Push Obey to keep fighting for the hungry
Wasau Daily Herald (WI)
April 5, 2008
To the Editor: We in the 7th Congressional District have wisely chosen a congressman who has never forgotten those who live in the shadow of poverty. Our country is fortunate that Dave Obey's values guide the decisions of the House Appropriations Committee.
In September, 2000, the United States signed on to the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations, agreeing with all the nations of the world to focus on a common strategy to reduce by half the 1 billion people living on less than $1 a day and those suffering from hunger by 2015. We have been slowly raising our contribution to this end, but we are still far from our $25 billion pledge and behind many other contributing nations. We need to add $5 billion to the budget to get back on track to meet our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals.
The House has already passed the Global Poverty Act, ensuring that money we contribute will be used effectively and efficiently to improve nutrition, health care, education and access to clean water for the poorest of the poor. As Rep. Obey works to set spending caps for appropriations bills, please join me in reminding him that fighting extreme poverty is one of the best ways to enhance our national security and to reflect America's values around the world. His local office number is 842-5606, or send e-mail to www.obey.house.gov.
Lynne Santangelo
Wausau
