On May 7, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs held a hearing on the FY2014 budget for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs held hearings on the FY2014 budget on April 24 (see The Source, 4/26/13).
Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member Lindsay Graham (R-SC) heard testimony regarding President Obama’s FY2014 request for USAID and oversight of USAID expenditures.
Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator, USAID, explained aspects of the FY2014 budget request, saying, “In June, USAID co‐hosted a Call to Action to accelerate progress and end preventable child deaths. A powerful example of how our new model of development can rally diverse partners behind ambitious but achievable goals, the Call to Action has encouraged more than 170 countries, 200 civil society organizations, and 220 faith‐based organizations to sign a pledge to help reduce child mortality. This global effort builds on an eight percent reduction we have seen from 2008 to 2011 in child mortality in countries where the U.S. government provides assistance. We will continue to fund critical efforts in voluntary family planning, immunizations, nutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases – cost-effective interventions that save lives, while preventing the spread of disease.”
Michael G. Carroll, deputy inspector general, USAID, also testified.
