How To: Call/Write To/Visit Congress

March 10th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

Advocacy of ONE issues to legislators and government officials should be part of your Top 10 project, and also makes up several of the individual actions you’re doing to qualify for the Africa trip.

But it’s not enough to just advocate. We want you to advocate effectively. When you talk or write to members of Congress or their staff, you should clearly state what issues on the agenda need to be addressed. Know the facts and ONE’s priorities, and remain polite and professional at all times.

Here’s a video on how to make an effective phone call to Congress:

Now that you know how to call, here’s some help on what to say. ONE has identified three current issues needing to be pressed in your advocacy efforts. Some facts and talking points on each issue:

Budget and Appropriations
US investments in helping the world’s poorest countries are impressive. In 2002, only 50,000 Africans received AIDS treatment; in 2007, this number increased to over 2.1 million people. Over 41 more million children are able to attend school, and child mortality rates have significantly dropped.

When you talk to your member of congress, voice your support for increases for International Affairs in the 2010 budget. Express your concern especially for developmental issues, such as treatment for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; child survival and maternal health; agricultural development and food security; and basic education.

Food Security and Agricultural Development
In 2000, a worldwide initiative known as the Millenium Development Goals was created to halve poverty by 2015. The U.S. as well as other countries are now halfway to this goal. However, despite improvements, many people continue to face poverty and its daily challenges.

The U.S. is a global leader when it comes to giving food aid. Though our efforts have been beneficial, it is essential that we make more investments for agricultural development to increase and improve development in the long term. Ask your Congress member to support the S.384 Lugar-Casey ‘Global Food Security Act’ that will help improve agricultural development.

For more on the GFSA, check out coverage on the ONE blog.

Comprehensive U.S. Foreign Aid Reform
U.S. foreign policy and national security have three goals: Defense, Diplomacy and Development. Unfortunately, development is not as high a priority as are defense and diplomacy. ONE stresses the importance of development being a top priority, which means that Congress and the Administration need to work together in the reauthorization of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA). Urge your member of Congress to improve U.S. aid to development by re-authorizing the FAA.

If you need more information on any of these or other priorities, contact Maisie or me and we’ll make sure you get what you need.

-Emily Stivers