Foreign Assistance

By Elizabeth Henry, member of Bread for the World board of directors on April 9, 2009
© Oakland Tribune

Thanks to the Tribune for highlighting the call of faith leaders to improve U.S. foreign assistance ("Clergy join fight against world poverty," April 2).

Our nation's foreign aid programs have dramatically improved the lives of millions, from increasing school enrollment for girls in Zambia to agricultural training for farmers in Nicaragua.

Though successful, these programs lack a consistent objective and are scattered across dozens of government offices. By streamlining our efforts and eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies, we can do more to help people in the long term.

Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein wholeheartedly signaled their support for foreign assistance programs by co-sponsoring an amendment that restored funding for them in the Senate budget. They deserve our public thanks and recognition.

We must do more and better to make progress against extreme poverty.

Reps. Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey can champion foreign aid reform as members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Speaker Nancy Pelosi can lead us to adopt a better foreign assistance system — with better coordination, better accountability and better clarity — so that the resources we already have do the most good.

Elizabeth Henry