Legislation To Overhaul U.S. Foreign Aid Introduced

The Boston Globe reports that "[m]any development groups have pushed the Obama administration to address the fragmented foreign-aid process." Raymond Offenheiser, Oxfam America's president, said that "[a]long with rebuilding USAID, the U.S. must shift its focus from development projects that meet short-term political and security goals back to long-term development goals that not only help more people escape poverty, but in the long run, create greater stability and good will for the U.S." (7/29).

In the press release, Kerry said, "We need cutting edge programs that will push the envelope on ending chronic poverty, combating global climate change, reducing hunger, supporting democracies, and offering alternatives to extremism." Lugar said that although the U.S. "has increased development funding and elevated its priority," USAID has been "allowed to atrophy. Many new programs are located outside USAID in roughly two dozen departments and agencies. We don't really know whether these programs are complementary or working at cross-purposes." Menendez said that foreign assistance has been "pulled in too many directions" over the years and that the "reform initiative is a way to help focus our programs in a smarter and more effective way." Corker said, "This bill begins to reinvigorate USAID to improve the coordination, execution and efficiency of U.S. assistance so we can make each dollar go farther" (7/28).

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