY2014 Appropriations We represent a range of religious and faith- based organizations, and urge your continued support for sustained international humanitarian and poverty-focused development assistance funding for fiscal year 2014. · For less than one penny of every one U.S. taxpayer dollar, this funding enables life-saving and life-enriching programs that can help break the cycles of poverty and introduce productive opportunities for individuals, families, and communities around the world. · Many of us undertake humanitarian work around the world, and have seen first-hand the devastating impact of poverty, disease, humanitarian disasters, violent conflict and environmental degradation. · Faith-based organizations’ deep, abiding relationships with sister organizations overseas enable us to implement our expert development assistance and humanitarian relief in some of the world’s most remote places. · These efforts and our advocacy are grounded in the common commitment of our faith traditions to alleviate suffering and help all people experience the fullness of life that God intends. We believe that God has given our nation the necessary resources and the responsibility to support the alleviation and elimination of global poverty. The Federal Budget expresses our character and values as a people. We urge Congress to give priority to programs that protect life and dignity, especially for the most vulnerable and impoverished. · Congress should replace the sequester, which makes indiscriminate cuts to programs that address hunger and help move people out of poverty. · Any efforts to address the deficit should protect poverty-focused accounts from disproportionate cuts that will undermine our values, jeopardize the lives of our brothers and sisters living in poverty around the world, and further destabilize fragile societies. · While we are very appreciative of increases to some specific humanitarian and poverty-focused development assistance (PFDA) accounts in the President’s FY 2014 budget request-- including funding for development assistance, maternal and child health, McGovern-Dole, International Disaster Assistance, and Migration Refugee Assistance-- overall PFDA funding is almost $1 billion less than FY13 post-sequester levels. For less than one penny on the dollar, international humanitarian and poverty-focused developmental assistance is a demonstration of U.S. moral leadership supporting the long-term investments that create economic opportunity for all, advance the goal of ending extreme poverty and enhance U.S. and global human security. Many of these communities express their support for international assistance with their own pocketbooks through donations to their Church, or their church’s international development agency; and with their time by learning about and experiencing poverty overseas through relationships with other faith partners and mission trips. · Public sector dollars are substantially leveraged by non-government revenue sources, including from the US faith community, which has faithfully supported humanitarian and development programs for decades. · Faith-based organizations and churches are bringing resources and expertise to many communities, but to tackle the overwhelming challenges of poverty globally, the leadership of the US government is key to ensure that programs are coordinated and effective.
