Issue Position: Hunger, Poverty, and Debt Relief

Issue Position

There are nearly 1 billion people -- 200 million families -- living below the international poverty line. I believe the United States must live up to its promise to fight global poverty and we must strive to find creative, effective ways to reach those most in need around the world.

I am a strong supporter of fully funding the Millennium Challenge Account and other aid programs, such as the Food for Peace Program, that help the poorest nations. The Millennium Challenge Account provides support for developing countries that promote democracy and the rule of law, invest in their citizens, and pursue free-market economic policies.

I also support international microcredit models like Dr. Muhammad Yunus' Grameen Bank. Dr. Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for developing an economically feasible model of extending very small loans, at competitive interest rates, to the very poor. For the past thirty years, this model has changed millions of lives and been emulated around the globe.

I also support increasing debt relief, development assistance and health care funding for sub-Saharan Africa. According to the World Bank, the 58 most indebted countries owed $426 billion to foreign creditors in 2004. To repay the loans, these countries are forced to eliminate important investments in schools, health care, roads, communications and agriculture that are essential for economic development. In addition, these nations have faced falling commodity prices that have undermined their ability to repay their debts. The average African country spends twice as much on debt repayment as they spend on providing health care.

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