WASHINGTON — ONE welcomes today’s passage of the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2012 (S.3310) by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The bill, introduced by Sen. Lugar (R-Ind.) and championed on both sides of the aisle by Sens. Kerry (D-Mass.) and Rubio (R-Fla.), would create greater transparency and accountability in U.S. foreign assistance by allowing the public access to information about how their tax dollars are spent abroad. The measure also calls for improving the mechanism by which foreign assistance is monitored and tested for effectiveness. And it would transform U.S. foreign assistance from an outdated program managed by more than 20 U.S. agencies into an integrated, more cohesive program governed by a national strategy for global development.

In the House, Reps. Poe (R-Texas) and Berman (D-Calif.) have introduced a companion bill that also enjoys bipartisan support. ONE looks forward to working with both chambers to pass this legislation as soon as possible.