Global Poverty Act needs quick approval
In-Forum - Fargo, ND
July 20, 2008
In 2000, the United States made a promise to achieve the eight Millennium Development Goals, which include halving the amount of people living on less than $1 a day, ensuring basic education for all children, and dramatically reducing the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
After studying in India in fall 2007, I am able to say that I witnessed and met individuals who lived on less than $1 a day. Everyone in America is starting to feel the crunch of the international food crisis. The increasing gas and food prices are affecting everyone, but simply imagine the issues facing our hungry neighbors living across the street or across the water.
While attending the Bread for the World Hunger Justice Leader training this summer, I had the opportunity to learn how the Global Poverty Act will positively affect friends I have met abroad. This act calls for a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of eliminating extreme global poverty and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It does not authorize programs or money, it does make poverty-focused development assistance more efficient.
This bipartisan piece of legislation needs more senators to co-sign so it may come to a vote in the Senate. Depending on where you live I urge you to take a minute and call Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., or Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., at (202) 224-3121 today and tell them to co-sign the Global Poverty Act.
KatyAnna Johnson
Devils Lake, N.D.
