Annual Appropriations Sign On Letters to Strengthen Global Development for FY18 (updated 6-26)

Each year, efforts led by the U.S. save millions of lives from disease, ensure quality education for the poorest children, strengthen democratic values in fragile states, and build trading partners with emerging economies.

These efforts require resources. “Appropriation” is the act of setting aside money for a specific purpose. Every year the U.S. Congress directs federal funding, or “appropriates” resources for the fiscal year to various programs, including development programs supported by RESULTS.

Since the beginning of this year RESULTS has had its own First 100 Days Campaign with the central focus on getting face-to-face meetings with member of Congress. Key asks for those meetings have been to protect poverty-focused programs in International Affairs account and to make appropriations requests for fiscal year 2018 (FY18). Asking a member of Congress to support appropriations for poverty-focused global development is one of the most powerful requests you can make on the issues of global health and basic education this year. The annual appropriations process is a time to influence how we prioritize our funding for issues that provide care and access to services to the most vulnerable, and it is also an opportunity to get your members of Congress to raise their voices on this issue with their peers through congressional “sign-on” letters.

REMEMBER – A “sign-on” letter is circulated by members of Congress (like a petition) to get other members of Congress to sign on to show their support for an issue (also called a “Dear Colleague”). These letters can have a lot of sway with appropriators when a strong number of their colleagues are asking them to support a cause – especially if it shows bipartisan support!

Below are HOUSE letters to appropriators supporting 1) robust funding for Maternal and Child Health, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Nutrition 2) robust funding for PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria 3) $450 million for bilateral Tuberculosis treatment and control, and 4) robust funding for International Basic Education and the Global Partnership for Education.

Also one SENATE letter is out asking for 1) robust funding for Maternal and Child Health, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Nutrition. Other Senate letters are expected in the next couple of weeks!

Check below and continue to check this blog as it will be updated to let you know who has signed on to the many letters circulating. You can also find a longer term Congressional Scorecard of actions your representatives and senators have taken over the past 6-7 years through 2016 on this page. You can also check out FY16 appropriations blog  and last year’s appropriations blog to see who signed previous letters. And pay attention! Each letter has a different deadline for your Member of Congress to sign on.

Important Dates:

• House deadline for signing onto the bilateral TB letter is March 23
• House deadline for signing onto Global Fund and PEPFAR letter is March 24
• House deadline for signing onto Global Partnership for Education letter is March 27
• House deadline for signing onto MCH, Gavi, and Nutrition letter is March 28
• Senate deadline for signing onto the bilateral TB letter is May 26
• Senate deadline for signing onto the Global Fund and PEPFAR letter is June 7
• Senate deadline for signing onto the MCH, Gavi, and Nutrition letter is June 9
• House deadline for member requests to SFOPS committee is March 30
• Senate deadline for member requests to SFOPS committee is June 23

Senate Letters

FY18 Senate Maternal and Child Health, Gavi, and Nutrition Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan letter led by Sen. Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Coons (D-DE)
• Asks appropriators for robust funding for maternal and child health, Gavi, and nutrition to support ending preventable maternal and child deaths
• Final letter with signers

CLOSED – Final Signers for SENATE Maternal and Child Health, Gavi, and Nutrition Letter – 35 signers: Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hoeven (R-ND), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR)

FY18 Senate Global TB Dear Colleague Letter:

• Letter led by Sen. Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Young (R-IN)
• Asks appropriators for robust funding for the bilateral tuberculosis program at USAID
• Final letter with signers

CLOSED – Final Signers SENATE Tuberculosis Letter – 21 signers: Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Todd Young (R-IN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR)

FY18 Senate Global Fund and PEPFAR Dear Colleague Letter:

• Letter led by Sen. Isakson (R-GA) and Sen. Coons (D-DE)
• Asks appropriators to continue critical investments in the multilateral Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and the bilateral HIV/AIDS program, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
• Final letter with signers

CLOSED – Final Signers for SENATE Global Fund and PEPFAR Letter – 32 signers: Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Burr (R-NC), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Michael Enzi (R-WY),  Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR)

FY18 Senate Basic Education and Global Partnership for Education Dear Colleague Letter:

• Letter led by Sen. Isakson (R-GA) and Sen. Feinstein (D-CA)
• Asks appropriators for robust funding for Basic Education and the Global Partnership for Education
• Final letter with signers

CLOSED – Final Signers for SENATE Basic Education and Global Partnership for Education Letter – 22 signers: Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Al Franken (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR)

House Letters

FY18 House Maternal and Child Health, Gavi, and Nutrition Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan letter led by Reps. Reichert (R-WA), Lee (D-CA), McCaul (R-TX), Ross (R-FL), and Bera (D-CA).
• Asks appropriators for robust funding for Maternal and Child Health Account – including Gavi, and Robust funding for the Nutrition Account in Global Health at USAID.
• Final letter with signers

