Urge Senator Obama to Increase International Affairs Accounts

 

Bread for the World Quickline
Subject: Senate 150 Account Letter
Date: December 5, 2005

 

Message: Call Senator Barack Obama by Friday, Dec 9, 2005 at 1-800-826-3688. Urge him to sign on to the DeWine-Feinstein Letter that calls on President Bush to substantially increase international affairs accounts in his upcoming budget proposals.

[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your member's office in order to leave your message. If you are unable to get through on the toll-free number, please call Sen. Obama's office direct by dialing 202-224-2854, for a modest charge.]

 

Background:

Right now, the Bush Administration is deciding how much money it will ask Congress to spend on international affairs in 2007. By law, the president must release his budget proposal to Congress by the first Monday in February, so the administration is now at work crafting this proposal. The international affairs budget includes funding for all international activities of the U.S. government, including life-saving development and humanitarian programs that fight global poverty, hunger and disease. Senators DeWine (R-OH) and Feinstein (D-CA), Smith (R-OR) and Durbin (D-IL) are urging their colleagues to sign a letter to President Bush asking him to request a significant increase in funding in FY 2007 for international affairs. There is a similar letter being sent from the House of Representatives to the president. This letter will send an important bi-partisan message to the administration of support for international affairs programs. Congress typically does not spend more than the president requests. Over the past few years, the administration and the Congress have worked together to restore funding to the international affairs budget. It is critical that the president's FY 2007 request continue to increase funding for international affairs.

Key points:
* Long-standing U.S. international programs that are funded under the International Affairs Budget are vital in helping poor and hungry people around the world.

* World wide, 1.1 billion people live on less than a dollar a day and each year 10 million children die of preventable causes.

* More than 40 million people are living with HIV, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

* The bipartisan 9/11 Commission strongly endorsed investments in the International Affairs Budget as vital to protecting America.

 

Optimum Date to Complete Quickline: COB, Friday, December 9th, 2005

 

Thanks and blessings,
Mariah
The Rev. Mariah Priggen
Regional Organizer for Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri Bread for the World
205 West Monroe
Chicago, IL 60606
312-629-9529