Senators urged to back the Global Poverty Act

By LLOYD SCHMEIDLER, JOHN ROREM, NORMA TAYLOR MITCHELL and ADELINE PLUMER on August 27, 2008
© Durham Herald

Rising food prices are a concern to many people in Durham. For the world's poorest people in developing countries -- who spend up to 80 percent of their income to buy food -- the situation is devastating.

This is why we ask you and your readers to join us in urging Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Sen. Richard Burr to become co-sponsors of the Global Poverty Act, SB 2433.

The Global Poverty Act would require the president to develop and implement a coordinated strategy of U.S. aid, debt relief and trade policies to meet the goal of cutting by half the number of people around the world who live on less than $1 a day by 2015. For more information about the act, you many visit www.bread.org.

Poor and hungry people should not be allowed to suffer due to partisan politics during this election season. Please urge Sens. Dole and Burr to co-sponsor SB 2433 by calling the Capitol switchboard, 202-224-3121, and asking for the senators' office.

LLOYD SCHMEIDLER, JOHN ROREM, NORMA TAYLOR MITCHELL and ADELINE PLUMER
Durham