CLOSED – Final Signers for HOUSE Maternal and Child Health, Gavi, and Nutrition Letter – 143 signers: Dave Reichert (R-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Dennis Ross (R-FL), Ami Bera (D-CA), Alma Adams (D-NC), Karen Bass (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Robert Brady (D-PA), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Julia Brownley (D-CA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Kathy Castor (D-FL), David Cicilline (D-RI), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Mike Coffman (R-CO), Stephen Cohen (D-TN), Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), John Conyers (D-MI), Ryan Costello (R-PA), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Danny Davis (D-IL), Susan Davis (D-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Diana DeGette (D-CO), John Delaney (D-MD), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Daniel Donovan (R-NY), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Dwight Evans (D-PA), John Faso (R-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Garamendi (D-CA), Al Green (D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Denny Heck (D-WA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Jim Himes (D-CT), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), William Keating (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), Daniel Kildee (D-MI), Ron Kind (D-WI), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Larson (D-CT), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Doris Matsui (D-CA), A. Donald McEachin (D-VA), James McGovern (D-MA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Steve Pearce (R-NM), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Robert Pittenger (R-NC), Stacey Plaskett (D-USVI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), David Rouzer (R-NC), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), David Scott (D-GA), Robert Scott (D-VA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Kurt Shrader (D-OR), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Adam Smith (D-WA), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Darren Soto (D-FL), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Don Young (R-AK)

FY18 House Global Fund and PEPFAR Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan letter led by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
• Asks for robust funding for the Global Fund and PEPFAR
• Final letter with signers

CLOSED – Final Signers for HOUSE Global Fund and PEPFAR Letter – 143 signers: Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Alma Adams (D-NC), Nanette Barragan (D-CA), Karen Bass (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Ami Bera (D-CA), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Mike Bost (R-IL), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Robert Brady (D-PA), Anthony Brown (D-MD), Julia Brownley (D-CA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Michael Capuano (D-MA) Andre Carson (D-IN), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Stephen Cohen (D-TN), Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), John Conyers (D-MI), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Danny Davis (D-IL), Susan Davis (D-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Diana DeGette (D-CO), John Delaney (D-MD), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Daniel Donovan (R-NY), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Al Green (D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Denny Heck (D-WA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), James Himes (D-CT), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Hank Johnson (D-GA), William Keating (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Daniel Kildee (D-MI), Ann Kuster (D-NH), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Larson (D-CT), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Donald McEachin (D-VA), James McGovern (D-MA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), William Pascrell (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Scott Peters (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Mike Quigley (D-IL), David Reichert (R-WA), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Peter Roskam (R-IL), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Gregorio Sablan (D-NMI), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), David Scott (D-GA), Robert Scott (D-VA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Krysten Sinema (D-AZ), Albio Sires (D-NJ),  Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Darren Soto (D-FL), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Norma Torres (D-CA), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Don Young (R-AK)

FY18 House Global TB Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan letter led by Reps. Engel (D-NY), Don Young (R-AK), Gene Green (D-TX)
• Asks appropriators for $450 million for the bilateral tuberculosis program at USAID
• Final letter with signers

CLOSED – Final Signers for HOUSE Bilateral Tuberculosis Letter – 63 signers: Eliot Engel (D-NY), Don Young (R-AK), Gene Green (D-TX), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Andre Carson (D-IN), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), David Cicilline (D-RI), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Stephen Cohen (D-TN), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), John Conyers (D-MI), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Danny Davis (D-IL), Pete DeFazio (D-OR), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Denny Heck (D-WA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), William Keating (D-MA), Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Larson (D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), William Pascrell (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-WA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Adam Smith (D-WA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Norma Torres (D-CA), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

FY18 House Basic Education and Global Partnership for Education Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan letter led by Reps. Reichert (R-WA) and Quigley (D-IL)
• Asks appropriators for robust funding for Basic Education and the Global Partnership for Education
• Final letter with signers

CLOSED – Final Signers for HOUSE Basic Education and Global Partnership for Education Letter – 91 signers: Dave Reichert (R-WA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Karen Bass (D-CA), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brandon Boyle (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), John Conyers (D-MI), Joseph Courtney (D-CT), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Susan Davis (D-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Diana DeGette (D-CO), John Delaney (D-MD), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Daniel Donovan (R-NY), Keith Ellison (D-MD), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Bill Foster (D-IL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Tulso Gabbard (D-HI), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Denny Heck (D-WA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), William Keating (D-MA), Ron Kind (D-WI), Ann Kuster (D-NH), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Larson (D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Donald McEachin (D-VA), James McGovern (D-MA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), David Scott (D-GA), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Adam Smith (D-WA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Tim Walz (D-MN), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), John Yarmuth (D-KY)

Any questions on appropriations? Email Crickett Nicovich or Leah Salama on RESULTS staff.