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Dear Interfaith Working Group, This page is for you. Recent Executive Orders and budget proposals dramatically underscore our need to share information, resources and support. We offer this central space for our IWGFA members to do just that. During the uncertain months ahead, please contribute information and resources. Together we'll make this page an on-going, robust resource for the IWGFA. ON THIS PAGE |
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1. LIST OF IWFGA MEMBERS & CONTACTS
Click here to view the list of IWGFA contacts
Click here to view the list of IWGFA Communications contacts
Click here to view the list of IWGFA Communications contacts
2. FAITH LEADER ACTIVITIES
APRIL 30 2019 FLY-IN: Supporting the Life-Saving Work of U.S. Foreign Aid
It was an electric day on Capitol Hill as faith voices rang loud and clear. More than 25 faith leaders from more than a dozen different states had 58 meetings with Representatives and their staff, including Chairman of the senate foreign relations committee Senator Risch (R-ID) and Representative David Price (D-NC), on the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
These volunteers flew to Washington on behalf of the Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance, a unique collaboration of 53 Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist faith-based organizations engaged in global health, development and humanitarian aid. They gathered in united support of the life-saving work of U.S. foreign assistance.
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 assistance budget, just one half of one percent of the federal budget, because it offers life-saving and peace-building collaboration where it is needed most.
Peel back the headlines, and we can see foreign aid’s remarkable success:
The historic decline in child death means 7 million fewer children will die this year than in 1990 (UNICEF). 75% of countries have at least halved under-5 mortality which proves increasing child survival is possible, even in severely impoverished places.
Diseases are way down, like malaria — down 58%, and the two leading causes of early child death — diarrhea and pneumonia — are down 57% and 47% respectively; and HIVAIDS is down 61%. (WHO)
Costs are minimal. $1 a year per American funds all U.S. government programs to provide access to safe drinking water and 50 cents funds America’s contribution to finally eradicating polio.
Millions of Americans are engaged in congregations and organizations committed to bettering the lives of people around the world and dozens of faith-based organizations are on the frontlines tackling global problems head on. But the private sector cannot do this alone. The participation of U.S. government leadership, influence, convening powers and funding is fundamental to achieving unprecedented success and forward momentum.
Gratitude and Concern
Faith leaders shared their gratitude for the bipartisan support for America’s irreplaceable role, but also expressed deep concern. The US. foreign assistance budget is under particularly heavy assault. Rolling it back is deadly.
Disasters, natural and manmade, will always need addressed. Too many children still die, most from preventable causes. Hundreds of thousands of healthcare facilities lack clean water and basic sanitation, and 2.5 million babies die within the first month of life. We know 131 million girls are not in school, and we know food insecurity can result in even short bouts of malnutrition that can have lifelong impact on children’s health, learning ability and productivity as an adult. 68 million people are in urgent need assistance, stuck in the largest refugee crisis since World War II. These are crises, but they are solvable.
Bipartisan Success
With one unique, collective moral voice, these diverse faith leaders reminded Congress that U.S. foreign assistance is indeed a long-standing bipartisan success story that promotes the dignity of all people, while advancing U.S. and global health, economic and human security.
It was an electric day on Capitol Hill as faith voices rang loud and clear. More than 25 faith leaders from more than a dozen different states had 58 meetings with Representatives and their staff, including Chairman of the senate foreign relations committee Senator Risch (R-ID) and Representative David Price (D-NC), on the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
These volunteers flew to Washington on behalf of the Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance, a unique collaboration of 53 Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist faith-based organizations engaged in global health, development and humanitarian aid. They gathered in united support of the life-saving work of U.S. foreign assistance.
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 assistance budget, just one half of one percent of the federal budget, because it offers life-saving and peace-building collaboration where it is needed most.
Peel back the headlines, and we can see foreign aid’s remarkable success:
The historic decline in child death means 7 million fewer children will die this year than in 1990 (UNICEF). 75% of countries have at least halved under-5 mortality which proves increasing child survival is possible, even in severely impoverished places.
Diseases are way down, like malaria — down 58%, and the two leading causes of early child death — diarrhea and pneumonia — are down 57% and 47% respectively; and HIVAIDS is down 61%. (WHO)
Costs are minimal. $1 a year per American funds all U.S. government programs to provide access to safe drinking water and 50 cents funds America’s contribution to finally eradicating polio.
Millions of Americans are engaged in congregations and organizations committed to bettering the lives of people around the world and dozens of faith-based organizations are on the frontlines tackling global problems head on. But the private sector cannot do this alone. The participation of U.S. government leadership, influence, convening powers and funding is fundamental to achieving unprecedented success and forward momentum.
