Investing in Brighter Futures Worldwide (Updated 3-24-16)

Everywhere, a child’s first day of school is a picture of potential. This milestone means the child survived to the age of five, received nutrition and care, and now has access to quality education and a bright future. You have the opportunity to make these shared values a reality for all. Now is the time to urge your members of Congress to voice their support for global health and education in this year’s spending bill, helping provide opportunity in the world’s poorest places.

Since late January and since the President released his annual budget, we’ve had two focuses, getting face-to-face meetings with member of Congress, and making appropriations requests for fiscal year 2017 (FY17). 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) increased funding for PEPFAR and $1.35 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria 3) robust funding for International Basic Education and the Global Partnership for Education, and 4) $400 million for bilateral Tuberculosis treatment and control.

Also four SENATE letters are out asking for 1) robust funding for PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria 2) robust funding for International Basic Education and the Global Partnership for Education, and 3) robust funding for Maternal and Child Health, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Nutrition, 4) supporting $400 million for global tuberculosis prevention and treatment.   

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. You can also find a longer term Congressional Scorecard of actions your representatives and senators have taken over the past 6-7 years through 2015 on this page. You can also check out last year’s appropriations blog to see who signed just last year.

Important Dates:

• Senate deadline for signing onto the Global Fund and PEPFAR letter is March 15
• Senate deadline for signing onto the Tuberculosis letter is March 15
• Senate deadline for signing onto Global Partnership for Education letter is March 15
• Senate deadline for signing onto the MCH, Gavi, and Nutrition letter is March 16
• House deadline for signing onto MCH, Gavi, and Nutrition letter is March 16
• House deadline for signing onto Global Fund and PEPFAR letter is March 16
• House deadline for signing onto Global Partnership for Education letter is March 16
• House deadline for signing onto the bilateral TB letter is March 17
• Senate deadline for member requests to SFOPS committee is March 18
• House deadline for member requests to SFOPS committee is March 22

Senate Letters

FY17 Maternal and Child Health, Gavi, and Nutrition Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan letter led by Sen. Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. Collins (R-ME)
• Asks appropriators for robust funding for maternal and child health, Gavi, and nutrition to support ending preventable maternal and child deaths
• Deadline for signers is March 16.

CLOSED – Final Signers SENATE Maternal and Child Health, Gavi and Nutrition Letter – 27 signers: Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), 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 C. Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR)

FY17 Senate Global Fund and PEPFAR Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan letter led by Sen. Isakson (R-GA) and Sen. Coons (D-DE)
• Asks appropriators for maintaining our commitment to the Global Fund and keep PEPFAR funding at pace to continue momentum on AIDS treatment goals
• Deadline for signers is March 15.

CLOSED – Final Signers SENATE Global Fund and PEPFAR Letter – 27 signers: Chris Coons (D-DE), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Michael B. Enzi (R-WY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR)

FY17 Senate Basic Education Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan 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
• Deadline for signers, TBD.

CLOSED – Final Signers SENATE Basic Education and Global Partnership for Education Letter – 21 signers: Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-MN), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), David Perdue (R-GA), Gary C. Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ron Wyden (D-OR)

FY17 Senate Global TB Dear Colleague Letter:

• Letter led by Sen. Brown (D-OH)
• Asks appropriators for $400 million for the bilateral tuberculosis program at USAID

CLOSED – Final Signers SENATE Tuberculosis Letter – 16 signers: Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR)

House Letters

FY17 House Maternal and Child Health, Gavi, and Nutrition Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan letter led by Reps. Reichert (R-WA), McCollum (D-MN), McCaul (R-TX), Capps (D-CA), Ross (R-FL), and Lee (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.
• Closes March 16.

