PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Ask Congress to increase development assistance for global poverty relief
  1. Signatures
    212 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. The U.S. Senate (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The U.S. Senate
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
  2. Created By
    WaterAid America
About this Petition Petition Letter

On February 26, President Obama submitted a budget plan to Congress that includes an almost 10% increase in funding above 2009 for both US diplomatic and development efforts throughout the world. The budget must be considered and approved by Congress before it becomes a reality.

Please sign our letter asking Congress to support Obama’s call for increased development assistance for global poverty relief. 

Diplomatic and development assistance remain a small part of the overall US budget: around 1.4%. However, increases to poverty-focused development assistance could save thousands of lives and promote economic growth worldwide. For instance, investing in safe drinking water and effective sanitation can:

>> Reduce diarrheal diseases that kill 4,000 children a day
>> Increase school attendance by improving children's health and reducing the time they spend carrying water
>> Boost productivity as women can work or grow food instead of collecting water and caring for the sick

Please help the billions of people around the world who live in poverty by signing WaterAid America's letter to Congress now.

Recent Signatures

Please support Obama’s call for increased development assistance for global poverty relief.

Dear Representative

As you consider the 2010 budget, we ask that you provide strong increases for poverty-focused development assistance. This assistance supports effective solutions in the fight against global poverty, like supporting access to safe drinking water and sanitation for the billions around the world who currently go without these basic necessities of life.

While we recognize the need to focus on the economic crisis in the upcoming year, we ask that you support the important role that this development assistance plays in promoting economic growth, security, and stability worldwide.

We commend you for your work in recent years to increase development funding and ask that you continue that leadership in 2010 by providing strong increases for poverty-focused development assistance. The president has laid down a strong mark in his budget outline, requesting an almost 10% increase for diplomatic and development efforts around the world.

We ask that you include the funding necessary for the basic building blocks of development - such as clean water and basic toilets - that will truly help our world to progress in the fight against global poverty.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

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