Committee Report 12 of 500 - Senate Report 110-331 - THE GLOBAL POVERTY ACT OF 2007

69-010


Calendar No. 718

110TH CONGRESS

Report

SENATE
2d Session

110-331

--THE GLOBAL POVERTY ACT OF 2007


April 24, 2008- Ordered to be printed

Mr. BIDEN, from the Committee on Foreign Relations,submitted the following

REPORT
[To accompany S. 2433]

The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under consideration the bill (S. 2433) to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.

CONTENTS Page
I. Purpose 1
II. Committee Action 2
III. Discussion 2
IV. Cost Estimate 3
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact 4
VI. Changes in Existing Law 4



I. PURPOSE
The purpose of S. 2433 is to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.


II. COMMITTEE ACTION
S. 2433 was introduced by Senators Obama, Hagel, and Cantwell on December 7, 2007. It is cosponsored by Senators Feinstein, Lugar, Durbin, Menendez, Biden, Dodd, Feingold, Snowe, Murray, Harkin, Johnson, and Smith. On February 13, 2008, the committee considered the bill, and approved several minor amendments to it. The committee then ordered the bill, as amended, reported favorably by voice vote.


III. DISCUSSION
The Global Poverty Act of 2007 (GPA) directs the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the U.S. foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.

Currently, over 1 billion people worldwide live on less than $1 per day, and another 1.6 billion people struggle to survive on less than $2 per day. The United States has recognized the need for increased financial and technical assistance to countries burdened by extreme poverty, as well as the need for strengthened economic and trade opportunities for those countries. At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, the United States joined more than 180 other countries in committing to work toward goals to improve life for the world's poorest people by 2015. Goal 1 of the Millennium Development Goals aims to reduce by one-half the proportion of people, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day. The U.S. has established several significant initiatives in recent years that are consistent with this goal, including the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003, the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and trade preference programs for developing countries, such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

Initiatives by the United States to reduce global poverty reflect the basic American principle of helping those in need to live with dignity and opportunity. They are also consistent with our national security priorities. The bipartisan Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (2004) recommends: `A comprehensive United States strategy to counter terrorism should include economic policies that encourage development, more open societies, and opportunities for people to improve the lives of their families and enhance prospects for their children.'

The Global Poverty Act declares it official U.S. policy to promote the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day. It would require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to advance that policy and includes guidelines for what the strategy should include--from foreign aid, trade, economic development, and debt relief, to working with the international community and leveraging the participation of businesses and nongovernmental organizations. The bill requires that the President's strategy include specific and measurable goals, efforts to be undertaken, benchmarks, and timetables. The President would also be required to report back to Congress on progress made in the implementation of the global poverty reduction strategy.

The Global Poverty Act does not mandate new spending by the United States, nor does it commit the United States to any future spending. This bill does not commit the United States to advance the other Millennium Development Goals. Similarly, this bill does not commit the United States to other United Nations policy goals or imply concurrence with any other United Nations statements.

The bill requires the Secretary of State to designate a coordinator who will have primary responsibility for drafting the global poverty reduction strategy and assisting in its implementation. The language allows the Secretary discretion to designate a coordinator in the existing bureaucracy or to create a new position as the Secretary deems appropriate. It does not require the Secretary to create a staff for the coordinator; the coordinator should draw upon capabilities and resources already present at the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and other relevant agencies.

The House version of the bill (H.R. 1302), which was sponsored by Representatives Adam Smith and Spencer Bachus, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last September with bipartisan support.


IV. COST ESTIMATE
In accordance with rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this estimate of the costs of this legislation prepared by the Congressional Budget Office.


U.S. Congress,


Congressional Budget Office,


Washington, DC, March 28, 2008.
Hon. JOSEPH R. BIDEN, Jr.,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2433, the Global Poverty Act of 2007.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Michelle S. Patterson.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Sunshine

(For Peter R. Orszag, Director).

Enclosure.

S. 2433--Global Poverty Act of 2007

S. 2433 would require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce global poverty. The strategy should include, among other things, more effective forms of development assistance, coordination of efforts with other countries and international organizations, and continuation of existing initiatives to reduce poverty and disease in developing countries. The bill also would require the State Department to prepare several reports describing the strategy, its implementation, and the progress made on achieving the objectives for reducing global poverty.

Based on information from the State Department, CBO estimates that implementing S. 2433 would cost less than $1 million per year, assuming the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or receipts.

S. 2433 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.

The CBO staff contact to this estimate is Michelle S. Patterson. This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.


V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT
Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation.


VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee notes that no changes to existing law are made by this bill.

ugh, More Obamadrama. I miss all the Cute little posts

So they want to Battle Global Poverty, Screw that!!! Those other countries hate our asses. Obama would be behind that. He probably wants to send MY TAX Dollars to his Family in Kenya

S. 2433 was introduced by Senators Obama, Hagel, and Cantwell on December 7, 2007. It is cosponsored by Senators Feinstein, Lugar, Durbin, Menendez, Biden, Dodd, Feingold, Snowe, Murray, Harkin, Johnson, and Smith. On February 13, 2008, the committee considered the bill, and approved several minor amendments to it. The committee then ordered the bill, as amended, reported favorably by voice vote.


