McCollum Uses Duluth Speech to Call for a Greater U.S. Commitment to World's Poorest

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McCollum Uses Duluth Speech to Call for a Greater U.S. Commitment to World's Poorest

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) spoke at the University of Minnesota Duluth today as part of the Ben and Jeanne Overman Distinguished Lecture Series. In her speech, McCollum called on the U.S. government to commit to ending global poverty.

"Every year 8 million people die because they are too poor to get the basics they need to stay alive," said McCollum. "It is my belief that the United States has the ability, the resources, and the moral obligation to work in partnership with other wealthy nations, and make the investments to reduce global poverty."

The United States currently spends $36 billion, less that 1.5% of the federal budget, on international assistance. In comparison, this year the federal government will spend $260 billion just to pay the interest on the national debt.

"For the cost of just three days in Iraq -- $1 billion - we can invest in additional child survival efforts that will save at least one million newborns and toddlers. If we want to talk about winning hearts and minds around the world think of the impact this effort would have on a million parents whose babies are alive because the American people cared," said McCollum.

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