Washington D.C.– ONE today welcomed the $2.9 billion increase in funding for global poverty alleviation included in President Obama’s FY2010 budget request, released yesterday, part of an overall $4.1 billion increase over FY2009 in the International Affairs budget (also known as the 150 Account).  ONE applauded the overall increase in anti-poverty funding and the robust increase in long-term global health spending, but was disappointed with the President’s 2010 request for two important AIDS programs: the Global Fund and PEPFAR. ONE now calls on Congress to work with President Obama to fully fund the budget released today and to strengthen 2010 funding for these AIDS initiatives.

“Overall, this budget provides robust and critical support for America’s lifesaving development efforts that are so critical to a stronger, more effective foreign policy,” ONE’s President and CEO David Lane said. “That said, there are also areas where this year’s budget falls short, notably in critical support for the Global Fund and PEPFAR. ONE now looks to Congress to support and strengthen these efforts, continuing the strong bipartisan commitment to HIV/AIDS that has achieved lifesaving results over the last several years.”

Looking at the specifics of the President’s FY2010 budget, ONE applauded substantial increases to fight malaria, to support global agricultural development and to support the Millennium Challenge Account.

ONE is also encouraged by investments designated for climate change initiatives, although more details are needed to determine how much of these sector increases will be directed to Africa and to help the world’s poorest people.

ONE is disappointed and concerned that the budget flat lines U.S. support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and provides a relatively small increase for PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief). ONE urges Congress to increase spending on these programs during the appropriations process to levels that will continue the enormous success they have delivered to date.

ONE also places high importance on other accounts, including maternal and child health, reproductive health and basic education, and looks forward to reviewing further details in the President’s budget on how these programs will support efforts in Africa and improve the lives of the poor.

Click here to see ONE’s Report Card on President Obama’s FY2010 budget request.

ONE joins partner organizations InterAction and Malaria No More in welcoming important aspects of the budget announcement, while calling on the President and Congress to fully fund U.S. development and disease-fighting commitments around the world:

“The Administration has followed through on its promises to begin rebuilding much-needed capacity at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and re-investing in our country’s poverty-focused development and humanitarian programs,” said Samuel A. Worthington, InterAction President & CEO. “An alarming number of humanitarian crises require our attention, such as the escalating situation in Pakistan. Given the current economic climate, this request is a solid step toward addressing these crises and investing in long-term global stability and prosperity. We applaud the administration’s leadership. InterAction and its 179 member organizations urge Congress to work with the administration to make these critical investments a reality.”

“With this budget we are pleased the White House has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting malaria,” said Wendy Taylor, Senior Vice President of Global Advocacy at the Malaria No More Policy Center. “We remain concerned that the Global Fund, which does critical work to end disease, is not fully supported and will work with Congress and the Administration to ensure that all of our efforts are fully equipped to take on the challenges of our day.”

Click here to view other responses from ONE’s partner organizations.

Despite ONE’s  disappointment in the FY2010 request for HIV/AIDS specifically, ONE reiterated its support for President Obama’s long-term commitment, announced Tuesday, to pursue an expanded and comprehensive global health strategy that includes increases for programs to reduce the number of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth, to  prevent children less than five years old from dying from preventable diseases, and to use cost-effective treatments to cure millions of people stricken by neglected tropical diseases. The White House said this long-term plan will spend $63 billion over the next six years as part of a new, comprehensive global health strategy.

Background

Top lines of the President’s FY 2010 budget request for poverty-focused development assistance include:

• $200 million increase (36%) for global malaria over FY2009
• $550 million increase (63%) for the Millennium Challenge Account over FY2009
• $700 million increase (34%) for Development Assistance, largely to fund agricultural development and climate change initiatives over FY2009
• $205 million increase (18%) for the World Bank’s International Development Association over FY2009
• $408 million increase (40%) for USAID operating expenses over FY2009
• $900 million (a flat-lining of support) for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
• $100 million increase (2.5%) for PEPFAR over FY2009.

Already, American leadership to fight poverty and disease, supported by Democrats and Republicans alike, has helped save millions of lives from HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. U.S. programs like PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, have contribute to putting nearly 4 million people living with HIV/AIDS globally on lifesaving medicines, up from just 50,000 people in 2002. Millions more are surviving malaria thanks to the delivery of bed nets and medicines by the U.S. and other donors. In Rwanda and Ethiopia, for example, malaria cases and deaths were cut in half in two years.