CARE Urges United States to Invest in Fight Against Poverty

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 6, 2007) - The international humanitarian organization CARE called on the administration and members of Congress to invest in critical poverty-fighting foreign assistance after reviewing the president's FY 2008 Budget request and the FY 2007 and FY 2008 Supplemental Appropriations requests.

"While funding for U.S. foreign operations grew overall, I'm concerned about proposed cuts to crucial poverty-fighting foreign assistance," said Dr. Helene D. Gayle, president and CEO of CARE. "The cuts to child and maternal health and family planning funding in particular will erode our ability to help women survive childbirth and make healthy reproductive decisions. We simply cannot turn back in the fight against poverty. For women living on less than $1 per day, the price is just too high."

"I'm also concerned about the effects of relying on supplemental funding for the poorest and most vulnerable people, especially refugees and internally-displaced people (IDPs) whose lives may depend on the steady flow of U.S. assistance during crises. For many individuals and their families, our assistance may come too late if we forego the careful planning and certainty that the regular budget process provides. We can do better. I encourage policy makers to consider long-term solutions to the challenges associated with supplemental appropriations."

"Finally, we need all boats to rise in the coming year. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) did very well in the budget, and CARE strongly supports the U.S. commitment to the fight against HIV and AIDS. But we must invest in other poverty-fighting foreign assistance in order to secure the foundation for lasting community well-being — including effective AIDS prevention, treatment and care. A strong, balanced investment in core poverty-fighting foreign assistance is the best way to save lives and build healthy, sustainable communities around the world."

"This is a critical moment in the fight against global poverty," Dr. Gayle added. "Nearly 1 billion people live on less than $1 per day, and three million people will die from HIV and AIDS in 2007 alone. Over 125 million children cannot attend school, 530,000 mothers die needlessly in childbirth, and too many communities face the scourge of extreme poverty that can create an opening for illicit activities or the false promise of radicalism and division."

"But this is also a year of extraordinary opportunity, when the United States can fulfill its promise to be a global leader and to turn the tide in the fight against poverty and instability. By investing our resources wisely and promoting sensible and sustainable policies, the United States can ensure that children in the developing world will have the opportunity to attend school, drink clean water and reduce their vulnerability to life-threatening infectious diseases like HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. A strong, balanced U.S. commitment to combating global poverty and preventable disease will literally mean the difference between life and death for millions of the world's poor, creating a better future and building vital goodwill for the people of the United States."