offeringofletters.org

(August 6, 2009)

Thanks to all your support, our campaign to reform U.S. foreign aid is gaining momentum and legislative traction. We now have a bill in the Senate – the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009 (S.1524) — and one in the House of Representatives – the Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 2139). Both bills are essential building blocks in achieving our goals for the 2009 Offering of Letters.

With these crucial first steps in place, we will be able to move more briskly to overhaul the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The House is actively working on a rewrite of the act but we are not yet certain when this new bill will be introduced. We have indications that the Senate will also work on rewriting the act soon.

When we launched this campaign, we knew that it would take more than one year to achieve our goals. But in order to modernize our foreign assistance system, we need to make progress in 2009. This report covers what we have accomplished since January 2009.

Reaching Out to Congress

Since we started the Offering, we have conducted more than 700 workshops and other educational activities in communities across the country. Bread members have organized more than 800 Offerings of Letters in every place -- from churches to campuses to CROP Walks to bike rides. You have written and delivered more than 85,000 personalized letters and made more than 5,000 phone calls on H.R. 2139. You have also made countless visits to your representatives’ offices, both on Capitol Hill and in their districts.

During Lobby Day on June 16, 325 Bread activists from 38 states visited more than 180 congressional offices. On that day alone, four representatives agreed to cosponsor H.R. 2139. Today, we have 100 cosponsors, and we hope to add many more.

David Beckmann has testified at several hearings on the need to reform foreign assistance. His most recent appearance was on July 22 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—just before the committee introduced S.1524.

Our government relations team has also worked hard, meeting with congressional staffers, reviewing drafts of legislation, attending hearings, and providing information. In fact, Monica Mills, our director of government relations, was honored by The Hill newspaper as one of the most effective lobbyists in Washington.

Bread also serves as the hub for the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN), a coalition of partners working for foreign aid reform. David Beckmann is now co-chair of MFAN, after the previous co-chairs left to work with the Obama administration.

Bread also co-chairs, with Alex Baumgarten of the Episcopal Church, the Religious Working Group on Foreign Aid Reform. More than 50 national religious denominations and organizations have adopted the Statement of Religious Principles.

Progress Against Benchmarks

(Benchmarks are numbered; progress is lettered.)

1. Congressional hearings on approaches to foreign aid reform.
   
   a. Since January, committees in both the House and Senate have held hearings related to aid reform. From late February to April, hearings were held weekly.
2. Appointment of a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator who shares some or all of Bread’s goals and principles.
   
   a. No one has been nominated as of Aug. 6.
3. A sign-on letter circulating in Congress that embraces most or all of Bread for the World’s principles.
   
   a. A letter from 21 denominations and faith organizations supporting the goals of H.R. 2139 was sent to all representatives in mid-June.
   
   b. A “Dear Colleague” letter from Reps. Berman and Kirk, the original co-sponsors of H.R. 2139, was circulated in June.
   
   c. Letters to targeted members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from religious leaders in their congressional districts were delivered in mid-May.
4. A presidential directive that mandates better coordination of U.S. foreign assistance and elevates attention to development in foreign policy decision-making.
   
   a. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has issued supportive statements on development as part of the U.S. foreign policy toolbox. In mid-July, Clinton announced a Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR), which will provide blueprints for U.S. diplomacy and development.
   
   b. The White House has not made any public statements on reforming foreign assistance. There are indications that a presidential study directive on U.S. development policy is forthcoming.
5. Introduction of a bipartisan congressional resolution in support of Bread for the World’s goals and principles.
   
   a. Although we originally anticipated that we may need to secure a congressional resolution in 2009 in the absence of an appropriate foreign assistance reform bill, both the House and Senate now have bills under consideration. (See Benchmark 9 for more details.)
6. Substantive conversations between the administration and Congress about new approaches to foreign aid and global development.
   
   a. These conversations have yet to occur but will likely happen with the appointment of a USAID administrator.
7. Appointment of a person or high-level group to formulate a national strategy for global development and/or foreign assistance.
   
   a. The Secretary of State has written guidance for planning the fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget that includes the development of strategic plans to achieve coordination, coherence, and efficiency in their work. These are expected to integrate U.S. government efforts on how to best achieve development objectives.
   
   b. The process for formulating a Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) is still being developed.
   
   c. The Secretary of State’s office has actively opposed H.R. 2139 to create the national strategy for global development, stating that its creation should be left to the State Department and not move to the National Security Council’s office within the White House.
   
   d. The State Department has also opposed S. 1524, the Senate’s first step in foreign aid reform.
8. House and Senate coordination and cooperation to write a new Foreign Assistance Act.
   
   a. In the House, Chairman Berman’s staff is actively working on a draft now with an eye to introducing a bill before the end of 2009.
   
   b. In the Senate, Chairman Kerry’s staff is working on the initial reform bill and will then focus on a State Department reauthorization.
   
   c. Chairman Kerry’s staff is determining the best strategy to rewrite this act. Kerry has stated he hopes to introduce a revised Foreign Assistance Act in early 2010.
   
   d. Staff from both the House and Senate is meeting regularly.
9. Introduction of legislation in both houses of Congress that represents an emerging consensus on a fresh approach to global development and U.S. foreign assistance.
   
   a. H.R. 2139 was introduced on April 28, 2009, by Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). This bill, The Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009, begins the process of reform by calling for a national strategy for global development—one of the major principles supported by Bread for the World. The bill currently lists 100 bipartisan cosponsors.
   
   b. S. 1524 was introduced on July 28, 2009, by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA,) Richard Lugar (R-IN,) Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Bob Corker (R-TN,) Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), and Jim Risch (R-ID). The Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009 would strengthen the capacity, transparency, and accountability of U.S. assistance, particularly USAID.
   
   c. H.R. 2140 was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the full House. This bill, The State Department Reauthorization Act, contained components of reform supported by Bread for the World including: a quadrennial review, capacity building at USAID, monitoring and evaluation requirements, and transparency requirements.
10. Passage of legislation that charts a new course for global development and U.S. foreign assistance.
    
    a. This action—the ultimate goal of Bread’s Offering of Letters—is pending.

