In the Diocese of Mutare, Zimbabwe, twenty-five percent of the people have HIV/AIDS. On a recent visit, I expected to encounter despair. Instead, I found communities caring for the sick and helping orphans to survive. One elderly widow embodied to me the spirit of CRS’ work there. She had wished to die instead of face the shame of AIDS. But through CRS caregivers who visited her, she joined a support group for infected women. Her health improved, and the support replenished her will to live. As she told her story, she began to dance in front of us, cheering for her new hope. Each time I feel daunted by the size of the challenge there, I remember her and take heart. (CRS worker)

Background: Catholic Relief Services has asked the U.S. Congress to provide an increase of $1 billion for global health/ disease prevention and an increase of $1 billion for development assistance programs in Africa. The U.S. House of Representatives completed consideration of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for FY 02 without providing any significant new resources for these programs. The U.S. Senate is expected to consider the FY 02 foreign aid bill when it returns in September.

Issue: The United States, once the pioneer in foreign aid, now ranks dead last among donor countries in development assistance. Nowhere are the consequences of this disheartening statistic more keenly felt than in sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is suffering intensely from the consequences of severe poverty, which manifests itself not only in the starvation of many people, but also in the lack of primary education opportunities (particularly for girls), poor economic infrastructure, proper health care, environmental degradation, and the spread of diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.

Disease threatens to kill more than 25% of the populations of the hardest hit African countries in the next 20 years. The devastation of the general population leaves fewer teachers, farmers, health professionals, entrepreneurs and other workers. The result is a deadly cycle of self-reinforcing poverty. To stem global health risks, particularly HIV/AIDS, the United Nations has estimated the bare minimum investment needed as $4 to $5 billion per year over current funding levels. The U.S. share, based on gross national product (GNP), would be approximately 25% of this amount, which would be at least $1 billion per year.

In addition, development resources for sub-Saharan Africa continue to lag behind what is appropriate and necessary to ensure Africans get vital health programs, children’s education, infrastructure investments, assistance for small businesses, and fulfilling basic human needs. On a more long-term scale, the additional $1 billion in development assistance will need to improve social and economic development, promote good governance and fair trade practices, and build peacemaking efforts.

· Call, write, or visit your Senator in your home state during the August recess (from August 4 through September 3). If your Senator is not available, ask to speak to the staff person that handles foreign appropriations.

· Ask your Senator to support funding which will provide $1 billion in new funding for development assistance and $1 billion in new funding for global health.

 

 

Set up appointments to meet as an individual or in a delegation with your Senator during the recess.

Write a letter or an op-ed for the Catholic and or local community newspaper.

Encourage parishes to visit their Senators during the August recess.

Here are some additional suggestions for parish action during the recess:

1. Speak about the need for an increase in foreign appropriations for the world’s poorest countries

a. Homilies and Sermons

b. Presentations to parish groups

c. Adult education sessions

2. Insert information about the importance of foreign appropriations into the bulletin

3. Invite parishioners to contact their Senators

a. Encourage visits, individually or in delegations, to senators’ offices

b. Provide opportunities to write letters

c. Provide information on how to contact your senators

“Every study of congressional influence shows that one of the most powerful tools to reach a member of Congress is an in-person meeting with constituents.”

Tips for a personal visit.

You can choose to visit your Senators individually or as a delegation.

Set up the interview

a. Make an appointment with the appointment secretary or scheduler. Let the person know who you are and that the purpose of your visit is to speak about foreign appropriations.

b. You may meet with your Senators or you may meet with a staff person who knows the area of foreign appropriations.

c. Be sure to set a specific amount of time for the visit (30-45 minutes)

3. Individual appointment

If you go as an individual plan your visit carefully, determining what you hope to accomplish ahead of time.

Establish with your Senator the amount of time you will spend together

Keep the visit focused on foreign appropriations.

If you have a story relating to the importance of increased foreign appropriations on a country, share it with your Senator.

Ask the Senator to share his or her convictions about foreign appropriations.

Share the talking points and your own convictions about foreign appropriations.

Directly ask your Senator for his or her commitment to funding that provides $1 billion in new money for development assistance and $1billion in new money for global health

Reiterate back to the staff person or the Senator what you hear he or she saying: Yes or No to supporting funding that provides $1 billion in new money for development assistance and $1billion in new money for global health

If it is yes, thank him/her, and tell them you will look forward to letting people know his/her intent

If no, ask him or her for the reason why and ask what would he or she need in order to change their position.

Listen carefully and respectfully

Thank him/her for their time and for all their work they do in Congress

4. A delegation might include a variety of people, gender, faith tradition, race, age, professions, etc.

Plan the visit ahead of time, addressing the various points stated above.

Determine who will say what during the visit.

After the visit review as a delegation what you heard and what it means for foreign appropriations.

The letter is a great choice for communication with a congressional office. The best letters are those personally written by the sender.

Your purpose for writing the letter should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter.

Be courteous, to the point and include key information.

If you have a story to share that is an example of the need for increased foreign appropriations include it in the letter.

Address only one issue in each letter.

Be sure to include your name and address, which indicates you are a member of the Senator’s constituency.

 

 

Sample Letter

Address the letter to:

The Honorable (full name)

Address

Dear Senator _______________,

I am a constituent in your state and a member of the ______ diocese/parish. I am writing to request that you support funding that provides $1 billion in new money for development assistance and $1billion in new money for global health which calls for $1 billion in new funding for global health and $1 billion in new funding for development assistance in sub-Saharan Africa. Delays in appropriating this new money would prevent essential programs from being implemented.

Almost half of the world’s six billion people live on less than $2 a day, and 1.2 billion people live in abject poverty, on less than $1 a day. Over the last decade, the international fight against poverty has lost momentum and global development assistance has declined. To turn the tide, our country should substantially increase the level of foreign aid dedicated to development assistance and global health.

I ask that you support approval of funding that provides $1 billion in new money for development assistance and $1 billion in new money for global health and request to hear your position on this issue. Thank you for your consideration of this important request.

Sincerely,

(Your name) [Be sure to include your address in the letter]

Call the Capitol switchboard at: (202) 224-3121 or visit www.senate.gov to locate the name and number of your senator.

Contact Kathy Brown, Church Outreach, Advocacy Manager, CRS (410) 625-2220, ext.3620, kbrown@catholicrelief.org or Valerie Piraino, Assistant, (410) 625-2220, ext. 3492, vpiraino@catholicrelief.org or toll free at (800) 235-2772, same extensions. For information on CRS programming see www.catholicrelief.org ; Catholic Relief Services, 209 West Fayette, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Voices for Justice

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