CLOSED – Final Signers for HOUSE Maternal and Child Health, Gavi, and Nutrition Letter – 146 signers: Dave Reichert (R-WA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Lois Capps (D-CA), Dennis Ross (R-FL), Barbara Lee (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), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Corinne Brown (D-NY), Julia Brownley (D-CA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Andre Carson (D-IN), Matthew Cartwright (D-PA), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Stephen Cohen (D-TN), Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), John Conyers (D-MI), Ryan Costello (R-PA)­, Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Susan Davis (D-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Diana DeGette (D-CO), John. K. Delaney (D-MD), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Robert J. Dold (R-IL), Daniel R. Donovan Jr. (R-NY), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Renee Ellmers (R-NC), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), John Garamendi (D-CA), Chris Gibson (R-NY), Gwen Graham (D-FL), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Al Green (D-TX), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Denny Heck (D-WA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Jim Himes (D-CT), Michael M. Honda (D-CA), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) Henry C. Johnson Jr. (D-GA), William Keating (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Joseph P. Kennedy (D-MA), Daniel T. 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), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Thomas MacArthur (R-NJ), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ), Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Robert Pittenger (R-NC), Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), David Price (D-NC), Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), David Scott (D-GA), Robert C. Scott (D-VA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Adam Smith (D-WA), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), 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), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Don Young (R-AK)

FY17 House Global Fund and PEPFAR Dear Colleague Letter:

• Led by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
• Asks for robust funding for the Global Fund and PEPFAR
• Closes March 16.

CLOSED – Final Signers for HOUSE Global Fund and PEPFAR Letter – 125 signers: Barbara Lee (D-CA), Brad Ashford (D-NE), Karen Bass (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Ami Bera (D-CA), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Robert A. Brady (D-PA), Corinne Brown (D-FL), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael E. Capuano (D-MA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Stephen Cohen (D-TN), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), John Conyers (D-MI), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Susan Davis (D-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Diana DeGette (D-CO), John K. 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), Dan Donovan (R-NY), Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Marci Fudge (D-OH), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Al Green (D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-CA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Denny Heck (D-WA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), James Himes (D-CT), Michael Honda (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Hank Johnson (D-GA), William R. Keating (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Ann Kuster (D-NH), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John B. Larson (D-CT), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-CA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Grace Meng (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 Jr. (D-NJ), Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ), Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), David Price (D-NC), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), Gregorio Sablan (D-NMI), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Adam Smith (D-WA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX), Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), John Yarmuth (D-KY)

FY17 House Basic Education and Global Partnership for Education Dear Colleague Letter:

• Bipartisan letter led by Reps. Reichert (R-WA) and McDermott (D-WA)
• Asks appropriators for robust funding for Basic Education and the Global Partnership for Education
• Closes March 16.

CLOSED – Final Signers HOUSE Basic Education and Global Partnership for Education Letter – 93 signers: Dave Reichert (R-WA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Brad Ashford (D-NE), Karen Bass (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Corinne Brown (D-FL), Julia Brownley (D-CA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael E. Capuano (D-MA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Matthew Cartwright (D-PA), Judy Chu (D-CA), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Stephen Cohen (D-TN), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Susan Davis (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), John K. Delaney (D-MD), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Daniel M. Donovan Jr. (R-NY), Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Elizabeth H. Esty (D-CT), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Janice Hahn (D-CA), Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Denny Heck (D-WA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), William Keating (D-MA), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Larson (D-CT), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), David Loebsack (D-IA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Michael McCaul (R-TX), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jared Polis (D-CO), David Price (D-NC), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), David Scott (D-GA), Robert C. Scott (D-VA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Adam Smith (D-WA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), 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), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), John Yarmuth (D-KY)

FY17 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 $400 million for the bilateral tuberculosis program at USAID
• Closes March 17.

CLOSED – Final Signers Bilateral Tuberculosis Letter – 71 signers: Eliot Engel (D-NY), Don Young (R-AK), Gene Green (D-TX), Ami Bera (D-CA), Donald Beyer Jr. (D-VA), Corinne Brown (D-FL), Andre Carson (D-IN), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), David N. Cicilline (D-NJ), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Stephen Cohen (D-TN), John Conyers (D-MI), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Peter 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), Daniel Donovan Jr. (R-NY), Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Denny Heck (D-WA), Jim Himes (D-CT), Michael M. Honda (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), William Keating (D-MA), Joseph Kennedy III (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), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC),  David Price (D-NC), Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Adam Smith (D-WA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX), Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL)