Washington, DC — ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History commended Chairman Robert Byrd and Ranking Member Thad Cochran of the Senate Committee on Appropriations for supporting a historic $2+ billion increase in poverty-fighting development assistance over last year late last week. The Committee’s vote comes on the heels of the full House’s passage of a historic $2+ billion dollar increase in poverty-fighting development assistance.

The increase applies to child and maternal health programs, basic education, global health programs to fight HIV/AIDS and the expansion of clean water programs. However the Senate’s proposed funding level for the Millennium Challenge Corporation is significantly below the President’s request.

“Chairman Byrd and Ranking Member Cochran joined the Members of the House in demonstrating tremendous leadership in the fight against global disease and extreme poverty while guiding the Foreign Operations spending bill through committee last week,” said Kimberly Cadena, spokesperson for the ONE Campaign. “When the bill reaches the Senate floor, ONE urges the inclusion of an amendment to increase funding for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which is currently far below both the President’s request and the level the House passed.”

Cadena continued, “ONE encourages Senate leaders to bring the bill to the floor for a full vote immediately. The need is urgent, and in a world where 30,000 children under the age of 5 die each day for lack of simple medicines and food, every minute counts. Additionally, America’s security depends on our action. Programs these funds support build goodwill for America abroad and a legacy of generosity and compassion here at home.”

The House of Representatives passed with bi-partisan support a historic increase of over $2 billion in poverty-fighting development assistance over last year. The funds were included in the FY2008 State-Foreign Operations spending bill, which passed the House in the early morning hours of Friday, June 22nd.

Highlights from the bill:

Global Health Programs

• $6.57 billion, total
• $5.09 billion, to combat HIV/AIDS
• $590 million, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria
• $476.5 million, Child Survival and Maternal Health

Development Assistance

• $1.455 billion, these programs include micro enterprise development, agriculture and basic education
  • $300 million, for improving access to clean water

Millennium Challenge Corporation

• $1.2 billion, which is $1.8 billion below the President’s request and $600 million below the House

International Disaster Assistance

• $322 million, these programs provide life-saving assistance during disasters and to avert famines