President Obama’s FY 2013 budget proposes cuts to poverty-focused international assistance, which makes up less than 0.5% of the U.S. federal budget but saves millions of lives around the world. Poverty-focused international assistance provides food to the hungry, shelter to refugees, vaccinations against deadly diseases for children, and education for a more prosperous and stable future. Cutting this assistance doesn’t balance the federal budget but does cost lives.
Contact your members of Congress today and urge them to strengthen international poverty-focused humanitarian and development assistance as they consider the upcoming federal budget for fiscal year 2013. While our nation’s fiscal challenges are significant, the current economic crisis disproportionately impacts the world’s poorest people.
For further background, read the recent letter by Bishop Richard Pates, Chair of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Dr. Carolyn Woo, President of Catholic Relief Services.
Your voice matters. Your voice makes a difference. Poverty-focused international assistance was cut by 8% in fiscal year 2011, and a more than 20% cut was proposed for FY 2012. Thanks to your tireless advocacy, when the FY 2012 budget was finalized, we were able to recover 3% of the funding lost the prior year. So send your email or call your member of Congress. Raise your voice and take action today!
