President-elect Barack Obama has appointed Senator Hillary Clinton to be the next Secretary of State, and on Tuesday, January 13th, she will go before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for her confirmation hearing. Senator Clinton has been a strong ally in the struggle against global poverty and extreme disease during her time in the Senate as well as on the presidential campaign trail. But as Secretary of State she’ll face many challenges, including two ongoing wars and a recession, that may shift her priorities.

Funding for our proven, cost-effective, life-saving State Department programs (including global primary education, malaria prevention and treatment, sustainable agriculture, international development, and aid reform) could take a backseat in the new Administration. Or worse — these programs could be cut in an eventual clamor for foreign aid reductions that will do little if anything to take pressure off of the U.S. domestic economy.

That’s why we’re asking ONE members in relevant states (see list, below) to call their Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee before the 9:30 AM (EST) hearing on Tuesday. We don’t have much time, but we must make sure Hillary Clinton’s confirmation hearing features the issues most critical to the world’s poorest citizens — setting the tone for the new State Department’s priorities and reminding Senator Clinton as well as the Committee that Americans want strong U.S. leadership against global poverty and preventable disease.

If your Senator is listed below, please click here to get talking points and instructions for placing your call.

Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee:

• Sen. John Kerry (Massachusetts)
• Sen. Chris Dodd (Connecticut)
• Sen. Russ Feingold (Wisconsin)
• Sen. Barbara Boxer (California)
• Sen. Bill Nelson (Florida)
• Sen. Robert Menendez (New Jersey)
• Sen. Benjamin Cardin (Maryland)
• Sen. Robert Casey (Pennsylvania)
• Sen. Jim Webb (Virginia)
• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
• Sen. Richard Lugar (Indiana)
• Sen. Bob Corker (Tennessee)
• Sen. George Voinovich (Ohio)
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
• Sen. Johnny Isakson (Georgia)

Also check out this video we made about calling your Members of Congress!

-Emily Stivers