ONE Reacts to President Obama’s Proposed FY 2015 Budget

WASHINGTON – The ONE Campaign today reacted to President Obama’s budget requests for US foreign assistance programs in fiscal year 2015.

Tom Hart, US Executive Director of ONE, said:

“Overall, the President’s proposed budget to fight global poverty and disease is a positive step forward in a time of difficult budget constraints.

We are especially pleased by the proposed funding increase for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), which works to protect millions of children from preventable diseases. We also welcome President Obama’s funding levels for the important work of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and other programs, such as Feed the Future, which are helping to lift millions out of extreme poverty. And we applaud the President for highlighting the Power Africa initiative in the budget and stressing the importance of bringing first time electricity access to millions of people living in sub-Saharan Africa.

ONE is grateful to the administration for its $1.35 billion request for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which continues the US commitment to match contributions by other donors on a 1:2 basis.

We are concerned, however, by the stagnant funding level for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), America’s bilateral program to fight HIV/AIDS around the world. In order to achieve the President’s vision of reaching an AIDS-free generation within our lifetimes, PEPFAR needs renewed funding, targets, and leadership. We look forward to working with Congress to ensure increased funding for PEPFAR, and urge the White House and Senate to work together to ensure a swift confirmation process for Dr. Deborah Birx, the nominee for US Global AIDS Coordinator. Once confirmed, we look forward to PEPFAR charting a course that includes bold new outcome-oriented targets that strengthen support for the program and drive accelerated progress towards the beginning of the end of AIDS.”