,,iv #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #g ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #d1 #bjac ,ms4 ,lee of ,california 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,holt1 and ,mr4 ,grijalva7 submitted the following concurrent resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,concurrent ,,resolution ,expressing the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states should provide1 on an annual basis1 an amount equal to at least one percent of ,united ,states gross domestic product 7,,gdp7 for nonmilitary foreign assistance programs4 ,whereas1 on ,april #c1 #aidh1 ,president ,harry ,truman signed into law the ,economic ,recovery ,act of #aidh1 inspired by a plan of economic trade and assistance for ,european countries proposed by ,secretary of ,state ,george ,c4 ,marshall1 otherwise known as the ,marshall ,plan2 ,whereas1 from the years #aidg to #aiea1 the ,united ,states gave #ac billion1 equivalent to #acg billion in #bjjg1 in economic aid and technical assistance to assist in the economic recovery of #af ,european countries2 ,whereas the ,marshall ,plan1 among other objectives1 sought to assure global peace and defend the national security of the ,united ,states through direct foreign assistance programs aimed at combating economic1 social1 and political degradation2 ,whereas poverty1 lack of opportunity1 and environmental degradation are recognized as significant contributors to socioeconomic and political instability1 as well as to the exacerbation of disease pandemics and other global health threats2 ,whereas elevating the ,united ,states standing in the world represents a critical and essential element of any strategy to improve national and global security by mitigating the root causes of conflict and multinational terrorism1 strengthening diplomatic and economic relationships1 preventing global climate change1 curbing weapons proliferation1 and fostering peace and cooperation between all nations2 ,whereas the ,foreign ,assistance ,act1 signed into law on ,september #d1 #aifa1 reaffirms the traditional humanitarian ideals of the ,american people and renews its commitment to assist people in developing countries to eliminate hunger1 poverty1 and illness2 ,whereas ,congress created the ,peace ,corps in #aifa and the ,united ,states has since sent more than #bjj1jjj volunteers to #aci nations to promote the ,peace ,corps' mission of world peace and friendship through service in the developing world2 ,whereas1 on ,november #c1 #aifa1 ,president ,john ,f4 ,kennedy established the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development 7,,usaid7 with the aim of providing direct support to developing countries in a manner free of political and military influence2 ,whereas over the last #aj years1 ,congress and successive ,executive ,branch administrations have worked to more than double foreign assistance and implement a number of new foreign aid initiatives to support global health1 development1 human rights1 and good governance including the ,millennium ,challenge ,account 7,,mca71 the ,president's ,international ,education ,initiative1 the ,president's ,malaria ,initiative 7,,pmi71 the ,president's ,emergency ,plan for ,,aids ,relief 7,,pepfar71 the ,global ,food ,security and ,feed the ,future ,initiatives1 and the ,global ,health ,initiative2 ,whereas ,president ,obama has expressed his commitment to achieve the ,millennium ,development ,goal of cutting extreme poverty and hunger around the world in half by #bjae1 as well as his intent to double the level of foreign assistance to meet that goal2 ,whereas the ,united ,states has pledged its support1 along with every ,united ,nations member state and numerous international organizations1 to achieve the ,united ,nations ,millennium ,development ,goals in order to reduce extreme poverty1 support sustainable development1 and address the needs of the world's most vulnerable populations2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,millennium ,development ,goals1 derived from the ,united ,nations ,millennium ,declaration signed on ,september #h1 #bjjj1 seek to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger1 achieve universal primary education1 promote gender equality and empower women1 reduce child mortality1 improve maternal health1 combat ,,hiv_/,,aids1 malaria1 and other diseases1 ensure environmental sustainability1 and develop a global partnership for development2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,department of ,economic and ,social ,affairs indicates that in ,june #bjaj1 progress was either insufficient1 absent1 or deteriorating for more than half of key targets related to compliance with the ,united ,nations ,millennium ,development ,goals2 ,whereas the ,world ,bank estimates that in #bjje1 #a4d billion people across the globe were experiencing extreme poverty1 living on less than #a4be a day2 ,whereas according to the ,united ,nations ,development ,program's #bjaj ,human ,development ,report more than #a4g billion people 7across #ajd countries examined in the report7 live in multidimensional poverty according to the ,multidimensional ,poverty ,index 7,,mpi71 an indicator which provides a comprehensive picture of severe deprivations common to poor households including in health1 education1 and standard of living2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,food and ,agriculture ,organization 7,,fao7 estimates that the number of undernourished people in the world totaled #ibe million in #bjaj1 equivalent to #ac4d percent of the world population and representing an increase of roughly #ajj million people from #aiij2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,framework ,convention on ,climate ,change 7,,unfccc7 ,secretariat has indicated that by #bjcj1 the cost of adapting to global climate change could amount to more than #agj billion annually1 with #bh billion to #fg billion per year required to meet the needs of the developing world2 ,whereas in #bjji1 the ,united ,states was in the bottom five of the world's #bc wealthiest countries in official development assistance funding as a percentage of gross national income 7,,gni71 totaling #bh4g billion and representing #j4b percent2 ,whereas1 on ,november #bf1 #bjjg1 ,united ,states ,secretary of ,defense ,robert ,m4 ,gates stated that funding for nonmilitary foreign affairs programs remains disproportionately small relative to what we spend on the military and to the importance of such capabilities and called for a dramatic increase in spending on the civilian instruments of national security--diplomacy1 strategic communications1 foreign assistance1 civic action1 and economic reconstruction and development42 ,whereas1 on ,december #ae1 #bjaj1 ,secretary of ,state ,hillary ,rodham ,clinton released the first-ever ,quadrennial ,diplomacy and ,development ,review 7,,qddr71 a blueprint for a whole-of-government approach to diplomacy and development1 noting in public remarks that ,u4,s4 civilian power is a wise investment for ,american taxpayers that will pay off by averting conflicts1 opening markets1 and reducing threats2 ,whereas a principal objective of the foreign policy of the ,united ,states1 as codified in the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa1 is the encouragement and sustained support of the people of developing countries in their efforts to acquire the knowledge and resources essential to development and to build the economic1 political1 and social institutions which will improve the quality of their lives2 ,whereas broad-based country- and community-ownership1 sustainable and responsible trade opportunities1 the robust engagement of vulnerable populations including women1 and a commitment to improve governance and the rule of law1 are all critical to the long-term success of development programs2 ,whereas individuals1 businesses1 and philanthropic organizations across the ,united ,states continue to play a vital and increasing role in international efforts to create a more peaceful and prosperous world for all individuals through direct and indirect assistance2 ,whereas studies indicate that a majority of the individuals in the ,united ,states1 whose tax dollars fund ,federal expenditures1 support increasing funding to meet the ,millennium ,development ,goals and to committing a higher percentage of ,,gdp to address global poverty2 and ,whereas a firm and significant financial commitment to enhance ,united ,states foreign assistance programs exemplifies the compassion and resolve of the people of the ,united ,states to benefit and empower all peoples of the world for the betterment of humankind3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that ,congress-- 7#a7 recognizes that foreign assistance programs are of critical importance in promoting national security1 demonstrating the humanitarian spirit of the people of the ,united ,states1 and improving the credibility and standing of the ,united ,states in world affairs2 and 7#b7 expresses its support for attaining the goal of providing1 on an annual basis1 an amount equal to no less than one percent of ,united ,states gross domestic product 7,,gdp7 for nonmilitary foreign assistance programs4