DFW July Webinar: Window Closing for a Global Response to COVID-19

COVID-19 is having a devastating impact on low-income nations. Some projections say that progress on fighting diseases like AID, TB, and malaria will be set back 10-20 years and global hunger could double. Women and children will suffer the most if we don’t act. The July DFW/RESULTS webinar details the challenges low-income communities are facing and what is needed from Congress before they leave for the August recess.

We are calling on all 110 DFW advocates to take at least one action, and ideally more actions. We must insist that Congress include a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic before they leave Washington in August. Here are your resources for taking action:

Audio recording and transcript and Powerpoint slides (pdf version)  for the July 2020 DFW Advocacy Chapter with RESULTS webinar.

Actions

Easiest Action: Use the RESULTS online action to write a letter, make a phone call and/or Tweet to your Senators and Rep. Do one or do all three actions, but do at least one action.

Relationship-Building Action (but more influence): Write to the Foreign Policy aide or the Legislative Director in your Senators’ offices. Ask for a response.

1. Look up the staff and phone number for your Senator here. Find the Legislative Director (LD), and if available, the Foreign Policy aide. Contact Ken Patterson if you need help finding staff.
2. Use the Laser Talk below to email and call both your Senators’ LDs and Foreign Policy aides. Form their email address with this formula: [email protected]
3. Follow up until you get an answer. Be persistent in your follow up–staff are busy–they actually appreciate you helping them stay on top of your request.
4. Let Leslye Heilig know you’ve taken action or fill out the DFW Action form.

5. Vary your request based on whether your Senators signed the Rubio/Cardin letter in support of a global response (see list of signers below or download a copy at the link above).

EPIC Laser Message to write (or call) the Senate aides:

Hi _____, I am a constituent and a Dining for Women advocate in ______.

Engage: I am gravely concerned about the impact COVID-19 is having on in low-income countries. Health services, education, and economies are all suffering. In turn, people are suffering. An example of this is ________________

Problem: Current projections are that 80 million children are at risk from missing vaccinations and that we can expect a spike in tuberculosis cases and deaths. Global hunger and malnutrition could also double. Some projects say COVID-19 could set progress on development back by 10-20 years!

Inform: But increasing U.S. support to existing global health programs to ramp up services, create alternative methods of delivery, and prepare for the production and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine could make all the difference. We need a global response to the global COVID-19 pandemic when Congress returns from recess in July.

Call to Action if they signed the Rubio/Cardin letter: I want to thank the Senator for signing on to the Rubio/Cardin letter—it was an important action. I’d also like to ask the Senator to speak directly to Senate leadership and ask that they include at least $20 billion for international development in any COVID-19 supplemental bill, including:

• $4 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria
• $4 billion for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance,
• $2 billion for Anti-Hunger efforts, with at least $500 million for Nutrition?

Can you please get back to me and let me know if the Senator will take this actions?

Call to Action if they did not sign the Rubio/Cardin letter: I noticed the Senator did not sign on to the Rubio/Cardin letter. I’d like to ask that the Senator write their own, similar letter and also speak to Senate leadership and ask that they include at least $20 billion for international development in any COVID-19 supplemental bill, including:

• $4 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria
• $4 billion for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance,
• $2 billion for Anti-Hunger efforts, with at least $500 million for Nutrition?

Can you please get back to me and let me know if the Senator will take either or both of these actions?

Signers of the Rubio/Cardin Letter

Bonus Actions!

1. Thank your Rep. if they signed the Frankel/Rooney letter and ask them to speak to Speaker Pelosi about the need for a global response. If they didn’t sign, send them a copy of the letter and ask them to write and speak to Reps. Pelosi and McCarthy.
2. Use the RESULTS July Action Sheet to get others to contact your Rep and Senators—have them take the online action as part of your gathering.