*** The ONE Campaign only supports legislation that is bipartisan.***
FY2009 Budget and Appropriations
Consistent with the President’s budget request, ONE advocated for a $39.8 billion allocation for the International Affairs account. Congress settled on $38.3, an increase of $1.6 billion over the FY2008 appropriation. ONE is seeking a $1.1 billion increase in the FY2009 foreign operations accounts over the enacted FY2008 level in order to maintain existing commitments to fighting HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, to provide a minimal investment in the Millennium Challenge account in order to keep it operational and to secure badly needed increases in education, child and maternal health, debt relief and agricultural development.
1) The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act
This is a robust and bipartisan bill that expands the goals and resources for the United States’ fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It will treat 3 million AIDS patients, prevent 12 million new infections and care for 5 million orphans, train 140 new health workers and scale up US response to the deadly diseases of drug-resistant TB and Malaria. It needs final passage before the G8 Summit in early July to leverage more support for other donor governments.
a). Status in Congress-S. 2731- 13 Cosponsors. Passed 80-16 with overwhelming bi-partisan support in the House and Senate and was signed as Public Law No: 110-293 by President George W. Bush on July 31, 2008.
2) The JUBILEE Act
To provide for greater responsibility in lending and expanded cancellation of debts owed to the United States and the international financial institutions by low-income countries.
a). Status in House-H.R. 2634 has 104 cosponsors. The bill passed by a good margin of 285-132. b). Status in Senate- S. 2166 has 26 cosponsors Received a hearing in the Foreign Relations Committee, but no further action. 2) The ‘Education for All’ Act
To assist developing countries in providing the 72 million kids out of school with quality basic education.
a). Status in House- H.R. 2092 has 92 Cosponsors. No Committee action on the bill has been taken by the Foreign Affairs Committee. b). Status in Senate-S. 1259 has 12 Cosponsors. No Committee action on the bill because it is authored by a presidential candidate- Hillary Clinton.
3) The Global Child Survival Act
This bill aims to expand current US efforts globally to reduce mortality among millions of children ages 0-5 years and to keep expectant mothers healthy, so that they give birth to healthy babies.
a). Status in House-H.R. 2266 has 104 cosponsors. No Committee action on the bill has been taken by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. b). Status in Senate-S.1418 has 25 cosponsors. It has been reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and placed on the voting calendar but has been blocked from going to the Senate floor for a vote due to a ‘hold’ put on it by a Senator.
Trade:
ONE advocates for legislation that will make trade work for poor countries, including advocating for trade preference programs like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that reduce or eliminate tariffs on products that developing countries export. Another key element of ONE’s advocacy on trade policy is aid for trade, funding that helps poor countries to build roads and ports and helps small businesses and farmers learn how to trade. ONE also opposes agricultural subsidies that distort agricultural markets and unfairly disadvantage farmers in poor countries.
Agriculture:
More than 50% of people in poor countries depend on agriculture for their livelihood. But funding for agricultural development in poor countries has dropped in recent years. As a result, ONE advocates for support for farmers in poor countries – to help them increase productivity and get access to new technologies, seeds, and fertilizer. For example, bipartisan legislation like S 3529, introduced by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) in September of this year, recommends spending $10 billion on agricultural development and food security over 5 years.
