Global Poverty Legislation

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How to use this page: Here, you’ll find our legislative priorities for the 115th Congress (2017-2018). 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 policy@borgenproject.org. 

 

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.

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: Hunger and poverty are cyclically related. Hunger causes poor health, low levels of energy and decreased mental function, all of which exacerbates poverty due to people’s reduced capacity to learn and work. Such poverty then causes higher rates of malnourishment. Today, 896 million people live in poverty and, after a steady decline for over a decade, hunger appears to be on the rise affecting 815 million people.

The Solution: The Global Food Security Reauthorization Act has been introduced as a multi-year reauthorization of the Global Food Security Act (GFSA), reaffirming the United States’ commitment to combating hunger and poverty worldwide. 

What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act.”

The issue: The U.S. is falling short on a critical part of its economic development toolkit: development finance. For example, the U.S. economy is seven times the size of the United Kingdom economy, yet in 2017 the U.K. proposed quadrupling its development finance portfolio to double the U.S. portfolio.

The Solution: Currently, the U.S. utilizes multiple federal agencies and development programs to promote sustainable growth across the globe. The BUILD Act will merge these agencies and programs into one, full-service, self-sustaining U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC). By consolidating these programs and agencies into one, the U.S. will spark economic growth in developing countries while improving its global competitiveness.

What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the BUILD Act.”

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.

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.”

protecting-access-to-girls-education-in-vulnerable-settings-act

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.

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.”

reach every mother and child 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.

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 Issue: Gender inequality is a key factor in women making up the majority of the world’s poor. Along with lower incomes, many women are denied the ownership and control of property. In addition, more than one billion women cannot access basic financial services, turning to disorganized saving and risky loans. Women entrepreneurs growing small and medium enterprises are impeded by these challenges.

The Solution: By confronting the financial barriers and inequality that women face, focusing on entrepreneurship, property rights and financial inclusion, as much as $28 trillion could be added to the annual global GDP by 2025. When women have a voice over household finances, family economic status improves and childhood survival rates, food security and educational attainment increase as well. 

What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act.”

     

Passed!!! Great advocacy work everyone!

The Issue: All too often, Congress is challenged to find a solution to something that is broken. However, this bill seeks to enhance transparency and expand programs that are already helping to improve the lives of millions of people.

The Solution: The African Growth & Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Millennial Challenge Corporation (MCC) have proven track records in spurring economic development across the world. Strengthening these programs furthers the U.S. position of international leadership, strengthens our domestic job market and economy, while protecting our national security interests.

global-health-innovation-act

The Problem: Each year, millions of people in the developing world die of infectious diseases, malnutrition and complications due to pregnancy and childbirth. Innovative developments in affordable and safe health technologies and solutions are a must.

The Bill: The Global Health Innovation Act seeks to require the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to submit an annual report to Congress on the development and use of global health innovations in the programs, projects, and activities of the Agency.

What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the Global Health Innovation Act.”

Multilateral Aid Review 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.

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.”

 Digital GAP 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.

What to say when calling Congress: “Hello, I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like you to support the Digital GAP Act.”

 

 

 

 

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Recently Passed Legislation

The following are bills The Borgen Project worked on that passed and became law.

Read Act

electrify africa act

Global Food Security Act

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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.

Find the name and phone number of your members of Congress

 

 

 

 

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