General
USCCB-CRS Letter to Congress on International Assistance Funding for Fiscal Year 2027 (April 23, 2026)
April 23, 2026
Dear Representative/Senator:
On behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, Committee on Migration, and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), we urge Congress to fund international lifesaving and life-affirming humanitarian and development assistance under the jurisdiction of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs/Senate Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, in Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), to at least the levels indicated in the attached chart.
Each year, the USCCB and CRS implore Congress to assess budget decisions using three criteria: protection of human life and dignity, impact on the most vulnerable, and advancement of the common good. In a May 2025 address, Pope Leo XIV reflected that, “If you want peace, prepare institutions of peace…this cannot simply involve political institutions, whether national or international, but requires all institutions – educational, economic, and social.” Given that government institutions and the Church are jointly called to create a more just world, a Catholic vision for lifesaving and life-affirming assistance invokes both parties as essential partners in fostering peace through solidarity, subsidiarity, and respect for the inherent dignity of all people. Therefore, in alignment with Catholic teaching and a common interest in a safer, stronger, and more prosperous U.S. and world, we urge Congress to prioritize the following in FY27 appropriations:
- Disaster and Humanitarian Response: Standing in solidarity with our global family starts with accompanying our brothers and sisters in times of emergency. CRS and USCCB ask Congress to provide a robust allocation for International Humanitarian Assistance and level funding for Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance, given the focus of these accounts on lifesaving health, water, shelter and nutrition efforts in the wake of conflict, disasters, and displacement. To prevent instability and advance peace, the U.S. government must stand in solidarity with those who are facing acute need. To the extent funding is being used to respond to forced displacement and migration generally, we call on Congress to ensure it is obligated in a manner that upholds the principle of non-refoulemont, including through the purposes laid out in the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962.
- Economic and Integral Human Development: Church teaching is clear that peace through solidarity cannot be achieved with emergency assistance alone but requires life-affirming investments in current and future generations. In a 2026 joint statement by the USCCB and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), the two Church bodies call for thoughtful partnership in support for the family, youth employment, care for creation, dignified trade in critical minerals, and peacebuilding. They go on to assert that “we flourish when we freely share [our] material resources [and] human capacities.” To that end, we urge Congress to robustly fund National Security Investment Programs and Contributions to the International Development Association to ensure resources for human flourishing. True human flourishing, or integral human development, will not only advance U.S. economic and security objectives but also promote the international common good.
- Global Health: The U.S. government has made substantial contributions to the health of women, children, and families around the world. CRS and our local partners have supported many of these efforts over the years – ensuring that children in remote villages receive their HIV medications, providing pregnant women with preventive malaria treatments – and our experiences reinforce the imperative of a solidarity-based approach for successful health programming. Therefore, CRS and USCCB ask Congress to fund the Global Health Programs account, which facilitates health-systems strengthening work and other pro-life initiatives, such as those that improve care for pregnant women and ensure adequate nutrition for young children. The Catholic Church has principled concerns about certain health activities that are inconsistent with Catholic teaching, including artificial family planning and the promotion of gender ideology, and have long advocated for maintaining the Helms Amendment and other related pro-life provisions. The USCCB will oppose any bill that expands taxpayer funding of abortion, including any appropriations bill. Nevertheless, we support strong funding for morally appropriate, life-affirming Global Health Programs given the scale at which they advance the dignity and well-being of our collective family.
- Economic Growth and the Private Sector: International assistance is most effective when paired with strong local institutions and a vibrant private sector—an approach that ultimately contributes to a safer, stronger, and more prosperous America and world. In this spirit, we urge Congress to provide robust funding for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which mobilize private investment, promote good governance, and address essential infrastructure needs. When paired appropriately with support to local communities and mechanisms to advance good governance and accountability, these investments can lay the foundation for long‑term growth and stability.
In addition to funding the accounts listed, we encourage Congress to push for relevant staff capacity and expertise across the Administration’s international assistance mechanisms. Government officials who play a critical role in advancing peace at home and abroad must have the tools to ensure continuity of lifesaving emergency assistance pipelines; facilitate bilateral assistance that leverages the strengths of U.S. faith-based actors; and carry out proper oversight and disbursement of all funds, including allocations to multilateral organizations. CRS and USCCB also urge Congress and the Administration to pursue meaningful collaboration with local civil society organizations – especially local Church actors – who are best placed to engage and be true stewards of lasting and sustainable peace.
Pope Leo XIV proclaimed that “…the dignity of every human person must be respected today, not tomorrow…,” and in doing so, he urgently calls for each of us to serve our brothers and sisters across the globe. CRS looks forward to continued engagement with our government partners to pursue the common goals of dignity, security, and justice, and appreciates Congress’ steadfast commitment to a more peaceful world.
Sincerely,
Most Reverend Brendan J. Cahill
Bishop of Victoria
Chairman, USCCB Committee on Migration
Most Reverend A. Elias Zaidan
Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
Chairman, USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace
Sean Callahan
President and CEO
Catholic Relief Services
USCCB-CRS Letter to Congress on International Assistance Funding for Fiscal Year 2027