Letter to Representative Hastert Regarding Millennium Challenge Account and Peace Corps Expansion Act, July 2, 2003

July 2, 2003

The Honorable Dennis Hastert
Speaker
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Hastert:

I write on behalf of the USCCB and CRS to urge you to schedule time for consideration of H.R. 2441, the Millennium Challenge Account Authorization and Peace Corps Expansion Act of 2003, as soon as possible.

The House International Relations Committee voted to favorably report H.R. 2441 to the full House on June 12, 2003. This measure, in keeping with the President’s promise, would authorize $1.3 billion in FY04, $3 billion in FY05 and $5 billion in FY06 of additional funding for U.S. bilateral assistance to developing countries.

As you may be aware, the U.S. Catholic bishops have been supportive of key aspects of this new initiative and believe that swift consideration of the authorizing legislation is crucial to ensuring that FY04 funding for the MCA be appropriated.

We hope that upon your return from the July 4th recess you will schedule time before the August work recess for consideration of this very important legislation.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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