Advocacy Alert : UNA-USA Urges Resumption of Congressionally-Approved Foreign Affairs Funding
The United Nations Association of the USA and Better World Campaign have released the following statement.
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The Administration announced in January that it would conduct a 90-day review of America’s foreign aid investments, which is the prerogative of any new Administration.
This review appears to have come to an abrupt and early end. Numerous UN agencies, funds and programs have received notices from the U.S. government that their funding has been terminated, in many cases despite prior Administration determinations that this same work was “lifesaving” and should continue. The breadth and depth of these terminations will negatively impact the lives of millions of families around the world.
These programs have enjoyed generations of support from Republicans and Democrats in Congress, in part because they make our country safer, stronger and more prosperous.
Among the work terminated:
A program that helped Mexican authorities predict and prevent money laundering from illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking. As it stands, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths in this country. Over the past year, there has been an almost 25% decline in drug overdose deaths in the U.S., due in part to enhanced partnerships with UN agencies and Mexican authorities. Ending this and similar programs endangers the lives of U.S. citizens.
Programs that identify, prevent, treat and contain deadly diseases within countries of origin, stopping the spread of disease before it reaches American shores.
Efforts to house, feed and provide basic medical care for millions of refugees displaced from their homes because of conflict.
Distribution of revolutionary treatments called Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) responsible for saving tens of thousands of children from starvation around the world. RUTF is often made from U.S. grown peanuts and processed in the U.S.
Restoring these programs ensures a more stable and peaceful world and preserves our country’s leadership at a time when our geopolitical rivals are eager to supplant American influence.
We urge Congressional leaders to work with the Administration to reverse the termination of these programs and resume the disbursement of Congressionally appropriated, foreign assistance funds, consistent with their Constitutional authority.
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