Tell Congress: Don't turn your backs on Syria
As we enter the seventh year of the Syrian conflict, children and families are still in danger — suffering through war and violence inside Syria and struggling to survive as refugees. And a new threat looms for Syrian families who have already lost almost everything: lifesaving humanitarian programs are at risk of massive cuts.
While only accounting for around 1% of the total federal budget, foreign assistance provides lifesaving assistance to tens of millions of vulnerable families around the world, including innocent families affected by the terrible ongoing conflict in Syria.
Foreign assistance not only funds diplomacy but also supports programs that can help reconcile communities, build peace across sectarian and political divides, and heal the wounds of war.
The U.S. Congress will soon be considering the overall foreign aid budget for fiscal year 2018. Please raise your voice to help ensure that any cuts proposed by the Trump Administration are not enacted. The U.S. must take a principled stand and continue its leadership role of protecting the most vulnerable families in need around the world.
Please add your signature to our petition urging Congress to maintain existing funding levels for foreign assistance. We must not turn our backs on Syrians and other suffering families in crisis around the world.
My Message
Dear Member of Congress,
I am writing to urge you to protect international lifesaving humanitarian assistance, peace-building, and poverty-focused health and development programs in the International Affairs Function 150 account by funding it at no less than $60 billion in the FY 2018 Budget Resolution.
Although this account represents only approximately 1% of the federal budget, it is critical to saving millions of lives and advances U.S. interests overseas.
As we enter the seventh year of the Syrian war, nearly 7 million Syrians inside Syria have been displaced and 4 million Syrian refugees have fled to neighboring countries. Humanitarian needs are enormous, and without a diplomatic end in sight, suffering will only continue.
The International Affairs 150 function not only funds diplomatic efforts which are needed to end the war, but includes funding for USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugee and Migration, which are the primary responders to the massive global displacement crisis we are facing.
Not since World War II have more people been displaced from their homes and livelihoods, with 66 million people on the move. Additionally, famine has just been declared in South Sudan, and funding for the Food for Peace program- the US government’s key account for fighting hunger- is also supported through the 150 International Affairs Account.
As a constituent that cares about the world’s most vulnerable populations, I urge you to fight to ensure Congress provides sufficient funds both in the FY 2018 Budget Resolution, but also in the Appropriations “302b” process for International Affairs funding.
I look forward to hearing from you on how you’re working to protect these critical programs and America’s role as a humanitarian leader.
Sincerely,