Monday morning the ONE Campaign and one of our founding partners, CARE, had a meeting with newly elected New Hampshire Representative Paul Hodes in his Concord office.

A teacher, a student, a waitress, and a humanitarian worker just back from Africa went to our elected leader to let him know that we want more action to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty. We went to use our own voices…and Rep. Hodes was there to use his ears.

Within two minutes of the meeting, Rep. Hodes pledged his support for our efforts and told us that he would work hard in Washington to fight AIDS and poverty in the developing world. The congressman recognized our bi-partisan efforts, even commented himself of the efforts of President Bush in this area.

We thanked Rep. Hodes for the brave and bold leadership to save and restore 1.45 billion dollars during the tight CR process and asked him for a robust funding in fiscal 2008. Rep. Hodes listened to us, and will work on our behalf, and on behalf of the 2.4 million people that think it is in our interest to do more for the billion people on this earth that live on less than a dollar a day.

We look forward to working with Rep. Hodes, and all the new members of Congress, as we come together as ONE to make poverty history.