During his inauguration speech, President Barack Obama pledged to work alongside the "people of poor nations...to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds."
"We can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders," President Obama said, underscoring the fragility of the world economy. On March 11, he took an important step towards this goal by requesting $53.8 billion for the country's fiscal year 2010 International Affairs Budget, which includes funding for vital development programs for women and families living in poverty.
This funding, while only 1.4 percent of the national budget, could mean the difference between life and death for millions who are struggling to survive on less than a dollar a day, many of whom have been plunged into extreme poverty over the past few months. However, this week the Congressional Budget Committees cut the President's International Affairs Budget request by $5.3 billion in the House and $4.0 billion in the Senate.
Take Action! Tell the Senate to Restore Lifesaving Funding for the International Affairs Budget!
Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) will be offering an amendment this week to restore funding for the International Affairs Budget. As supporters of women's economic opportunity, we must do all we can to gain support for the Kerry-Lugar amendment so that this important support reaches the millions of women and families around the world who are living in extreme poverty. Please take action today by asking your Senators to co-sponsor the Kerry-Lugar Amendment and oppose any further cutting amendments.
Take Action: Call your Senators today and urge them to support the Kerry-Lugar Amendment to restore $4 billion to the International Affairs Budget and oppose any further cutting amendments!
How to Take Action:
1. Click here to look up your Senators' office phone numbers.
2. When an office staffer answers the phone say, "As a consituent of Senator ______, I am calling to urge the Senator to support the Kerry-Lugar Amendment to restore the $4 billion cut to the FY10 International Affairs Budget in the Senate Budget Resolution and oppose any further cutting amendments." Click here for more talking points.
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