Letter to Senate on Cuts in Poverty-Focused International Assistance, February 22, 2011

Letter from Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace and Ken Hackett, President, Catholic Relief Services to Senate on Cuts in Poverty-Focused International Assistance, February 22, 2011

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in the United States, urge you to preserve poverty-focused development and humanitarian assistance. Especially in a time of austerity and fiscal restraints, the poor have a special moral claim on limited financial resources. 

The FY 2011 Continuing Resolution passed by the House of Representatives makes just under 27% in cuts for poverty-focused international assistance, but only about 3% in cuts overall.  Shared sacrifice is one thing; it is another to make disproportionate cuts in programs that serve the most vulnerable.  It is morally unacceptable for our nation to balance its budget on the backs of the poor at home and abroad.  

We need to give particular priority to programs that protect the poor, who are the least able to cope with budget cuts.  Priority poverty-focused development and humanitarian assistance accounts in the FY 2010 total $20 billion, only 0.6% of the federal budget and only one-third of all U.S. international assistance.  (See chart for detailed list of poverty-focused accounts supported by USCCB and CRS.) 

The Church views international assistance as an essential tool to promote human life and dignity, advance solidarity with poorer nations, and enhance security throughout the world.  Foreign assistance is not simply an optional commitment; it is a moral responsibility to assist “the least of these.”  For over 50 years, Catholic Relief Services has partnered with the United States Government to implement some of these priority programs. CRS knows from experience how effectively they can save lives and help the poor achieve their human potential. 

Letter-to-Senate-on-Cuts-in-International-Assistance-2011-02-22.pdf