Act to Protect Foreign Aid Programs that Save Lives

From Oxfam America (http://www.oxfamamerica.org):

At this time more than 20 million people are facing starvation as famine looms in Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, and has already been declared in parts of South Sudan. The United Nations has warned that the world is facing the largest humanitarian crisis since the UN was founded in 1945.

At a time of unprecedented crisis, the US should be mobilizing an unprecedented response. But while Oxfam and other groups are on the ground responding, the US government is turning its back.

As you have heard, the Trump administration is proposing draconian cuts to foreign aid programs, the State Department, and contributions to the United Nations which will devastate our country’s ability to prevent, resolve, and respond to the four looming famines.

Members of U.S. Congress are on recess next week but will take up the budget when they get back later this month. They need to hear that Americans care about fighting poverty and that we want to do all we can to support the millions of people on the brink of famine:

Go to https://secure3.oxfamamerica.org/page/speakout/tell-congress-protect-programs-that-save-lives to email your representatives in Congress

Or better yet, give them a call: you can reach all your elected representatives directly by calling the Congressional Switchboard 202-224-3121 and entering your zip code (find your representative’s direct dial information at http://www.house.gov; Senator Casey at http://casey.senate.gov, Senator Toomey at http://toomey.senate.gov). Here’s sample language for your call:

As your constituent and a supporter of Oxfam, I am writing to urge you to fully fund the International Affairs Budget at $60 billion, and oppose all cuts to poverty-focused development assistance and life-saving humanitarian aid, diplomacy, and international organizations. I also urge you to support an additional $1 billion for famine prevention and relief in FY17, since we need to get money to the frontlines now to save lives while we still can.

Even if you’ve already called or emailed please take a few minutes to call again – congressional offices are keeping track of all of the requests from constituents. Your voice matters. We can still stop the worst from happening and save lives in Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria and South Sudan if we act now.

Thank you as always for all you do.