American voices: ONE members speak out against the budget cuts

Mar 17th, 2011 9:43 AM UTC
By Malaka Gharib

As the Senate makes important decisions on the US budget, ONE members from across the country are urging lawmakers to make careful choices and avoid drastic cuts to effective programs that are saving millions of lives that would otherwise be lost to AIDS and malaria for less than 1 percent of the budget.

But what are ONE members saying, exactly? We asked five members from across the country to share their opinions on the issue. Read their responses then add your own thoughts in the comment section below:

“I’m convinced more than ever that real change starts at home. As a stay-at-home mom and a conservative, I’ve lobbied for programs that work, such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund and I’ve been on the ground to witness those programs in action…I believe that no one — regardless of where you happen to be born — should have to live in extreme poverty or without access to lifesaving medication.” — Shayne Moore, ONE member and author of “Global Soccer Mom.”

“As Congress faces tough decisions on the budget, it’s up to us — as teachers, students and ONE members — to ensure we protect American efforts that make it possible for a sub-Saharan farmer to grow food for his family, for a woman with AIDS to give birth to a healthy, HIV-free child and for a child to sleep safely under the protection of a bed net.” — Danielle Depas, a high school teacher and sponsor of the ONE chapter of more than 200 students at her Florida school.

“I am a student at University of Delaware. I will graduate next year. If there is anyone who is concerned about our growing deficit, it’s me. After all, it will be me and people my age who will have to deal with it down the line. However, even though I believe that cuts need to be made, I also believe those cuts need to be wise” — University of Delaware student and ONE Campus Leader Conor Leary.

“Good stewardship of our federal dollars means making good choices — choices that don’t hurt the most vulnerable people in the world. It is our moral duty to make sure that in our quest to reduce the deficit, we do not reduce our funding and compassion for the more than 1.4 billion people living on less than $1.25 a day.” — Pastor Matt Staniz, of Temple Lutheran Church in Havertown, Pennsylvania.

Simply put, our ONE members know that these budget cuts could cost lives. Speak out against the budget cuts and share your viewpoint with us.

TAGS: ONE