October 17th, 2009

National Day of Action to Eradicate Poverty

The current legislative authority for U.S. foreign assistance – the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 – is nearly 50 years old, grounded largely in Cold War threats and outdated priorities. It does not reflect current global challenges confronting the United States and the global community we live in.

Hundreds of amendments have added multiple objectives and priorities that in some cases conflict with one another, rendering the Foreign Assistance Act irrational from a policy perspective, administratively burdensome, and wholly lacking in strategic vision. Multiple foreign aid laws, separate from the Foreign Assistance Act, have been enacted, sometimes intended to achieve work-arounds of the core 1961 Act, but resulting in a enormous body of fragmented and disconnected statutes directing policy.

If the US wants to modernize its efforts to foster a more stable, prosperous, and democratic world, it needs new foreign assistance legislation designed to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

With a new President and a new Congress, we have a once-in-a generation opportunity to reform U.S. foreign assistance.

This October 17th, tell Congress that the U.S. needs a fresh approach to global development—one that streamlines our aid, eliminates long-standing inefficiencies and increases the impact of our dollars, even in a time of economic hardship.

Organize a teach-in, group phone bank, advocacy BBQ, open mic night, film screening, musical performance, art installation, or rally. Make announcements to your classes, hand a banner, table in the commons, or submit an op-ed to your campus paper. Get the word out there. But don’t forget that October 17th is a Saturday.  Therefore, if you want to get through to Congress, be sure to call before 5pm EST on Friday, October 16th!

Representative Howard Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is already outlining his vision for a new Foreign Assistance Act, demonstrating his commitment to this issue as his top priority for this Congress. Now let’s help him get the job done.

CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

Tell Congress to:

1. Cosponsor HR 2139, "The Initiating Foreign Assistance Act" (if they haven't already), to call on the President to craft a first-ever National Strategy for Global Development and strengthen accountability and transparency measures for U.S. foreign assistance.
2. Repeal the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
3. Work with Chairman Berman and the Administration to plan, design, and enact an entirely new act in its place that incorporates and supersedes associated legislation.
4. Reauthorize the new act at least every four years, supported by a Quadrennial Development Review to ensure our foreign assistance laws and national development strategy are fully integrated.

A new act should:

Tips for effective communication to Congress:

• If calling: Introduce yourself and that you are a voting member of your Representative's district.
• If writing an email/letter: Put your name and address at the end of your letter AND on the envelope so your Representative knows that you are a constituent.
• Ask for specific action: See the "Tell Congress to" section above.
• Give reasons why: Feel free to use the information provided above of personal examples of your own.
• For more information: Your Representative can contact Chairman Berman's office or Didier Trinh of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network at Dtrinh@modernizingforeignassistance.org.

Modernized U.S. foreign assistance programs alone will not end global poverty. However, the U.S. remains the largest net donor of foreign assistance in the world, making this a critical step in the right direction.

Our challenge, as youth and as organizers, is to take our mobilization to the next level. To ensure that millions of voices are not just shouting into the wind, but are heard by local, national and international leaders. To ensure that those leaders are encouraged, persuaded and forced to take action.

Poverty is the measure of the crisis.
Poverty is the measure of the solution.

For more information or tips on how to organize a successful event, contact Sarah Frazer at Sarah@aidemocracy.org.

Additional Resources:

• Oxfam Report: "Failing the Cardozo Test: Why US foreign assistance legislation needs a fresh start"
• House Foreign Affairs Committee Concept Paper 7-23-09 for Foreign Aid Reform
• Modernizing Assistance Network, U.S. Foreign Assistance for the 21st Century
• Beyond Good Intentions, a ten-part film series investigating the effectiveness of international aid