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Subj: Action Re Foreign Affairs Budget Date: 2/13/2002 3:39:55 PM Eastern Standard Time From: ecrane@rpcv.org (Ed Crane) To: npca-l@list.vita.org (NPCA Advocacy) CC: ecrane@rpcv.org (Ed Crane)
Subject: Urgent update on Feinstein-DeWine letter Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 2:33 PM From: Ed Crane, NPCA Advocacy Coordinator
Dear Friends, Time is running out for signatures on a very important initiative by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Mike DeWine (R-OR). They are circulating a letter asking Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Ranking Member Pete Domenici (R-NM) to increase foreign affairs funding in the FY 2003 budget resolution which will be drafted next week. The list of Senators we are targeting for signature is below, along with a copy of the letter. Please call as many of these as possible in the next two days! (If you find any mistakes in phone numbers or names, please let us know so we can correct our records.) Thanks for your help!
Please call: Collins - Frank Fountain 224-2523 Corzine - Heather Howard 224-4744 Daschle - Denis McDonough 224-5556 Dodd - Janice O'Connell 224-4651 Durbin - Sue Hardesty 224-2152 Graham - Robert Filippone 224-3041 Kennedy - Sharon Waxman 224-4543 Kerry - Nancy Stetson 224-4651 Landrieu - Jason Matthews 224-5824 Levin - Jeremy Hekuis 224-6221 Lott - Jim Sartucci 224-6253 McConnell - Paul Grove 224-2104 Mikulski - Frederick Baron 224-4654 Murray - Ben McMakin 224-2621 Nelson (FL) - Peter Contostavlos 224-5274 Reed (RI) - Elizabeth King 2244642 Reid (NV) - Eddie Ayoob 224-3542 Snowe - Mark Adelman 224-5344 Wyden - Jeff Michels 224-5244
The Honorable Kent Conrad Chairman Budget Committee 621 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
As you begin work on the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget, we urge you to support significantly increased foreign affairs funding as a necessary and effective tool to promote U.S. national security interests around the globe. Given the new realities of the post-September 11th world, we strongly believe that combating poverty and promoting democratic government are both vital strategic objectives and moral imperatives for the United States.
For decades, foreign affairs programs have advanced U.S. national security interests by strengthening democratic institutions and market economies. Nevertheless, at a time when those interests are most threatened, our foreign affairs budget is barely 0.1 percent of GDP and less than one percent of the overall budget - with development assistance less than half of that. These percentages place the U.S. last among G-7 countries.
Today, a third of the world's people barely survive on $2 per day. Just as we must have adequate resources to preempt and respond to terrorist attacks, so too must we address the conditions that foster terrorism: widespread illiteracy, hunger and disease, and the lack of access to democratic institutions. An increase in the foreign affairs budget, with a focus on programs to combat poverty and strengthen democracy, will help save lives and provide economic opportunities through improvements in education, health, shelter and food security. It will also provide the United States with reliable partners committed to combating international terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
In the wake of the September 11th attacks, we have a unique opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the cause of promoting peace and stability abroad, building respect for America and our values, and protecting vital U.S. national security interests. We must not let our foreign affairs budget continue to fall short of what is needed. Moreover, we believe that there are sufficient resources within the $2.13 trillion budget submitted by the President to support significantly increased amounts for foreign affairs funding.
We appreciate your attention to this request and we look forward to working with you.
Very respectfully yours,
Dianne Feinstein Mike DeWine
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