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106 Faith Leaders Sign Letter to Congressional Leadership
Supporting U.S. International Affairs Budget
March 16, 2017
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Senate Majority Leader
The Capitol S-230
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House of Representatives
The Capitol H-232
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Senate Minority Leader
The Capitol S-221
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
House Minority Leader
The Capitol H-204
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan, and Minority Leader Pelosi,
As Christian leaders, it’s an honor to represent dedicated and faithful citizens living in every
congressional district in this country. We’re writing to share our support for the International Affairs
Budget that every day brings hope to poor, hungry, vulnerable and displaced men, women and children
around the world.
America is blessed with fertile land, abundant natural resources, a strong economy, and faithful citizens
who value religious freedom. But beyond our borders, many countries experience unparalleled suffering
and loss of life due to extreme poverty, disease, natural disasters, and conflict. Today, there are 65
million displaced people, the most since World War II, and 795 million people still go to bed hungry
every night.
Matthew 25 tells us when we serve the least of these, we are serving the Lord. As people of faith, we
cannot turn our back on those in desperate need. We are grateful for America’s global development and
diplomacy programs that have been instrumental in saving lives, safeguarding religious liberties, and
keeping America safe and secure. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have strong legacies
of supporting humanitarian and development programs that enable countless people to pull themselves
out of poverty and live life with dignity. It is through these diplomatic and development tools that we’ve
seen countries and communities build peaceful, productive societies that do not turn to violence or
terrorism.
At a time when we’re especially security conscious, the International Affairs Budget is crucial to
demonstrating our values to the world, building friendships with other nations, and lowering security
risks around the world.
With just 1 percent of our nation’s budget, the International Affairs Budget has helped alleviate the
suffering of millions; drastically cutting the number of people living in extreme poverty in half, stopping
the spread of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDs and Ebola, and nearly eliminating polio. Additionally, it
promotes freedom and human rights, protecting religious freedom for millions around the world.
