Meeting with Senator Casey’s Staff

Dec 11th, 2009 9:57 AM UTC
By Field

Recently, PA ONE Members’ Brian Thomas, Dan Kheloussi, and I met with Senator Robert Casey’s Pittsburgh, PA Staff. We began the meeting by thanking the Senator for cosponsoring S. 1524, the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009 introduced by Senator Kerry and Senator Lugar. S. 1524 would strengthen the capacity, transparency, and accountability of United States foreign assistance programs to effectively adapt and respond to new challenges of the 21st century.

We also thanked the Senator for adding his name to the November 2009 Senate letter authored by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), calling for a robust request for International Affairs in his FY’11 budget. to fund important poverty fighting programs such as global health, debt relief, agricultual development and basic education.

PA ONE Members requested that Senator Casey become a cosponsor S. 624, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009 sponsored by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Bob Corker (R-TN). S. 624, would provide 100,000,000 people with first-time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015.

The meeting concluded with us thanking Senator Casey’s Staffs for his leadership on S.384, the Lugar-Casey ‘Global Food Security’ Act. The United States is a global leader in providing emergency food and disaster assistance. However, these interventions, while critical, are not sustainable solutions to improve the lives of millions that are vulnerable to food insecurity. Investment in sustainable agricultural development is necessary. Senator Casey’s Staff was very receptive to the information we discussed. PA ONE Members will be following up on the requests made during the meeting!

-Sarah Wonders, PA ONE Member

TAGS: From ONE Members, Pennsylvania, Senator Robert Casey