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Africa: Budget Action Alert
Africa: Budget Action Alert
Date distributed (ymd): 970418
WOA Document
This posting contains an action alert from the Washington
Office on Africa and a background signon letter from Faith
Action for People-Centered Development, a coalition of
Washington-based groups. This posting is being distributed
only to the addresses on the Africa Policy Electronic
Distribution List that are identifiable as on U.S-based host
computers.
WOA Action Alert
April 17, 1997
URGENT ACTION NEEDED ON FOREIGN AID AUTHORIZATION
African sustainable development efforts will be greatly
affected by decisions on the foreign assistance budget now
scheduled for April 23, 1997.
The House International Relations Committee chairman Ben
Gilman is proposing $18.8 billion for the overall Fiscal Year
(FY) 1998 international affairs budget, which is $500 million
above the FY97 level but $700 million below the President's
current request. Despite a potential increase, Gilman is
proposing to cut bilateral development assistance programs by
a total of $180 million below the FY97 level.
In the past two years the average overall cuts to the foreign
operations budget have been 10-11%. But the line items that
are most important to Africa have suffered disproportionately
severe cuts. The Gilman proposal for FY98 would cut child
survival and disease programs by $45 million*, family planning
by $57 million, and the Development Fund for Africa (DFA) by
another $100 million from their FY97 levels. DFA has already
been cut 16% from $802 million to $675 million over the past
two years. The African Development Foundation (ADF) has been
cut from $16.9 million to $11.5 million over the same period,
a 32% reduction. Gilman's proposal would keep refugee and
migration assistance as well as disaster assistance at the
same levels as FY97. Unprotected programs in "remaining DA"
(e.g. microenterprise, democracy, environment, agriculture,
and economic growth) look to take even deeper cuts.
This proposal would be devastating, because it will set a
marker for the budget and appropriations committees as they
determine their numbers.
Action Needed:
Call toll free 1-800-962-3524. When the operator answers
Capitol, ask for the Representative by name and they will
transfer your call to the Member's office.
Tell Members of the House International Relations Committee
that Representative Gilman's proposed cut in development
assistance is unfair and unacceptable. With a large percentage
of the poorest countries in the world, Africa should not be
expected to bear the brunt of further disproportionate cuts.
At an absolute minimum, Congress must adopt the
Administration's request for development assistance ($66
million above FY97 levels). If the foreign assistance budget
is to be increased, then development assistance should be the
top priority for a restoration of funds. Poverty eradication
for the most marginalized and vulnerable peoples and countries
should be a priority within the accounts, since these programs
have been cut so deeply already.
The Administration's request is still too low for development
program needs, but it is the highest proposal under
consideration. Gilman has stated on many occasions his public
support for development programs and the PVO community, and we
need to encourage him to demonstrate that support by raising
the funding levels. The policy makers listed below need to
hear from you this week before markup!
House International Relations Committee Members 105th Congress
If you call direct or send a fax, the area code is (202).
NAME PHONE FAX
Gary L. Ackerman D NY 225-2601 225-1589
Robert Andrews D NJ 225-6501 225-6583
Cass Ballenger R NC 225-2576 225-0316
Doug Bereuter R NE 225-4806 226-1148
Howard L. Berman D CA 225-4695 225-5279
Roy Blunt R MO 225-6536 225-5604
Sherrod Brown D OH 225-3401 225-2266
Dan Burton R IN 225-2276 225-0016
Tom Campbell R CA 225-2631 225-6788
Walter Holden Capps D CA 225-3601 225-5632
Steven J. Chabot R OH 225-2216 225-3012
Pat Danner D MO 225-7041 225-8221
Eni F.H. Faleomavaega D AS 225-8577 225-8757
Jon D. Fox R PA 225-6111 225-3155
Elton Gallegly R CA 225-5811 225-1100
Sam Gejdenson D CT 225-2076 225-4977
Benjamin A. Gilman R NY 225-5021 225-2035
William F. Goodling R PA 225-5836 226-1000
Lindsey O. Graham R SC 225-5301 225-3216
Lee H. Hamilton D IN 225-6735 226-3581
Alcee Hastings D FL 225-1313 226-0690
Earl Hilliard D AL 225-2665 226-0772
Amo Houghton R NY 225-3161 225-5574
Henry J. Hyde R IL 225-4561 225-1166
Jay Kim R CA 225-3201 226-1485
Peter King R NY 225-7896 226-2279
Dennis J. Kucinich D OH 225-5871 225-5745
Tom Lantos D CA 225-3531 225-7900
Jim Leach R IA 225-6576 226-1278
Donald Manzullo R IL 225-5676 225-5284
Matthew G. Martinez D CA 225-5464 225-5467
John McHugh R NY 225-4611 226-0621
Cynthia McKinney D GA 225-1605 226-0691
Robert Menendez D NJ 225-7919 226-0792
Jerry Moran R KS 225-2715 225-5124
Donald M. Payne D NJ 225-3436 225-4160
Dana Rohrabacher R CA 225-2415 225-7067
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R FL 225-3931 225-5620
Steven R. Rothman D NJ 225-5061 225-5851
Ed Royce R CA 225-4111 226-0335
Matthew J. Salmon R AZ 225-2635 225-3405
Marshall Sanford R SC 225-3176 225-3407
Brad Sherman D CA 225-5911 225-5879
Christopher H. Smith R NJ 225-3765 225-7768
Robert Wexler D FL 225-3001 225-5974
[* Note: For more information on health funding in particular,
please contact Chuck Woolery, National Council of
International Health, 1701 K St., Washington, DC 20006-1503;
tel: 202-833-5900 x206; fax: 202-833-0075; e-mail:
chuck@igc.org]
Letter from Faith Action for People-Centered Development
March 24, 1997
Dear Senator/Congressperson:
We are writing to urge your strong support for the
Administration's FY 98 budget request for the Function 150
International Affairs account. While we do not support the
security assistance included in the 150 account, we know that
in the past a lower aggregate total has resulted in lower
levels of funding for global anti- poverty and hunger efforts.
To the extent that the proposed $19.451 billion, a four
percent increase over appropriated FY 97 funding, leads to
increased humanitarian and development assistance it
represents a modest but important step toward renewing U.S.
commitment to international cooperation and engagement in an
ever more interdependent world. The requested $921 million FY
97 supplemental for U.N. dues is likewise critically
important.
The U.S. finds itself at the end of the twentieth century
facing complex challenges and opportunities in its relations
with the community of nations. Our country must work to
articulate a new vision for global economic, social and
political relations that will serve as the basis for a
well-reasoned post-Cold War foreign policy. This new,
forward-looking foreign policy must, we believe, include
foursquare support for the United Nations, and foreign
assistance targeted to sectors and regions that are being
marginalized further by current trends in global economic
integration; support for countries in transition, peace
processes, peacekeeping, and conflict prevention; world-wide
reductions in military spending and forces; and relief of
human suffering resulting from natural and humanly-caused
crises and emergencies.
We believe that the proposed level of resources for
international affairs represents the minimum that will be
needed as the U.S. pursues a new vision of global affairs.
We note that the U.S. ranks last among donor countries in its
level of aid when measured as a percentage of Gross National
Product. At the same time, the U.S. rates first among donors
in the percentage of its aid allocated to high-income
countries. We urge both continued reform of aid institutions
and approval of increased resources for FY 98 and beyond. We
urge that this aid be used in programs that serve poor people,
especially in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
The Administration's FY 98 budget request includes increased
funding for people-centered development programs, which we
believe should have a priority claim on international affairs
resources. This includes the Agency for International
Development's Development Fund for Africa, the Inter-American
Foundation, the African Development Foundation, debt
restructuring for poor countries, the concessional lending
program the Inter-American Development Bank (the Fund for
Special Operations - FSO) , the proposed AID Africa Food
Security Initiative, and funding for International
Organizations and Programs.
We commend the high priority the Administration has assigned
to funding for current obligations and arrearage payments for
U.S. contributions to the United Nations, to U.N. peacekeeping
operations and to the World Bank's International Development
Association (IDA). Global institutions are indispensable to
efforts to achieve human security. Reform of the United
Nations and World Bank should seek not only greater
efficiency, but policies and practices that make a clear
priority of poverty eradication that incorporates the
leadership and participation of poor people.
During a time of diminishing resources budget allocations
become an even more critical reflection of national
priorities. We urge support for budget allocations that give
greater emphasis to human security and less emphasis to
security narrowly-defined in military terms. Real security is
achieved by ensuring the full range of human rights including
civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. An
increased emphasis on this real security is needed both in
U.S. foreign and domestic policy.
Recent opinion polls, focus groups, and patterns of charitable
giving demonstrate that the American people have a deep
humanitarian commitment. The proposed increase in FY 98 and
supplemental FY 97 funding for international affairs
represents an effort to reflect this ethic more strongly in
U.S. policy priorities. We urge your support of the full
request.
Sincerely,
David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World
Fr. Robert Brooks, Director of Government Relations, The
Episcopal Church
Mark B. Brown, Assistant Director for Advocacy, Lutheran
Office for Governmental Affairs, Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America
Daryl Byler, Director, Washington Office, Mennonite Central
Committee
Imani Countess, Executive Director, Washington Office on
Africa
Michael Dodd, Director, Columban Fathers, Justice and Peace
Office
Jaydee R. Hanson, Assistant General Secretary, Ministry of
God's Creation, General Board of Church and Society United
Methodist Church
John Harvey, Director, Washington Office, Church of the
Brethren
Jay Lintner, Director, Office for Church in Society/ United
Church of Christ
Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, Director, Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) Washington Office
James Matlack, Director, Washington Office, American Friends
Service Committee
Terence W. Miller, Director, Maryknoll Justice and Peace
Office
Rodney Page, Executive Director, Church World Service
Edward Stowe, Legislative Secretary, Friends Committee on
National Legislation
George Vickers, Executive Director, Washington Office on Latin
America
Corinne Whitlatch, Director, Churches for Middle East Peace
Kathryn Wolford, President, Lutheran World Relief
Miriam A. Young, Executive Director, Asia Pacific Center for
Justice and Peace
This material is distributed by the Washington Office on
Africa (WOA), a not-for-profit church, trade union and civil
rights group supported organization that works with Congress
on Africa-related legislation. WOA's educational affiliate is
the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC).
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