Washington D.C.-Following President Obama’s State of the Union address tonight, Sheila Nix, ONE’s U.S. Executive Director, made the following statement:

“As President Obama reiterated tonight, it is critical that America continues to invest in proven measures that are fighting extreme poverty, hunger and preventable disease worldwide.

“In the past several years, America’s development efforts have increasingly delivered results–measured in saved lives, increased opportunities and more stable countries. These efforts to help poor countries fight extreme poverty and disease are vital to our leadership in the world and our global security.

“The recent earthquake in Haiti has shown that effective, long-term investment in infrastructure and poverty-reduction is critical, especially in dealing with disaster and its aftermath.

“ONE looks forward to working with the President and Congress in the days and weeks ahead to continue strong, bipartisan support for global development efforts.”

In his State of the Union address tonight, President Obama said:

“That is the leadership that we are providing – engagement that advances the common security and prosperity of all people. We are working through the G-20 to sustain a lasting global recovery. We are working with Muslim communities around the world to promote science, and education and innovation. We have gone from a bystander to a leader in the fight against climate change. We are helping developing countries to feed themselves, and continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS. And we are launching a new initiative that will give us the capacity to respond faster and more effectively to bio-terrorism or an infectious disease – a plan that will counter threats at home, and strengthen public health abroad.

“As we have for over sixty years, America takes these actions because our destiny is connected to those beyond our shores. But we also do it because it is right. That’s why, as we meet here today, over 10,000 Americans are working with many nations to help the people of Haiti recover and rebuild. That is why we stand with the girl who yearns to go to school in Afghanistan; why we support the human rights of the women marching through the streets of Iran; and why we advocate for the young man denied a job by corruption in Guinea. For America must stand on the side of freedom and human dignity–always.

“Abroad, America’s greatest source of strength is our ideals.”