Gratitude and Concern
Faith leaders shared their gratitude for the bipartisan support for America’s irreplaceable role, but also expressed deep concern. The US. foreign assistance budget is under particularly heavy assault. Rolling it back is deadly.
Disasters, natural and manmade, will always need addressed. Too many children still die, most from preventable causes. Hundreds of thousands of healthcare facilities lack clean water and basic sanitation, and 2.5 million babies die within the first month of life. We know 131 million girls are not in school, and we know food insecurity can result in even short bouts of malnutrition that can have lifelong impact on children’s health, learning ability and productivity as an adult. 68 million people are in urgent need assistance, stuck in the largest refugee crisis since World War II. These are crises, but they are solvable.
Bipartisan Success
With one unique, collective moral voice, these diverse faith leaders reminded Congress that U.S. foreign assistance is indeed a long-standing bipartisan success story that promotes the dignity of all people, while advancing U.S. and global health, economic and human security.
IWGFA 2018 Fly-In Recap: read here
3. BUDGET
Trump Administration Drops Proposal to Cut Foreign Aid After Intense Debate
August 22, 2019: President Trump on Thursday rejected a proposal from budget hawks in the administration to curb foreign aid spending after objections from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and lawmakers from both parties... read more
THANK YOU TO BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS:
Thank you Senators Risch (R-ID) and Menendez (D-NJ), and Representatives Engel (D-NY) and McCaul (R-TX), for your strongly worded bipartisan letter to OMB against rescissions: "Slashing crucial diplomacy and development programming would be detrimental to our national security while also undermining Congress's intended use for these funds."
Thank you Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) for reiterating this message in their letter to OMB: "In short, these funds, which the agencies have plans to obligate for their intended purposes before the end of the fiscal year, are essential to promoting U.S. global leadership and protecting the security of the American people."
Thank you Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY) who went straight to the President, expressing in their letter their "significant concern" about "the potential to undermine significant national security and anti-terrorism efforts."
August 22, 2019: President Trump on Thursday rejected a proposal from budget hawks in the administration to curb foreign aid spending after objections from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and lawmakers from both parties... read more
THANK YOU TO BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS:
Thank you Senators Risch (R-ID) and Menendez (D-NJ), and Representatives Engel (D-NY) and McCaul (R-TX), for your strongly worded bipartisan letter to OMB against rescissions: "Slashing crucial diplomacy and development programming would be detrimental to our national security while also undermining Congress's intended use for these funds."
Thank you Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) for reiterating this message in their letter to OMB: "In short, these funds, which the agencies have plans to obligate for their intended purposes before the end of the fiscal year, are essential to promoting U.S. global leadership and protecting the security of the American people."
Thank you Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY) who went straight to the President, expressing in their letter their "significant concern" about "the potential to undermine significant national security and anti-terrorism efforts."
4. FBO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
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Latest News:
FY19 State and Foreign Operations House and Senate
Markup Overview: read here |
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5. MEETING MINUTES
6. SIGN-ON LETTERS LIBRARY
BUDGET: 26_faith_based_organizations_urge_the_state_department_to_push_back_against_proposed_rescission
BUDGET: 26_faith_based_organizations_urge_congress_to_reject_proposed_rescissions
REFUGEES: More than 750 Faith Leaders and Faith Organizations Decry Low Refugee Arrivals
BUDGET: OPEN LETTER FROM 28 FAITH ORGANIZATIONS EXPRESSING SUPPORT TO CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 SFOPS BILL
BUDGET: OPEN LETTER FROM 27 FAITH ORGANIZATIONS EXPRESSING SUPPORT TO CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
BUDGET: Letter signed by 32 interfaith organizations regarding the FY19 Request
BUDGET: Letter signed by 26 Interfaith organizations sent to Senate and House Appropriations Sub-Committee State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Chairs and Ranking Members regarding robust FY18 funding for international relief and development programs.
USAID: Letter to Majority Leader McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Schumer, Chairman Corker, and Ranking Member Cardin from 87 Faith-based and other organizations urging the confirmation of Ambassador Mark Green as the next Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.
BUDGET: 16 Generals Submitted Testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee calling for the protection of foreign assistance funding. A copy of the testimony was also sent to the SFRC, Senate SFOPS, House SFOPS, HFAC and HASC committees.
BUDGET: 24 Faith-Based Organizations signed a letter expressing support for the international Affairs budget. Click here to read the letter.
BUDGET: 43 Senators signed a letter expressing strong bipartisan support for robust funding of the International Affairs Budget: click here to read the letter
BUDGET: With support from CCIH, leaders of 18 members of the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority and Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell and Chuch Schumer and U.S. House Leaders Speaker Paul Ryan and Representative Nancy Pelosi to express the tremendous benefits their communities have experienced from U.S. support of health and development programs and asked that lifesaving programs be protected: http://www.ccih.org/advocacy/CHA-Letter-Foreign-Affairs-Support.pdf
BUDGET: 100 conservative faith leaders call for protection of U.S. foreign assistance budget: https://www.worldvision.org/about-us/media-center/100-christian-leaders-tell-congressional-leadership-protect-foreign-assistance
BUDGET: 120 retire military call for strong International Affairs Budget: http://www.usglc.org/2017/02/27/over-120-retired-generals-admirals-on-state-and-usaid-budget-now-is-not-the-time-to-retreat/
BUDGET: The influential Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance offers strong support for FY18 funding of the International Affairs budget, in a letter signed by 32 faith-based organizations: fy18_budget_committee_letter__final_.pdf
REFUGEES: Accord: http://static.politico.com/ac/e4/b93a2d7041bc8243fed19f149fd0/evangelical-letter.pdf.
REFUGEES: Broad Christian and multi-faith reach: http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/religiousleaderletter/
REFUGEES: World Relief's sign-on letter for peace in South Sudan
REFUGEES: World Relief's Refugee Petition
REFUGEES: World Relief's petition for the BRIDGE act
REFUGEES: World Relief's Refugee Advocacy Toolkit
FAMINE: A bi-partisan letter that was led by Bass (D-CA) and Rooney (R-FL)
BUDGET: 26_faith_based_organizations_urge_congress_to_reject_proposed_rescissions
REFUGEES: More than 750 Faith Leaders and Faith Organizations Decry Low Refugee Arrivals
BUDGET: OPEN LETTER FROM 28 FAITH ORGANIZATIONS EXPRESSING SUPPORT TO CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 SFOPS BILL
BUDGET: OPEN LETTER FROM 27 FAITH ORGANIZATIONS EXPRESSING SUPPORT TO CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
BUDGET: Letter signed by 32 interfaith organizations regarding the FY19 Request
BUDGET: Letter signed by 26 Interfaith organizations sent to Senate and House Appropriations Sub-Committee State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Chairs and Ranking Members regarding robust FY18 funding for international relief and development programs.
USAID: Letter to Majority Leader McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Schumer, Chairman Corker, and Ranking Member Cardin from 87 Faith-based and other organizations urging the confirmation of Ambassador Mark Green as the next Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.
BUDGET: 16 Generals Submitted Testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee calling for the protection of foreign assistance funding. A copy of the testimony was also sent to the SFRC, Senate SFOPS, House SFOPS, HFAC and HASC committees.
BUDGET: 24 Faith-Based Organizations signed a letter expressing support for the international Affairs budget. Click here to read the letter.
BUDGET: 43 Senators signed a letter expressing strong bipartisan support for robust funding of the International Affairs Budget: click here to read the letter
BUDGET: With support from CCIH, leaders of 18 members of the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority and Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell and Chuch Schumer and U.S. House Leaders Speaker Paul Ryan and Representative Nancy Pelosi to express the tremendous benefits their communities have experienced from U.S. support of health and development programs and asked that lifesaving programs be protected: http://www.ccih.org/advocacy/CHA-Letter-Foreign-Affairs-Support.pdf
BUDGET: 100 conservative faith leaders call for protection of U.S. foreign assistance budget: https://www.worldvision.org/about-us/media-center/100-christian-leaders-tell-congressional-leadership-protect-foreign-assistance
BUDGET: 120 retire military call for strong International Affairs Budget: http://www.usglc.org/2017/02/27/over-120-retired-generals-admirals-on-state-and-usaid-budget-now-is-not-the-time-to-retreat/
BUDGET: The influential Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance offers strong support for FY18 funding of the International Affairs budget, in a letter signed by 32 faith-based organizations: fy18_budget_committee_letter__final_.pdf
REFUGEES: Accord: http://static.politico.com/ac/e4/b93a2d7041bc8243fed19f149fd0/evangelical-letter.pdf.
REFUGEES: Broad Christian and multi-faith reach: http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/religiousleaderletter/
REFUGEES: World Relief's sign-on letter for peace in South Sudan
REFUGEES: World Relief's Refugee Petition
REFUGEES: World Relief's petition for the BRIDGE act
REFUGEES: World Relief's Refugee Advocacy Toolkit
FAMINE: A bi-partisan letter that was led by Bass (D-CA) and Rooney (R-FL)
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