September 23, 2011

www.interaction.org

Contacts: Sue Pleming: 202.552.6561 or 202.341.3814 (Cell) or spleming@interaction.org Tawana Jacobs: 202.552.6534 or 202.297.1696 (Cell) or tjacobs@interaction.org

U.S. NGOs Support Senate Committees International Affairs Funding Bill

WASHINGTONNGO alliance InterAction supports the level of 2012 funding for international affairs approved Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Committee in a bipartisan 28-2 vote. The bill, and its bipartisan support, is a welcome relief for InterAction and its members who are still very concerned about the corresponding bill from the House of Representatives which proposes damaging cuts in U.S. global health, humanitarian relief and development programs. In addition to supporting those critical programs, the Senate bill also protects critical work underway to modernize foreign assistance by providing adequate funding for day-to-day operations at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The ill-conceived dramatic reductions in funding proposed by the House come at a time when the need couldnt be greater among the worlds poorest and most vulnerable, said Samuel A. Worthington, president and CEO of InterAction. InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international NGOs with more than 190 members doing development and relief work abroad. The growing famine in the Horn of Africa requires our immediate attention, and there is a clear need to expand emerging markets for U.S. products. We should also not ignore our militarys request to provide more financial support to their civilian counterparts working tirelessly to promote Americas self-interest abroad, he added. Despite the Senate bill falling short of showing upward progress from 2010 funding levels, it is clearly preferable within the context of an increasingly tough budget climate here in Washington. InterAction urges the House to follow the Senates lead in crafting the final FY 2012 funding levels for international affairs.

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InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based nongovernmental international organizations with more than 190 members. Our members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life. Visit www.interaction.org
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