Letter to Senator

22 Kilkenny Court
Alameda, CA 94502

September 29, 2007

Name of Representative
Address
Of
representative

Dear (Name of Representative):

I am writing in support of the Education for All Act of 2007 (S. 1259, H.R. 2092), the Global Child Survival Act (S. 1418, H.R. 2266), the GROWTH Act (H.R. 2965), and the Jubilee Act (H.R. 2634). These four bills, if enacted, will drastically reduce extreme poverty around the world. For example, in Uganda the Christian Children’s fund is teaching children how to monitor public funds coming into the school, and it has already stopped corrupt teachers. Education like this that would be made a major goal in US foreign policy by the Education for All Act would prepare children for the jobs needed so developing countries become more self sustainable and less foreign aide is needed to be contributed on our part. The GROWTH Act also contributes to this by helping poor women secure jobs, access credit, and start new businesses. Whatever contributes to the economies of developing countries will help the global economy. The Global Child Survival Act would provide the simple and inexpensive relief like clean drinking water, vitamin supplements, and immunizations that are most needed. These inexpensive supplies easily save lives in places where the most basic needs are not met. The debt cancellation that would be given to 26 more countries according to the Jubilee Act has been proven to be effective by economist Jeffrey Sachs.

These four bills are simple steps toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals our country agreed to. Even more important is that these bills give the aide directly to the people, reducing the amount of phantom aide given by the United States. As the richest country in the world, we can give so much more than the .07% G.D.P. we are giving now, 86% which does not even hit the ground in developing countries. It is time we rise to the promise we made to the world.

Sincerely,
Julie Andersen