August 7, 2006

Dear Representative:

As organizations committed to the fight against global poverty and working on the ground in developing countries to improve lives, we write to urge you to support the strengthening of the United States’ poverty reduction efforts by cosponsoring the Global Poverty Act, H.R. 3605.

Despite marked progress in health, education, and preserving environmental sustainability, more than one billion people worldwide still struggle to live on $1 a day. Recognizing the importance of U.S. leadership in improving lives around the world, President Bush has made development one of the three pillars of the U.S. National Security Strategy and has introduced significant new initiatives including the Millennium Challenge Account and the President’s Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS. Our organizations applaud the administration’s efforts and the increasing attention that global poverty reduction has received by policy makers and the U.S. public alike.

In his 2005 State of the Union Address, President Bush said, “For people everywhere, the United States is a partner for a better life. Short-changing these efforts would increase the suffering and chaos of our world, undercut our long-term security, and dull the conscience of our country.” As the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development reorganize towards “Transformational Diplomacy,” it is critical that poverty reduction remain a central goal of U.S. foreign assistance and that a comprehensive strategy to guide U.S. poverty reduction efforts be developed.

The bipartisan Global Poverty Act addresses these concerns by naming poverty reduction as a major priority of U.S. foreign assistance and calling for the Administration, in consultation with the heads of U.S. agencies and other stakeholders, to develop such a strategy. The strategy, which would be reviewed on an annual basis, would include specific and measurable goals against which U.S. progress in reducing global poverty could be assessed. The legislation also includes non-binding guidelines for what a comprehensive U.S. strategy should include such as aid, trade, debt relief and collaboration with the international community to ensure coherence.

To cosponsor the Global Poverty Act, please contact Mark de la Iglesia in Representative Adam Smith’s office at markdelaiglesia@mail.house.gov or Jason Britt in Representative Spencer Bachus’ office at jason.britt@mail.house.gov.

Thank you for your consideration and continued commitment to making global poverty history.

Sincerely,

Bread for the World
CARE
Episcopalian Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Heifer International
International Rescue Committee
Population Institute
Mercy Corps
Lutheran World Relief
National Audubon Society
National Wildlife Federation
RESULTS
Save the Children
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
United Nations Association of the USA