The Hebrew scripture, as well as the New Testament makes it clear that we are called to care for the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, and to seek peace through social justice. This includes advocating public policy that empowers the poor and promotes needed social change.
In 2000, the United States joined all countries in the world in committing to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to improve life for the world's poorest people by 2015. The first goal is to cut in half the number of people living on less than $1 a day by 2015. If signed into law The Global Poverty Act (S 2433) would, for the first time, make it official U.S. policy to achieve this first MDG.
Currently, over 25 government agencies participate in development activities, often at cross purposes. The Global Poverty Act would ensure the maximum benefit to those in greatest need by coordinating the efforts of each agency that administers aid. The legislation would require a regular report to Congress on U.S. progress toward meeting the first MDG.
The legislation neither authorizes nor obligates the federal government to spend more money. Rather, it seeks to put our current foreign aid programs into a comprehensive strategy involving trade policy, debt cancellation, and private sector efforts to ensure that existing U.S. programs are more effective. Decisions on U.S. policy and spending would remain exclusively with the U.S. Government.
CURRENT STATUS: The Global Poverty Act (HR 1302) was introduced in the House of Representatives by bipartisan co-sponsors. It was passed on September 25, 2007. The Companion Bill (S 2433) was introduced in the Senate by bipartisan co-sponsors and is currently sponsored by 16 senators.
TAKE ACTION: With flooding, civil strife, drought, and the cost of food soaring, the world hunger crisis can not be ignored. Write and call those senators who are already co-sponsoring this bill (S 2433) and tell them they have your support. Write and call senators who have not signed on and tell them that as a person of faith, you care about poverty and injustice and want to see our government's efforts become more coherent by integrating U.S. foreign aid programs with U.S. trade policy, debt cancellation, and public-private partnerships.
For more information on the MIllennium Develpment Goals, go to http://mdgmonitor.org.