ONE Concerned by Proposed FY 14 International Affairs Budget Cuts

WASHINGTON (May 21, 2013) – The House Appropriations Committee today approved the spending allocations for the 2014 Fiscal Year appropriations bills. The allocation for the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill in FY 14 is $40.6 billion – a 19% cut from current FY 13 spending and 19% below President Obama’s FY 14 budget request.

The ONE Campaign is very discouraged by this allocation, as it could have a disproportionate impact on effective, life-saving programs that help the world’s most vulnerable people.

Tom Hart, U.S. Executive Director of ONE, says:

“These spending levels represent a potential retreat from U.S. leadership in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease.  We are on a trail blazed by Republicans and Democrats alike that has cut the number of people living in extreme poverty in half and made enormous strides in the fight against preventable diseases like HIV/AIDS.

Stepping off the trail now is not in the strategic, economic or moral interests of the United States. We understand the difficult choices lawmakers must make in the current budget environment.  But we urge them to keep in mind the disproportionate effect these cuts will have on global stability and U.S. leadership, as well as the most vulnerable people on the planet. We ask the House to prioritize funding for effective, life-saving programs.”

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ABOUT ONE
ONE is a global advocacy and campaigning organization backed by more than 3 million people from around the world dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. For more information visit ONE.org.