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Foreign aid helps us all
Considering mothers’ plight helps us all. (“Reflection on mothers’ health,” Willie Dickerson, May 19). Mr. Dickerson mentions the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, which ultimately impacts us.
Polls show that the average American thinks we spend 25% or more of the federal budget on foreign aid. In fact, about 1% of our federal budget goes to foreign aid (humanitarian assistance). Yet Trump’s FY2020 budget proposal would cut that aid, while continuing to add to corporate welfare.
The Global Fund generates billions of dollars in health care savings and increased economic activity, and helps establish an efficient global health care treatments structure.
About 50% of our exports are purchased by developing countries. 202,200 Idaho jobs are supported by international trade (U.S. Chamber of Commerce). One in three acres on U.S. farms is planted for international sales. When developing countries grow, we grow. The Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria needs to be supported.
Donna Schindler Munro
Bremerton, WA