Now is the time to speak out in support of foreign assistance and its vital programs. This small 1% of the U.S. budget saves lives and helps improve safety, health, and opportunities for children around the world. Let Congress know that you care and that people are paying attention.

Foreign assistance funds programs that provide clean water, make education accessible for children, help mothers and babies, distribute vaccines, fund humanitarian responses during disasters, and more. All of this is more important than ever in the wake of COVID-19’s economic and development impacts.
 

Here are just a few of the accomplishments of U.S. foreign assistance:

• 760 million children have been vaccinated, in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, since 2001.
• Since 2011, more than 69 million children have received early grade reading instruction.
• Over two years, 11.6 million people gained access to sustainable water, with 7.9 million gaining access for the first time.
• In 2019, USAID and its partners helped 84 million women and children access essential, and often life-saving, health services.

As protracted conflicts continue around the globe, the challenge of providing child protection and health interventions in these fragile contexts only increases. To maintain U.S. leadership during this time of complex global needs and crises, robust funding for the International Affairs Budget is crucial.

Tell your members of Congress that you support foreign assistance and ask them to reject any budget appropriation deals that cut total funding for this small 1% of the federal budget that saves lives.

Additional Links:

View our foreign assistance fact sheet.

Download and share our foreign assistance infographic. 

Learn more about foreign assistance.

(Last updated 3/21/2023)

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