(Congresswoman Nita Lowey is the Chairwoman of the House Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee)

The ability of the U.S. Congress to set spending priorities for the federal government is among its most critical responsibilities. As Chair of the Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, I have worked to support international development and treatment for diseases like AIDS, TB, and malaria and to reduce poverty and hunger. Helping those who are suffering is not only our moral responsibility, it helps to strengthen stability and engender goodwill around the world, which improve our national security.

The U.S. government agencies that lead our international assistance efforts must be efficient and effective. This week, I am holding two oversight hearings focused on the budget request that President Bush recently sent to Congress for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee will analyze these budget requests and assess these agencies’ successes and the challenges that they continue to face.

I thank you for your interest in international humanitarian and development assistance and hope you will continue to follow my subcommittee’s efforts to alleviate suffering around the world.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Nita Lowey