Save the International Affairs Budget

In May 2006, ONE members took action in record numbers to support the Feinstein-DeWine-Durbin-Santorum letter demanding a stop to US$2.4 billion in cuts to Fiscal Year 2007 International Affairs Budget funding for the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty.

In the first 24 hours, ONE members sent over 100,000 letters to their senators, urging them to sign on to the Feinstein-DeWine-Durbin-Santorum letter. In the first 6 days, ONE members sent nearly 200,000 letters. 52 Senators ultimately signed the letter, marking the first time in history that a majority in the Senate asked Appropriations' leadership to protect the President's request for development assistance.

This letter set a precedent for supporting the Global Fund and Millennium Challenge Corporation. Although all budget issues were set aside until after the 2006 election, the momentum from this letter was critical in securing commitments through the FY2007 Budget Continuing Resolution in early 2007, which resulted in a $1.4 billion increase to poverty-fighting assistance.