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.