U.S. President George W. Bush wants to devote $23.7 billion to foreign aid spending in the next fiscal year. The sum constitutes an increase of 13.7 percent from the current appropriation of $20.9 billion. The White House hopes to provide $4 billion to global HIV/AIDS fight, $3 billion to the Millennium Challenge Account, $3.2 billion to the Economic Support Fund, $474 million to education and educational and cultural exchange programs, and $214 million to anti-bird flu campaign.
Washington also plans to allocate $1.3 billion to food aid, a quarter of which will constitute cash aid to allow overseas emergency purchases. White House documents said "the budget supports the administration's continuing efforts to make U.S. food aid more efficient and effective by increasing the use of cash assistance for emergencies where its use is critical to saving lives." Chris Garza, director of congressional relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation, expressed disappointment over the proposal and urged the lawmakers to ensure that the money remains in U.S. control. Dawn Forsythe, a spokeswoman for U.S. Wheat Associates, holds the same opinion, fearing that "U.S. taxpayers' money is going to purchase competitors' wheat." In defense of the move, outgoing USAID administrator Andrew Natsios cited that "it takes four months to ship food aid and 40 percent of the cost is in the shipping."
Interaction also voiced dismay over the latest U.S. financial blueprint. Mohammad Akhter, the president of the umbrella group, noted cuts in some core fundamental programs such as child survival initiatives, disaster relief and long-term development support. Akhter believes the decision is contrary to Bush?s promise of "compassion" in his State of the Union address. "Where is the compassionate part of it? This budget does not seem to live up to it," he added.
Sources:
Foreign aid a big winner in new US budget (Agence France-Presse)
Aid organisations hit out at Bush budget (Financial Times)
Bush asks for $1.3 bln US food aid, some in cash (Reuters)
