On The Record 2008
Aug 30th, 2010 12:43 PM UTC
By Field
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
ONE members posing with a member of Sen. Lugar’s staff.
Last week, Indiana ONE volunteer Zach Wempler, college organizer Jessica Beckner and I met with Sen. Richard Lugar’s, (R-Ind.), staff to give an update on ONE Vote 2010 and discuss the Global Fund and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
We were also excited to thank the senator for his commitment to ONE and for championing effective, life-saving programs for the billion people living on less than $1.25 a day.
Sen. Lugar recently sponsored the Global Food Security Act, which enables Africa’s poor farmers to fight hunger, combat extreme poverty and achieve a self-sustaining future by helping them access tools to feed their communities. This bipartisan bill is a critical step toward ending extreme poverty — in fact, the World Bank estimates that growth in the agricultural sector reduces poverty twice as effectively as growth in other sectors.
During our meeting, we spoke with two of the senator’s staffers: State Director Lesley Reser and Sheila Bressler, deputy counsel for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We talked about the Global Fund Replenishment Conference this October and the Fund’s efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. We also urged the senator to support a strong U.S. pledge to the Global Fund to ensure no child is born with HIV by 2015.
The ONE Vote 2010 team stressed the importance of GAVI and told the senator to support robust funding in the future for the international immunization and vaccine program.
Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 Indiana members on Facebook and Twitter.
- Maddison Klontz, ONE Vote organizer, Indiana
It’s been a busy week here in South Florida. It all started when I ran into Rep. Ted Deutch, (D-Fla.), while attending a Senate campaign event at Delray Beach. In a packed gymnasium, the congressman took aside some time to talk to me about ONE.
ONE Field Organizer Sara with Rep. Hastings
ONE Field Organizer Sara with Rep. Deutch
It turns out that Deutch was familiar with ONE and very interested in learning more about our organization. Local ONE members in Deutch’s district followed up with his staff in the hopes of meeting up with his office this fall.
On Tuesday, I traveled to the west coast of Florida to sit down with Kara Wright, district director for Rep. Connie Mack, (R-Fla.). As we talked, I explained how ONE works locally to mobilize public opinion in support of tested and proven methods for tackling poverty, like the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Although we understand that appropriations work is largely done until after the November election, we hope the Rep. Mack will look ahead and support a strong, three-year, $6 billion pledge to the Global Fund at its replenishment conference in October. Kara encouraged me to keep her informed and to let her know about upcoming local ONE activities.
Yesterday, I met Rep. Alcee Hastings, (D-Fla.), at his office in Fort Lauderdale. After just a few minutes of listening to him speak, I could tell that Rep. Hastings cared very much about international issues. In fact, he has consistently supported legislation to fight global poverty.
I thanked him for his leadership, specifically for signing onto the Congressional Black Caucus letter to the House Budget Committee, which asked members to preserve President Obama’s International Affairs budget. As I was leaving, Rep. Hastings thanked us for our work in the state and encouraged us to continue to engage community members and local leaders in the fight to end extreme poverty and disease.
Stay tuned to my Twitter account as I travel throughout the region to meet with our elected officials this fall. No matter where you live, your voice can help encourage our elected leaders to take urgent action to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and hunger around the world.
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
Rep. Sestak and fmr. Sen. Hagel in Philadelphia
Philadelphia isn’t just the City of Brotherly Love — it also happens to be a ONE City. I definitely felt that love and sense of ONE-ness at the rally for Senate candidate Rep. Joe Sestak, who was campaigning for Senate with former Sen. Chuck Hagel.
I went the rally to make sure that our Pennsylvania Senate candidates remember the world’s poorest people and to encourage continued leadership in the fight against poverty and preventable disease.
Right after the rally, I was able to speak briefly with Sestak to thank him for his past support for many of ONE’s legislative priorities, like helping to reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and cosponsoring the Water for the World Act.
While walking with him, I emphasized the importance of these life-saving programs in the developing world, and encouraged him to continue his leadership for the world’s poorest people if elected to the Senate. Sestak thanked me, happily accepted a ONE band and posed for a quick picture for the ONE blog.
I also had a chance to talk with longtime friend and ONE supporter, Sen. Hagel. Many ONE members will recall the senator’s deep support and his commitment to the world’s poorest people on a host of important international development issues.
I thanked Sen. Hagel for his efforts with ONE while in office and for his recent effort with ONE in presenting our co-founder Bono the Atlantic Council’s first-ever Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership award this past spring.