Moving Forward

When Congress reconvenes after Labor Day, we expect to gain more momentum on our campaign to reform U.S. foreign aid. In the meantime:

• We need your support to get your senator to cosponsor S. 1524.
• At the same time, we still need your support to continue to keep the pressure on the House of Representatives to gain more cosponsors for H.R. 2139.

This progress would not have happened without the persistent voices of Bread for the World members speaking out and acting on behalf of hungry people around the world. Thank you.

The Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009 (S.1524) was introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN), and Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bob Corker (R-TN), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Jim Risch (R-ID). Read a summary of S.1524 »

The bill complements the efforts of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA-28) and his initial aid reform bill, H.R. 2139.

Below is a comparison of the House and Senate foreign aid reform bills.

Washington, DC | Bread for the World President Rev. David Beckmann urged members of the Senate to promptly pass a bill introduced today aimed at revitalizing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The bipartisan bill -- the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009 (S.1524) -- was introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN), and Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bob Corker (R-TN), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Jim Risch (R-ID).

“Revitalizing USAID is crucial to the overall reform of U.S. foreign assistance,” said Rev. Beckmann. “If the Obama Administration and Congress improve the effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance, our dollars will do more good for decades to come.”

USAID was created to lead U.S. development efforts and was once the premier development agency in the world. However, after years of benign neglect and proliferating aid programs across the U.S. government, USAID has lost much of its professional capacity, expertise and authority.

The bill includes a formal statement that it is U.S. policy to promote global development, good governance, and the reduction of poverty and hunger. It contains provisions for restoring planning, policy, and evaluation capacities to USAID. It also lays out new transparency measures for U.S. foreign assistance.

Rev. Beckmann, who is also co-chair of the Modernizing Foreign Aid Network, called for the immediate appointment of an administrator for USAID. He said that an administrator should be in place to provide a development perspective as the State Department institutes a quadrennial review and develops a blueprint for U.S. diplomatic and development efforts.

He cautioned that without a USAID administrator, the State Department’s review has the potential to blur the important distinction between diplomacy and development. “When we try to achieve development and diplomatic goals with the same dollars, aid is usually much less effective in reducing poverty,” said Rev. Beckmann.

The Senate bill introduced today complements the efforts of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA-28) and his initial aid reform bill, H.R. 2139, which currently has 91 bipartisan cosponsors.

Rev. Beckmann added that the White House, the State Department, and USAID should work closely with the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in order to coordinate foreign aid reform efforts.

David Beckmann urged lawmakers to move forward a draft bill to reform U.S. foreign aid in testimony before the Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday.

The bipartisan legislation is designed to reform foreign assistance to better serve the U.S. commitment to reduce global poverty and hunger.

• July 23: David Beckmann's Senate testimony (PDF)  »
• May 21: John Kerry speaks about reforms for U.S. foreign aid (PDF) »

Have you called your House representative yet? Ask him/her to co-sponsor H.R. 2139, the “Initiating the Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009.” This bipartisan bill to create a national strategy for global development is a good first step in making our nation’s foreign assistance more effective, efficient, and transparent.

Background:
At the end of the week of Bread for the World’s Lobby Day, 11 additional co-sponsors were added to H.R. 2139. In addition, staff from 25 congressional offices called Rep. Berman’s office on Lobby Day asking for more information on the bill.

As of July 17, we have a total of 77 cosponsors. But we need at least 100 cosponsors by Friday, Aug. 7. At least 100 cosponsors will constitute the tipping point to move the bill forward.

Call your representative »

“Law doesn’t happen by accident,” said Diana Ohlbaum, senior staff member for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, as she briefed participants in Bread for the World’s Gathering 2009. She explained that to make laws fair and compassionate for hungry people, their voices must be heard in Congress.

On June 16, Lobby Day, about 320 participants heeded Ohlbaum’s words and visited their representatives. They lived out the theme of the Gathering, “Rejoice! Hope! Act!,” by urging their representatives to make U.S. foreign aid more effective in fighting hunger and poverty. In the House, Bread activists focused on getting support for the Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009, H.R. 2139.

This bipartisan bill is a critical first step toward improving foreign assistance. It calls on the president to develop and implement a comprehensive national strategy for global development.

Bread is also working toward the introduction of an initial foreign assistance reform bill in the Senate in the coming weeks.

The Bread activists, coming from 38 states, visited more than 180 congressional offices on Lobby Day. Others who could not attend in person called their senators and representatives. In the following days, cosponsors of H.R. 2139 were added rapidly.

As Lobby Day demonstrates every year, personal visits with senators and representatives are one of the most compelling ways to speak out for hungry people. Plan now to visit your member of Congress in your district and push for foreign assistance reform. Your Bread regional organizer can help you organize and prepare for a visit.