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Urge Funds for Afghan Freedom Act
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Progressive Portal
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Jun 09, 2003 17:40 PDT
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URGE CONGRESS TO INCREASE FUNDS FOR AFGHANISTAN
[From Feminist Majority <http://www.feminist.org>]
In April 2003, George Bush promised a "Marshall Plan" to rebuild
Afghanistan and to restore the rights of Afghan women and girls.
However, without significant reconstruction funding and without adequate
support for Afghan-led institutions to safeguard women's rights and
human rights, this promise is hollow. Unless immediate action is taken,
Afghanistan will lose its best chance for peace and democracy.
Take Action
Send a fax to Mr. Bush and your members of Congress, telling them that
U.S. promises made to Afghanistan and to Afghan women must be kept, at:
http://capwiz.com/fmf1/issues/alert/?alertid=2496966
Background
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In 2002 Congress passed, and Mr. Bush signed, the Afghan Freedom Support
Act of 2002. It authorized $2.3 billion for reconstruction and
humanitarian assistance over four years, and $1 billion over two years
for expansion of international peacekeeping forces. Feminist Majority
worked with Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joseph Biden (D-DE) to
improve the law by including peace-troop expansion and earmarks for the
Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Afghan Independent Human Rights
Commission. While still far from sufficient funding for the rebuilding
of the country, the Afghan Freedom Support Act marked a step in the
right direction.
But where is the promised money for Afghanistan?
Despite the Act's strong bipartisan support, Bush's budget requests and
Congressional appropriations are far less than what the Act authorizes
and Afghanistan needs. Rather than requesting funding for anything
resembling a Marshall Plan, the Bush Administration did not ask for ANY
money for Afghanistan in its proposed 2003 Budget last February. In
December, the Bush Administration finally made a request for a mere $93
million. Recognizing the ridiculously low funding commitment, Congress
appropriated more money than the Administration requested, but still
only $295 million.
Without increased reconstruction funding and improved security, warlords
will continue to impose Taliban-like restrictions on women, maternal
mortality and female illiteracy rates will continue to be among the
highest worldwide, and the Afghan people will lose their best hope for
peace and democracy.
Now, as Congress considers the fiscal year 2004 budget, Feminist
Majority is again working to secure meaningful funding for Afghanistan's
reconstruction and for programs to safeguard women's rights, urging that
Congress appropriate at least full funding of the Afghan Freedom Support
Act, including earmarks for the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the
Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.
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