Tony Hall: “I am very concerned with provisions in the bill which could result in the abolition of USAID, the U.S. Agency for…”

“I am very concerned with provisions in the bill which could result in the abolition of USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development. This Agency provides vital assistance to millions of poor and hungry people in developing nations. The small amount of savings would come at a terrible loss to human life and to our international standing. The abolishment of USAID is a misguided idea that will lead to increased pain and suffering in the poorest countries of the world and it will reduce the effectiveness of the United States in international affairs. Now is the worst time to be thinking of getting rid of USAID. While the world is becoming increasingly interdependent, there are civil breakdowns in places like Bosnia and Rwanda, and there are outbreaks of deadly diseases in remote regions of the world. I think at this time there are 25 major humanitarian crises going on in the world. I have been particularly impressed by the work of Brian Atwood as administrator of USAID. He has done an excellent job transforming USAID into an agency that improves its performance at the same time making dramatic budget reforms.”