World Hunger
Fact Sheet: The U.S. Budget and Humanitarian Aid
Some of the most important decisions in the fight against global poverty
take place in Washington, D.C., as part of the U.S. federal budget
process.
Programs funded by the United States have the power to produce real
change in poor countries. Understanding the process that decides
funding for these programs is a key first step to becoming an effective
advocate for women and families in poor communities around the world.
The Budget Process
1 The President's Budget Request
January — February
In January, the president delivers the State of the Union address, laying
out his priorities for the coming year. This is followed in early February by
the president's budget request, a detailed proposal for the next fiscal
year, which begins October 1.
What You Can Do
Each December, members of Congress sign a bipartisan letter to the
president asking him to prioritize funding for the International Affairs
Budget. Urge your legislators to sign this letter emphasizing the
importance of foreign aid.
2 The Budget Resolution
March — April
The House and Senate Budget Committees create a budget resolution,
which establishes a spending level for each category of the budget.
What You Can Do
The budget category that funds foreign aid is called the International
Affairs Budget. Urge the budget committees to support the highest
possible funding level for this category.
3 Appropriation Bills
May — June
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and their
subcommittees, create appropriation bills to determine specific funding
for different parts of the budget. These bills are debated and voted on by
the full House and Senate.
What You Can Do
The bill that establishes funding for foreign aid is the Foreign Operations
bill. Urge your members of Congress to support strong funding for core
humanitarian and development accounts within this bill.
4 Finalizing the Budget
June — September
Conference committees resolve the differences between the House and
Senate appropriations bills. The House and Senate vote on the
conference reports, and the president signs the appropriations bills into
law.
What You Can Do
The House and Senate appropriations bills may have different funding
levels for the same programs. Urge both houses to support the highest
funding level possible for poverty-fighting programs.
5 Beginning of the Fiscal Year
October 1
Why Aid Matters
Assistance programs help people help themselves.
More then 1 billion people live on less than a dollar a day.
These children and families are all too familiar with poverty. It has
robbed them of hope and threaten to steal their future.
By helping a child in such extreme poverty we can enable them to
experience somethings in life God offers.
Behind the bare brick walls of a desolate former British colonial
prison, five jailed Somali pirates didn't seem very fearsome at all.
Anarchy in Somalia has not only meant pirates but also vessels
from countries such as France, Spain, Indonesia, and South Korea
illegally gobbling up... hundreds of millions of dollars' ...worth of
fish from Somali waters, leading to destitution among Somali
fisherman,... and consequently piracy
Poverty hits African
Americans hard
News April 23, 2009
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reduce poverty and injustice and to
promote democratic values,
international cooperation and human
achievement..
So do what you can...Now
... and in the future
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