Washington, DC – ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History congratulates Chairwoman Nita Lowey and Ranking Member Frank Wolf today on their commitment to fighting extreme poverty by increasing funding for key programs in the FY2008 State-Foreign Operations spending bill.

The increase applies to child and maternal health programs, global health programs to fight HIV/AIDS and the expansion of clean water programs, among others. The Chairwoman’s mark is $2.95 billion above the previous year’s enacted level which shows the subcommittee’s commitment to lifesaving programs. Currently, the U.S. funding level remains well below the amount needed to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

“ONE Campaign members wrote, called and lobbied their representatives, asking for this increase, and Congress came through for them,” Kimberly Cadena, ONE Campaign spokesperson said. “ONE supporters sent over 112,000 letters, made thousands of phone calls and had 64 meetings in eight weeks with members of their congressional delegations to ask them to do more for those that need it most. This bill means more children worldwide will have their lives saved by access to vitamins, clean water and insecticide-treated bed nets that prevent death from malaria. The need is urgent and ONE asks the full committee to support the bill and send it to the House floor for an immediate vote.”

Cadena continued, “America’s leaders are learning what ONE members already know: saving lives is part of securing a strong future for our nation. ONE’s supporters are working to raise awareness among voters in their local communities on the need for our nation’s next president to prioritize efforts like child and maternal health programs and the Global Fund. ONE applauds the example these members of Congress set for the presidential candidates today.”

Highlights from the bill:

Global HIV/AIDS and Other Global Health Priorities

• $6.519 billion for global health programs, including HIV/AIDS.
• $550 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. President Bush requested no funding for the Global Fund in the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.
• A major increase for the Child Survival and Health Programs account, which is $393 million above the President’s request.
• Increased resources for health programs including combating XDR-TB (Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal and child health.)

Improving Aid Effectiveness and Strengthening Development Assistance

• A major increase for the Development Assistance account to a total of $1.734 billion, which is $692 million above the President’s equest. This will fund an initiative on basic education for developing countries as well as an expansion of safe water and environmental programs.