Interaction Response-fy2009 Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2008

Contact: Nasserie Carew, InterAction 202-667-8227, 202-341-3814m [email protected]

InterAction Response to the President’s FY09 Budget Request for International Affairs Spending While we applaud the President’s requested 8% increase for the International Affairs account overall,1 InterAction is deeply disappointed that the administration has chosen to request cuts for most of the core humanitarian and poverty-focused development accounts. Not only did the request not meet the demonstrated need for the next fiscal year, it actually cuts funding by $687 million for the Core Accounts. InterAction is especially concerned that the President has requested inadequate funding for key humanitarian accounts. While the President touted U.S. humanitarian programs in last week’s State of the Union address, he proposes decreases to the very same programs. These cuts undermine our ability to continue to lead in responding to major humanitarian crises in Iraq, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and Kenya. InterAction hopes that Congress will fully fund critical humanitarian and development accounts in the FY2009 appropriations process. InterAction is specifically concerned about the following cuts to the Core Humanitarian and Development Accounts relative to levels appropriated in FY2008: - Child Survival and Health Fund, cut by 14% - International Disaster Assistance and Famine Fund (IDFA), cut by 31% - Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), cut by 10% - Migration/Refugee Assistance (MRA), cut by 25% - International Organizations and Programs (IO&P), including UNICEF, cut by 13% InterAction is specifically pleased about the following components of the FY2009 budget request: - Overall 8% increase for international affairs (over FY2008 regular + emergency spending levels). - Full funding for the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative. - Adequate funding for the Millennium Challenge Corporation. - Abandonment of last year’s misguided effort to divert funds from the Development Assistance (DA) account to the Economic Support Funds (ESF) account, which is at a greater risk of politicization and diversion to short-term diplomatic and security goals than are funds in the DA account. - An 18% increase over FY2008 appropriated levels for USAID Operating Expenses. InterAction led the charge last year in the fight to give USAID adequate resources to complete its critical mission overseas,2 and we are pleased that President Bush, along with Secretary Rice and Administrator Fore, has responded with an increase for this critical account.

While we are deeply concerned about the above-mentioned proposed cuts, we acknowledge and applaud the President’s overall increase for the international affairs account in a tough budget environment. Our concern is that the increases to the foreign affairs account do not prioritize programs that save lives and reduce poverty. ### InterAction is the largest coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) focused on the world’s poor and most vulnerable people. Collectively, InterAction’s more than 165 members work in every developing country. Members meet people halfway in expanding opportunities and supporting gender equality in education, health care, agriculture, small business, and other areas. 1 2

over FY2008 regular + emergency spending levels http://interaction.org/library/detail.php?id=5866