Letter to Representative Hastert on 2004 Foreign Assistance Appropriations, August 18, 2003

August 18, 2003

The Honorable Dennis Hastert
House Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker,

As the House will soon be moving to conference with the Senate on the fiscal year 2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, I write on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to appeal to you and your colleagues to find a way, in cooperation with the Administration, to meet our nation’s foreign assistance commitments, including full funding for morally appropriate programs to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa and the Caribbean and to address global poverty through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). As one of the principal institutions serving needy people in Africa, including those suffering from HIV/AIDS, we believe that this is a matter of justice for the needy and of credibility for our nation’s commitment to foreign assistance.

The important leadership that you have demonstrated on the HIV/AIDS initiative, as well as the President’s leadership on this issue and the MCA, must not be undermined by the failure to fully fund these programs. Moreover, funding for these initiatives must not come at the expense of funding for existing development and humanitarian assistance programs. Falling short in critical programs will diminish us as a nation, and result in more death and disease, hunger and deprivation among the poorest people on earth.

The bipartisan HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis Act authorizes the appropriation of $3 billion in FY2004 to fight these deadly diseases. For the MCA, President Bush has requested $1.3 billion for FY2004. Unfortunately, the Foreign Operations bill, as approved by the House, falls $1 billion short of the authorized funding for HIV/AIDS and $500 million short of the President’s request for the MCA. Honoring these commitments in full, in a manner which promotes human life and dignity, could save countless lives and is essential to U.S. leadership.

For HIV/AIDS, some insist that the appropriation for FY2004 should not exceed $2 billion. They suggest that the affected countries lack the infrastructure and training necessary to absorb more funds effectively. We believe that it is this very lack of infrastructure and training that makes it essential to appropriate now a major share of the multi-year commitments our nation has made. Delaying the appropriation of any portion of the full $3 billion until later years will only delay the start-up of these crucial investments.

The current appropriations process presents an opportunity to demonstrate our values as a nation by delivering on our stated commitments. The $17.1 billion that is currently contained in the House Foreign Operations bill is simply not enough. It is only through your leadership, working with the Administration and the Senate, that the additional funding will be found and approved. The U.S. Catholic Bishops implore you to take on this moral mission to increase funding for ethically appropriate programs for combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and for alleviating poverty through the MCA, while ensuring that funding for the new initiatives will not be offset by cuts in other essential development assistance.

We welcome your leadership in helping to alleviate poverty and disease in developing countries. We pledge to work with you, your Congressional colleagues and the Bush Administration to ensure that our nation fulfills its commitments and keeps its promises.

Sincerely,

Most Reverend John H. Ricard, SSJ
Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Chairman
Committee on International Policy