ONE members have been doing quite a bit in Pennsylvania. Earlier this week, Pastor Dan Donmoyer and I caught up with Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey, and at the Sestak campaign rally a few weeks ago, we spoke with former President Clinton about our Haiti petition. We also thanked Sen. Bob Casey, (D-Pa.), for the Global Food Security Act and told him about ONE’s current efforts to support the Casey-Lugar sign-on letter.
If you’re in Pennsylvania and interested in talking to the candidates about ONE’s issues, hit me up on Twitter and let me know if you want to tag along on the next event!
Aug 25th, 2010 2:57 PM UTC
By Field
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
ONE organizer Maddison Klontz with Indiana Senate candidate Ellsworth
Last weekend, ONE members joined Indiana Senate candidate Brad Ellsworth at his Young Professionals event in Indianapolis. ONE members were excited to introduce Ellsworth to the ONE Vote 2010 campaign to fight global poverty and preventable disease.
Between rounds of yard game corn hole, Ellsworth took the time to chat with ONE volunteers and expressed that he was interested in working with ONE on effective ways to provide the 1.4 billion people suffering from extreme poverty with access to food, clean water and life-saving vaccines.
ONE volunteers look forward to engaging Ellsworth on the campaign trail over the next few months. Through Election Day, ONE Vote Indiana will work with candidates on both sides of the aisle to ensure America’s continued leadership in the fight to help the world’s poorest.
Live in Indiana, love ONE? Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 Indiana members on Facebook and Twitter.
- Maddison Klontz, ONE Vote 2010 organizer, Indiana
Aug 25th, 2010 1:57 PM UTC
By Field
ONE is hitting the campaign trail > to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
A signed letter from Rep. Hodes
Rep. Paul Hodes’, (D-N.H.), staffers were busy making phone calls when I walked into their Elm St. Manchester campaign office on Monday afternoon. We arrived at the Hodes’ office with some ONE bands and buttons for everyone. Hodes’ team was extremely grateful for the gear!
Since ONE Vote 2010 launched in New Hampshire, Rep. Hodes engaged with ONE members at a Democratic meeting on July fourth weekend and again a month later in Manchester and Concord and has become a great friend to ONE.
A few days ago, he sent me a signed picture of himself and ONE members that was taken at a recent event in Manchester. Along with the picture, Hodes’ included a handwritten letter encouraging ONE’s work in New Hampshire and around the world.
Hodes and his staff are excited to work with ONE until Election Day to help ensure that America continues to provide life-saving assistance to those suffering in extreme poverty.
Thank you, Rep. Hodes, for all the work you do on behalf of the world’s poorest. The ONE Vote team looks forward to working with you and the other New Hampshire Senate candidates to raise awareness around the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease.
Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 New Hampshire members on Facebook and Twitter.
- Matt Flanders, ONE Vote 2010 organizer, New Hampshire
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
Yesterday, longtime ONE member Pastor Dan Donmoyer and I caught up with Pennsylvania Senate candidate Pat Toomey, (R-Pa.), on his bus tour in Fredericksburg, Pa.
We spoke briefly to him about ONE and our fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease in Africa. Pat was interested in what we had to say about the importance of continued American leadership that has now saved more than 5 million lives in the poorest places on earth. He asked us for more information about ONE, and even took a few ONE bands from us before posing for a quick photo!
In the past few years, our nation has responded to widespread disease and extreme poverty in Africa with historic and heroic life-saving programs that are now showing real results in terms of lives saved on the ground. These programs are also helping to encourage accountability and good governance.
And right now, more than ever, it is time to make sure that both candidates for Senate in Pennsylvania know that saving lives in Africa is a moral priority and helps foster a safer and more secure world. Your voice can help make this possible.
Live in Pennsylvania? Love ONE? Give Brian mad props on his Twitter account.
Aug 24th, 2010 3:20 PM UTC
By Field
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
Last week, ONE Vote 2010 hit the road to attend Democrat Day and Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.
Thousands of people from across the state and beyond flocked to the event to enjoy the live music, food and the opportunity to mingle with the candidates.
I also got a chance to give Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias a ONE band, which he promptly put on, and agreed to snap a quick photo with me (above).
Democrats and Republicans were out in full force to celebrate their respective parties and discuss important issues. Both parties’ candidates gave rousing speeches in light of the upcoming elections. ONE made its presence known for both days and participated in the festivities while enjoying the energy of the crowds.
Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 Illinois members on Facebook and Twitter.
- Christopher Shaffer, ONE Vote 2010 organizer, Illinois
