Rep. Sara Jacobs Introduces Legislation to Protect USAID
Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) introduced legislation today to protect the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the chief arm of the U.S. government to promote America’s soft power, which helps countries recover from natural disasters, prevents the spread of diseases, eradicates poverty, and promotes good governance and democratic reforms. The Protect U.S. National Security Act reiterates that any USAID reform should abide by existing laws and not harm American soft power, prohibits the use of funds to eliminate USAID as an independent agency, and requires annual certification of this prohibition by the Secretary of State.
Over the past 10 days, Elon Musk and DOGE have shut down USAID’s website, closed its headquarters, placed thousands of staffers on leave, and issued a stop work order on most foreign assistance – including life-saving humanitarian assistance. As a result, HIV/AIDS clinics have closed across Africa, hospitals in war-torn Syria have locked their doors, millions of Sudanese refugees will be at risk of catching diseases like cholera, malaria, and measles that are spreading, and so much more.
Rep. Sara Jacobs is the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, which also oversees USAID, foreign assistance, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and global health. The original cosponsors are Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07).
Read Rep. Sara Jacobs’ Bill Here
Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Before Congress, I worked at the State Department, UNICEF, and the UN so I’ve seen firsthand USAID’s power on the ground to stabilize countries, save lives, and strengthen U.S. national security. While I have led efforts to reform USAID, its mission and its necessity are just as relevant today as they were 60 years ago. USAID also helps the American people by preventing the spread of diseases to our shores, preventing terrorism, building partnerships, and supporting American farmers and businesses.
“Eliminating USAID will be a death sentence for millions of people. It means no more food for the millions of Sudanese refugees who’ve fled civil war, no more medical care for displaced Palestinians, no more HIV treatment on the African continent, no more Ebola screenings of passengers at airports, and so much more. People will starve, babies will die, and poverty will skyrocket. Not to mention, Elon Musk’s elimination of USAID is completely illegal. That’s why I’m proud to introduce legislation to prohibit the use of any funds to eliminate USAID. This organization is vital to America’s soft power to win people and communities over with assistance, not coercion and we can’t lose that.”
While President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order to create USAID in 1961, Congress later passed the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, which established USAID as its own independent agency. Therefore, eliminating USAID requires an act of Congress.
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