When the Obama Administration released its FY 2011 budget, it included $58.5 billion for International Affairs. This includes $8.8 billion allocated for global health issues. However, the United States’  struggling economy, record budget deficit, and huge debts has led to mounting political pressure to cut spending, including, unfortunately, the International Affairs account which supports global health initiatives and  a number of development programs that life people out of poverty and promote stability worldwide

Fortunately, the community is united! We’ve joined with a coalition of other non-profits, NGOs, faith-based organizations, and others to send a letter to members of the US House of Representatives and Senate, emphasizing the importance of the International Affairs budget in U.S. foreign policy. The full text of the letter is below.

If you’re interested in joining the dialogue, call your congressman to tell them you support U.S. foreign assistance.

Dear Member of Congress:

We the undersigned organizations support the president’s request of $58.5b, as the minimum amount needed for the International Affairs account for FY11. This amount is expected to be 1.4% of total outlays of federal spending in FY11.

Our support is based on factors as varied as our specific missions themselves. But we are united around a common belief that the budget for International Affairs is critical to U.S. foreign policy and our shared future with people and nations around the world.

Sincerely,

1. Academy for Educational Development
2. Action Against Hunger
3. African Diaspora for Change
4. Aid to Artisans
5. American Red Cross International Services
6. American Refugee Committee
7. Better World Campaign
8. Bread for the World
9. CARE
10. Church World Service
11. Concern America
12. Congressional Hunger Center
13. Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
14. Episcopal Relief & Development
15. FACE AIDS
16. Friends Committee on National Legislation
17. Friends of the Global Fight
18. Friends of the World Food Program
19. Global Campaign for Education
20. Global Health Council
21. Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Sabin Vaccine Institute
22. Helen Keller International
23. INMED Partnerships for Children
24. InterAction
25. International Association of Black Professionals in International Affairs
26. International Center for Research on Women
27. International Relief and Development
28. Joint Aid Management
29. Lutheran World Relief
30. Malaria No More
31. Management Sciences for Health
32. Mercy Corps
33. Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network
34. Mothers Acting Up
35. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
36. National Education Association
37. National Association of Evangelicals
38. National Peace Corps Association
39. New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good
40. NuVsionPAC
41. ONE
42. Outreach Internationa
43. Oxfam America
44. Pact
45. Pathfinder International
46. Physicians for Human Rights
47. Plan USA
48. Plant With Purpose
49. Population Action International
50. PSI (Population Services International)
51. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Washington Office
52. RESULTS
53. Save the Children
54. Sierra Club
55. Trickle Up
56. United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
57. United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
58. US Fund for UNICEF
59. White Ribbon Alliance
60. Women Thrive Worldwide
61. World Vision
62. World Wildlife Fund

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