Tell Congress: Say NO to budget cuts that would slash foreign aid

Right now, Congress is debating massive budget cuts that would slash federal funding for critical aid programs like Food for Peace that deliver lifesaving food, water, and other emergency assistance to families in need around the world.

Cutting aid funding won't fix the federal budget – but it will have a devastating impact for millions of families who need our help. Make sure your members of Congress know where you stand.

Send your letter today and tell Congress: Don't cut lifesaving foreign aid programs.

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Dear Member of Congress,

As Congress finalizes the Fiscal Year 2013 budget, works to address sequestration and develops the Fiscal Year 2014 budget, it is imperative that Congress support robust humanitarian assistance programs.  The need for US leadership is immense: currently, there are 43.7 million people displaced by conflict around the world - 18 million more than in 2005 - the highest number in 15 years.

As a constituent concerned with the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the conflict in Mali and droughts in the Sahel, I urge you to support the FY 2013 Senate State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) funding levels for the Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) Account and the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) Accounts which provide lifesaving assistances to refugees and displaced populations around the world and the FY 2013 Senate Agriculture Appropriations Food for Peace levels which provide emergency food assistance to the world's most vulnerable.

I also urge you to fight to protect these funding accounts in any deficit reduction package. Sequestration cuts to the MRA, IDA and Food for Peace Programs would have devastating effects.  Cutting these already underfunded accounts by even 5 percent would have severe real world consequences, including preventing millions of vulnerable people from receiving life sustaining emergency food assistance. Most refugees live under precarious conditions; reductions in assistance mean they will not have access to the most basic elements of survival including food, clean water, shelter, and medical assistance.

In a time of needed fiscal austerity, it is often too easy to panic and overlook the long-term consequences of cuts to international humanitarian programs. Even in this tough budget environment, it is vital for the U.S. to maintain its leadership role in and support for international assistance. Please support these vital humanitarian accounts in any budget negotiations for FY 2013 and continue robust funding support for these programs in FY 2014.

I look forward to hearing from you how you are working to protect the world's most vulnerable populations.