Tim visits with members of the US Air Force Academy

Foreign Assistance

While foreign aid comprises less than one percent of the federal budget, it still has a significant impact on foreign policy and military concerns. A robust international budget will help the U.S. remain engaged in world affairs and ensure we are capable of responding to humanitarian crises wherever they may occur.

I believe that U.S. foreign aid to developing countries has been a cost-effective and important investment. This assistance has helped increase life expectancy by 20 years in third world nations, while child mortality rates have been cut in half. In addition, food assistance has been a vital part of our international development and humanitarian relief efforts.

As a member of the Senate Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, it is critically important that Congress maintain strict regulations and appropriate oversight to guarantee foreign aid offered by the U.S. is spent wisely and is provided to those most in need.

Crisis in Sudan

The crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan continues to be one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world. The United Nations estimates that more than 200,000 people have been killed in this conflict, while other organizations believe the actual number is three to four times higher. Approximately two million have been displaced as a result of ongoing ethnic violence.

In July 2007, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution calling for the deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force in Darfur to protect the civilian population and to support the renewal of the peace process. Also in July, the United Nations Security Council authorized 26,000 troops and police for Darfur. When deployed, this will be the world's largest peacekeeping force. While this move comes woefully late, it is a significant move to bring peace to the people of Darfur.

International support is needed to end the atrocities there. I am deeply troubled by the situation and believe more must be done to protect the innocent civilians in Darfur. I will continue pushing the Bush Administration to work with the international community in providing more humanitarian relief and helping find a settlement to the conflict in Darfur.

Global AIDS Epidemic

For more than two decades, HIV/AIDS has been a global scourge. It has killed more than 20 million people worldwide, and has left 40 million people infected. This disease is also the leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa and the fourth leading killer worldwide. While great strides have been made in treatment and prevention methods, I firmly believe that more can and must be done. I have been a staunch supporter of both the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Ensuring these programs receive adequate funding is essential if we are to stop this deadly disease.

I am pleased to cosponsor the African Health Capacity Investment Act of 2007 (S.805). This bill authorizes funding to improve health care capacity in sub-Saharan Africa. The bill will address the critical shortage of health personnel in Africa, which is a leading obstacle to fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, by implementing capacity-building initiatives. Nearly 20,000 African healthcare workers emigrate each year to pursue higher paying jobs in other countries. By building healthcare capacity, the hope is that it will entice professionals to remain in their home country to assist combating these deadly diseases.

In addition, I am pleased to support the Global Child Survival Act. The purpose of this legislation is to increase U.S. investment in child survival and maternal health programs. Specifically, the bill directs the President to develop a comprehensive strategy to improve the health of newborns, children, and mothers in developing countries. The legislation calls for increased funding to combat childhood illness and promote immunization services. It also increases aid for child and maternal nutrition; maternity and obstetric services; and HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis programs.

Millennium Development Goals

In the 109th Congress, I cosponsore d the International Cooperation to Meet the Millennium Development Goals Act of 2005 (S.1315), introduced by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN). The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) were agreed to by 189 nations in 2000 as a means to address the challenges faced by developing countries. The MDG include eradicating world hunger and poverty; combating HIV/AIDS; reducing child mortality; and achieving universal primary education for the world's children. The act requires the Secretary of State to submit a progress report to Congress to ensure the global community is taking the necessary steps to achieve the goals outlined in three different international conferences: the Millennium Development Goals set in the July 2005 G8 conference, the United Nations Summit of September 2005, and the World Trade Organization Ministerial meeting scheduled for December 2005. Also the progress and contributions made by the United States and other countries and organizations that support the Millennium Development Goals will be gauged in the report. In full, the report will help to ensure coherence and coordination among the many initiatives designed to ease poverty in Africa. This bill passed the Senate unanimously.

Global Concerns

Below you will find legislation I cosponsored in the 110th Congress that addresses global concerns:
S.1259 Education for All Act
S.1175 Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007
S.1998 International Child Marriage Prevention & Protection Act of 2007
S.2069 Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act of 2007
S.1551 Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act of 2007
S.968 Stop TB Now Act of 2007
S.2433 Global Poverty Act