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U.S. Government foreign assistance leads the way in improving life for All God’s Children. Faith communities are key partners in unprecedented success. It’s time to tell America’s Untold Success Stories…
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A Millennial First
Technology has us globally connected, and an entire generation of young advocates wants our nation to help those in desperate need, wherever that need live. And so it was a first for a dozen Millennials who traveled from around the country to Capitol Hill. Young leaders from 10 states met with Members of Congress and staff — 16 Republican offices and 16 Democrat — in the Senate and House.
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From Maine: Ophelia Hu Kinney, representing Bread for the Word, speaking with
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine).
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These volunteers flew to Washington on behalf of the Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance, a unique network of 53 Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist faith-based organizations (FBOs) engaged in global health, development and humanitarian assistance. They were united in support of the life-saving work catalyzed by U.S. government foreign assistance.
Some FBOs receive federal funding and others do not, but every one of them wants Congress to understand just how crucial U.S. government funding, influence and leadership are to the private sector’s impact and sustainable success.
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From New York: Pastor Bledi Leno (Adventist Development and Relief Agency), Rabbi Mark Kaiserman (American Jewish World Service, Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-6), Claire Deroche (Unitarian Universalist church at Shelter Rock), and Margaret Tran (Bread for the World).
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But why not hear from one of the young participants directly?
“It was an incredible week in DC!" said Abigail, who traveled from Colorado to represent Compassion International:
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From Colorado: Wubshet Loha (Bread for the World), Jared Brown (Compassion International) and Abigail Samson (Compassion International) met with staff from Senator Michael Bennet’s office (D-CO).
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“Not only were we able to visit 10 congressmen and senators’ offices in the U.S. Capitol Building (sometimes meeting their knowledgeable legislative correspondents and sometimes meeting the representatives themselves), but we also made connections with members of USAID, Food for the Hungry, Johns Hopkins University, Catholic Relief, The Friends Committee on National Legislation, The Religious Action Center of Reformed Judaism, Lutherans in Action, and United Sikhs.
I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of the opportunity that exists for us in the government space, to live out what’s printed on each one of our building badges: Child Advocate. I’m grateful for this rich invitation to glimpse how partnerships could usher in God’s kingdom on earth for children everywhere.”
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Photo: CARE
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The private sector strongly supports U.S. foreign assistance
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According to the Center for Faith & The Common Good, in FY16, 71 of the largest U.S. FBOs focused on international assistance invested $6.79 billion, 83% from private dollars. 29 FBOs that receive public funding leverage it well, raising almost $5 for every public $1 received.
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Polls consistently show that Americans believe our U.S. government should allocate 5-10% of the federal budget to foreign assistance, yet the U.S. allocates less than 1% of the federal budget to poverty-focused health and development assistance. That’s why the Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance has been an important voice over the past several years in its quest to preserve and moderately increase the small U.S. foreign budget.
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From Missouri: Ally Henny (Bread for the World) met with staff from Senator Josh Hawley’s office (R-MO).
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A Reminder of Bipartisan Success
As these Millennials came away excited about expressing their faith-driven voices on Capitol Hill, they left behind a consistent message for Congress: U.S. foreign assistance offers aid and compassion through life-saving and peace-building collaborations where and when it is needed most.
As child mortality, poverty rates, and diseases like malaria have all been cut in half in the past 25 years, so, too, has the U.S. benefitted. American jobs and the economy profit from trade with new markets that have emerged thanks to increased development, better health, and greater government stability. This success story benefits from long-standing bi-partisan support.
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Photo: Anera
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The Millennial Message
These Millennial leaders shared their gratitude for bipartisan support, but are clear that needs remain around the world that they are inheriting. They asked Congress to appreciate that even “small” funding cuts dig deep into the sliver of the federal budget pie that goes to foreign assistance. Any rollbacks are dangerous and undercut decades of results. It’s a price we cannot afford.
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