April 2006

“Hunger and malnutrition unfortunately feature among the worst scandals that still affect the life of the human family.”

Pope Benedict XVI, October 12, 2005

Poverty, hunger and disease devastate the lives and dignity of most of our brothers and sisters in the world. Of the world’s 6 billion people, 5 billion live in developing countries with access to only 20% of the world’s resources. Nearly 3 billion continue to struggle on less than $2 per day. Health crises such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria threaten the existence of whole generations, and poor countries continue to face enormous development and humanitarian challenges.

Fighting poverty, hunger and disease by adequately funding foreign assistance is not simply an optional commitment. This action invests in solidarity with poor nations, creates the prosperity that improves our own national security, and promotes the human dignity of the poorest in the world.

Since the President released the FY 2007 Budget Request in February and an Emergency Supplemental Spending Request for FY 2006 later that month, USCCB and CRS have advocated for robust funding for a number of key international priorities.

In the FY 2007 Budget address:

Global Health: Support appropriation of at least $4.0 billion for morally appropriate, comprehensive programs to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Such funding is urgently needed as infectious diseases ravage the world’s poorest countries and pose threats to economic stability and global security.

Development and Humanitarian Assistance: Provide $5 billion for core development and humanitarian assistance accounts. These programs help enhance skills and provide basic services in the areas of education, health care, agriculture, rural development and microenterprise/ microfinance, as well as urgent assistance to victims of natural disasters and other emergencies. Many poor countries that fail to qualify for the Millennium Challenge Account depend on core programs.

Debt Relief/International Financial Institutions: Appropriation of at least $950 million for the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) is crucial not only to provide badly needed development assistance to the world’s poorest countries, but also to fulfill the U.S. commitment to the new international debt cancellation program for poor countries that USCCB worked for and welcomed.

Millennium Challenge Account (MCA): Support $3 billion for the MCA. Without significant funding for the MCA, any hope for the success of this innovative approach to foreign assistance will remain far off. Also urge focusing of MCA funding on the poorest countries.

In addition to the above priorities and in addition to funding for other health, development and humanitarian assistance programs, USCCB urges action to help countries with these critical needs:

Sudan: Support $100 million for the African Union peacekeeping mission and increased funding for critical humanitarian efforts in the Darfur region and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Southern Sudan.

Colombia: Include basic standards for the protection of human rights in all U.S. aid to Colombia. Support multilateral efforts for a negotiated peace process. Increase development and humanitarian aid. Phase out aerial fumigation and increase alternative development. (See Colombia Backgrounder.)

Haiti: Support the appropriation of at least $100 million for Haiti. As the poorest country in the hemisphere and now that successful elections have taken place, Haiti deserves special consideration to help the country deal with ongoing political and social unrest.

Indonesia: As was done last year, adopt language conditioning military assistance to Indonesia upon certification by the Secretary of State that certain well-defined human rights improvements have been made by the Indonesian Armed Forces.

Food Aid: $2 billion for Title II Food for Peace and authorize up to 25% for local purchase of food to help meet some of the chronic situations of hunger and underdevelopment.

Population Policy: Support continuing U.S. policies on United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Mexico City Policy:

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): Support the Kemp-Kasten amendment that prohibits funding to organizations involved in coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.

Mexico City Policy: Support the Mexico City policy, which prevents U.S. funding of NGOs that perform or promote abortion as a family planning method in developing nations.

• Include $50 million to replenish the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust (BEHT), an emergency food reserve, to meet unanticipated emergency needs during 2006.
• Include $50 million for assistance to Haiti.
• Include a minimum of $117.2 million for Migration and Refugee Assistance especially for emergency needs in Africa
• Ensure that urgently needed aid reaches the Palestinian people, especially through NGOs, while requiring the Palestinian Authority to recognize Israel and renounce terrorism.
• Target Iraq reconstruction funding to create employment and economic opportunities for Iraqis that will help save lives and make Iraq more secure and stable.

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