How to use this page: Here, you’ll find our legislative priorities for the 116th Congress (2019-2020). The first link under each issue contains downloadable documents that you can leave behind during your lobbying meetings. The other links will provide more data, analysis and instructions on how to email Congress. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email [email protected]
CURRENT PRIORITIES
The Problem: The White House has made it clear that they want to drastically cut funding to the International Affairs Budget and programs that improve living conditions for the world’s poor.
- The International Affairs Budget Summary
- Congress Finalizes FY18 Spending
- FY18 Budget Final Vote Results – House
- FY18 Budget Final Vote Results – Senate
- Email Congress
What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to protect the International Affairs Budget.”
The Issue: Around the world today, 75 million people are at risk of starvation and 800 million people are in need of food aid. Yet, only 30 percent of Food for Peace funding pays for actual food. The remaining 70 percent accounts for overhead and transportation costs from inefficiencies in existing law.
The Solution: The Food for Peace Modernization Act (FPMA) would amend current food aid authorities in the farm bill to deliver more food faster to those in need around the world while maintaining an important role for U.S. farmers.
- Download Bill Summary
- Read Senate Version (S.2551)
- View Senate Cosponsors
- Read House Version (H.R.5276)
- View House Cosponsors
- USAID Fact Sheet
- Email Congress
What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the Food for Peace Modernization Act.”
Passed!! Great advocacy work everyone!
The Problem: Today, 50 percent of the 65 million displaced peoples in the world are under the age of 18 and one in four of said children does not have access to primary or secondary education. Women and girls in these vulnerable settings are often disproportionately denied access to education, which can hinder their ability to find jobs, engage in civil society and access other economic opportunities.
The Bill: The Protecting Girls’ Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act will prioritize efforts to support access to primary and secondary education for displaced children with a specific focus on the inclusion of women and girls in foreign assistance programs.
- Download Bill Summary
- View CBO Score
- Read House Version (H.R.2408) (10/4) Passed in the House! (12/12) The Senate version that passed on 12/12 is slightly different than the House version that passed on 10/4. It’ll have to pass the House again. Let’s get it through the House before the end of the year!
- View House Cosponsors
- Read Senate Version (S.1580) (12/12) Passed in the Senate!
- View Senate Cosponsors
- Detailed Info and Links
- Email Congress
What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the Protecting Girls’ Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act.”
The Problem: Every day 800 women die from preventable causes related to childbirth and pregnancy. Over 17,000 kids under the age of 5 die every day from preventable issues.
The Bill: The Reach Every Mother and Child Act will help save the lives of 600,000 women and 15 million children by 2020.
- Download Bill Summary
- Read Senate Version (S.1730)
- Read House Version (H.R. 4022)
- View Senate Cosponsors
- View House Cosponsors
- Email Congress
What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the Reach Every Mother and Child Act.”
The Challenge: Providing funding for multilateral entities is an important part of the United States’ response to global issues such as food insecurity and conflict. However, we must always demand the highest standards of transparency and accountability to ensure that these investments make the most meaningful impact possible.
The Solution: The Multilateral Aid Review Act will create a mechanism to evaluate how well multilateral agencies carry out their missions and how they serve American interests and taxpayers. By doing so, the legislation will strengthen American assistance efforts around the globe, ensuring our investments are transparent and as effective as possible in furthering U.S. foreign policy objectives.
- Download Bill Summary
- View CBO Score
- Read Senate Version (S.1928)
- View Senate Cosponsors
- Read House Version (H.R.4502)
- View House Cosponsors
- Email Congress
What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the Multilateral Aid Review Act.”
The Problem: today’s technology-driven world, internet access is a major driver of economic and social improvement. However, 4.2 billion people or about 60 percent of the world’s population — most of whom are located in the developing world — remain offline.
The Bill: The Digital Global Access Policy (GAP) Act seeks to promote first-time internet access to mobile or broadband internet for at least 1.5 billion people in both urban and rural areas of developing countries by 2020.
- Download Bill Summary
- 2016 CBO Score
- Read House Version Passed House on 1.24.17!
- Email Congress
What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the Digital GAP Act.”
Passed Legislation
The following are bills The Borgen Project worked on that passed and became law.
2018
2017
2016
Did you know? If a bill number starts with an “S.” that means the bill is in the Senate. If the bill starts with “H.R.” that means the bill is in the House. For example, in the Senate the Electrify Africa Act is bill number S. 2152, but in the House the Electrify Africa Act is H.R. 2847.
