Consumer alliance applauds congressional Republicans for bold spending cuts, highlights runaway foreign aid spending hijacked by environmentalists; urges U.S. Senate to do the same
WASHINGTON, DC – In light of the passage of more than $61 billion in federal government spending cuts this past weekend by a vote of 235-189, the Consumers Alliance for Global Prosperity (CAGP) praised Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives for reigning in spending in general and putting the brakes on attempts by Green environmentalist groups to subvert foreign aid monies to continue their climate change campaign.
“The House vote on Saturday to cut federal government spending is a big step in the right direction. With current government funding set to expire next Friday, efforts by Speaker Boehner and congressional Republicans to get federal spending under control will not only help America create jobs and promote investment, but also keeps in check the left-wing climate change agenda of Greenpeace, WWF and the Rainforest Action Network in their quest to soil America’s foreign aids programs,” said Andrew Langer, spokesman for CAGP.
U.S. foreign aid is provided to nations worldwide by a host of federal agencies, among the most notable being the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The agency describes itself as “the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms”. Unfortunately, though, USAID’s mission has been tarnished by its collusion with environmental organizations, groups whose overriding agenda is to use foreign aid monies to promote their biased, ideological agenda in the developing world. For example, WWF has “partnered” with USAID to drive its Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) in Africa, touting that it is supporting responsible forest management. In reality, however, it is simply a program that aims to cut off development of forest land and its by-products from exports to major trading continents, thus stifling African economic development.
Langer continued, “Our foreign aid programs attempt to help a lot of the world’s most needy, supporting programs that fund initiatives in health and education to development and peacekeeping. But our government’s aid spending is being co-opted by Green environmentalist groups, who in turn are forcing developing nations to adhere to their environmentalist agenda. It’s a shame that on one hand USAID pledges to help countries escape poverty, while at the same time getting in bed with biased organizations that want nothing more than to further an anti-development agenda. This blatant contradiction is troubling. Fortunately, House Republicans have worked together to pass cuts to this radical funding scheme, which has been perpetuated for too long on the backs of American taxpayers. CAGP urges the Senate to follow suit so that developing nations can shake the yoke of this type of Green aid, so-called assistance that is only shackling workers and families in Africa, Asia and Latin America in the red.”