Effective Foreign Assistance is Critical to Economic Growth
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or the first time since the recession ended, our economy shrank by 0.1 percent this past fall. Meanwhile, the Eurozone unemployment rose to 11.8 percent in November, the highest since the Euro currency was founded in 1999, according to the statistical agency Eurostat. While the rest of the globe struggles to climb out of the recession, subSaharan Africa grew at a rate of nearly 5 percent for the second year in a row, according to the World Bank. This presents an opportunity for economic growth right here at home. In 2011, U.S. goods and services exports reached a record $2.1 trillion, an increase of 33 percent over the level of U.S. exports in 2009; now 14 percent of our economy depends on exports. Opening new markets to American companies means more jobs for Americans, but as any private company CEO knows, we need to make sure we are being smart about our investments and maximizing the returns.
Efforts to do just that are already underway, notably in the great state of Texas. The University of Texas, along with the College of William and Mary and Brigham Young University, runs the largest public access database on project-level development in the world. AidData tracks more than $5.5 trillion in development aid and more than 1 million development projects globally. But we must do more. Last Congress, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill, which I introduced, called the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2012. Requiring measurable goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for all foreign development assistance programs, this bill would bring increased transparency and accountability to the foreign assistance process. U.S. taxpayers would be able to both exercise their right to be informed about where their money is being spent and to see the impact of U.S. foreign assistance around the world. I look
forward to reintroducing the bill this Congress and building on last year’s momentum. I also introduced HR 3658, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2012 to enhance U.S. leadership on the global safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) crisis by streamlining existing programs and applying aid effectiveness principles. A smart investment, WASH efforts have been shown to return at least $4 in productivity for every $1 spent. Americans should be proud of the countless lives we have saved and the direct economic and security benefits here at home. Now, more than ever, is the time for – smart and effective – growth.
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX)
Investing in Women for Our Future
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hroughout my tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives and on the Committee on Appropriations, I have had the opportunity to help shape U.S. development assistance. And I am proud of the United States’ leadership in providing support and funding for critical global health initiatives that both save lives and strengthen our position in the world. While we have made incredible gains over the years, there is still more to be done and I am committed to ensuring the U.S. continues to reach those most in need. Though half of the world’s population, women represent a staggering 70 percent of the world’s poor. These women face too many barriers to lift themselves and their families out of poverty, and I believe that we have the ability and responsibility to dismantle many of those barriers. One of the most important ways we can help is by investing in women’s health. Last May, I introduced legislation to help end obstetric fistula, a debilitating condition often
caused by prolonged, obstructed childbirth and overwhelmingly affecting women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. By establishing a 10-year strategy to combat this preventable condition, the United States Leadership to Eradicate Obstetric Fistula Act of 2012 would have real results for women and their families. Addressing the nutritional needs of women and children is another important investment that we must make. The global food crisis has a disproportionate impact on women and children in developing countries. As a member and former chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, I am working to promote and invest in anti-hunger and nutrition programs, including international food aid. Ensuring that women and their families have access to the nutritious food they need to grow up healthy and strong creates a positive ripple effect across society as a whole. We know, for example, that the right nutrition
for mothers and young children could improve a country’s gross domestic product by at least 2 percent. Investments like these are crucial steps to improving the health of women globally and, in turn, allowing them to gain better access to the rights and opportunities they deserve. These investments represent the less than 1 percent of the federal budget that goes to international aid and show an incredible return, as women are more able to be active participants in their society and contribute to increased global economic growth, which in the end is to our great benefit.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) psi.org | impact
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