Another reason not to vote for that Jackass Obama

the United States is one of the key powers responsible for global poverty (along with the other members of the G8)....just take care of your own problems and leave the rest of the world alone....

we don't need an act of Congress to know that America already fights global poverty better than any nation in history.





it is what we do.

Liberals in Congress spin their wheels on edicts like this all the time and revise history in their delusional attempts.

Global poverty is our problem- since when is human suffering everybody else's problem?

solve your problems at home b4 the world...thats just the way infrastructures work...if not they fall...thats why people hate us until we hand them duckets...we are not the world police, mommy, food pantry, w/e you wanna call it

Oh yea, then explain iraq

It'll never pass

The Democrat strategy of getting votes by keeping people dependent on welfare wont work on a global level. Those people cant vote and they wont wast payroll taxes on someone who wont vote for them

Oh geez...the only way to win the war on proverty is getting rid of the thug govts. that run those nations.

The only problem is libs don't have the stomach to do what it takes.

You got that right!

Look at how they are jumping on national healthcare instead of protecting workers here in this country & protecting SSI & the pensions. DEMS are not better than REPS when it comes to jobs losses & corps. leaving the country.

DEMS talk the talk but don't walk the walk.

How in the Hell is it our Problem, Oh I forgot, this is America, Every problem in the world is ours.....

They bash us, bash our president, they hate us. I don't want to give them money. If you are soo worried about world poverty, then donate half of your paycheck to it.

I don't want my money going to third world countries like Argentina.....

"How in the Hell is it our Problem, Oh I forgot, this is America, Every problem in the world is ours.....

They bash us, bash our president, they hate us. I don't want to give them money. If you are soo worried about world poverty, then donate half of your paycheck to it.

I don't want my money going to third world countries like Argentina....."



As of September 2008, the total U.S. federal debt was approximately $9.7 trillion....maybe you should follow Argentina´s example and pay your bills....



source:US Treasury

Welfare is non existent. Pick up a history book, it is already old enough news to be in history books. :/
How do I know? It was in my American Government Text Book, a required text for a past Political Science class.

The Federal Government has given individual States control on distribution of money/help for a limited amount of time. And they do not just give the states money, they have various qualifiers. Calworks has a max benefit limit of
1 or 2 years total for lifetime.

It is CalWorks. To be on the program you have to work or be in school or job training. And it is a one time benefit, and you can not put 15 kids on the program/benefit.

There is no more welfare.

The uniformed.. Educate yourself.

the arrogant condescending. humble yourself

they may not call it welfare ,but it is still there.
energy assistance,heating assistance,food stamps,housing ......etc.

you don't work....

you don't eat.

simple.


any sick among you?

families start at home.

take care of our own first.

We are our brother's keeper.


If my brother is an American , then so be it.

Let the foreign nationals do likewise.

Thay have had all of history to strengthen their resolve and do not.

Let them ;learn from us.

But we coddle the world anyway.


Fine.


Generosity is a virtue but not a government mandated edict.

Bush is right.

Faith based charitable giving is greater than government aid in its effect.

Libtards hate that because their depravity is not coddled by faith based organizations.


Love it or leave it, looney leftists.

nobama 2008

"In a higher phase of communist society... only then can the narrow horizon of bourgeois right be fully left behind and society inscribe on its banners: from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."
Karl Marx

"Better a bleeding heart than, heartless."
Symbelmyne

"from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."



yup.

and the point?


this has been done before Karl Marx wrote it down and attempted to hijack this godly principle.

His ilk doesn't work in the wrapper he gave it.

but such is the case for every contrivance that seeks to play the "monkey see, monkey do" game.

Obama wants to make the U S Federal Government the big brother that I never had and Karl marx would have been shocked to find his nasty little answer for the wealthy class of Europe in his day so twsisted by the US which was the very nation and its practices that he sougt to stop from overcoming European interests of his day.

He saw the future for Europe, but hatred and fear inspired his shallowness of mind and the wicked embraced his careless and inept antithesis and drug it through the mud where it belongs.

It is garbage, not food for thought.

Just like nobama. supposing for himself to know better for this nation than the opportunity seized because this nation is what it is ;

the last best bastion of free enterprise and endeavor for those that dare to act on their inspiration.

But like Marx and Engels, nobama wants to change the nation that made him possible for our children.

That is disrespectful of his responsibility to be grateful for his own opportunities and accountable for preserving the same oportunities for the next generation.

looney leftists always get things backwards.

Such is the hater mentality of elitists.


nobama 2008

its amazing how well you are able to deduce what other people know or think..Im sure you are very popular at cocktail parties.. Ive met people like you, they dont have friends, they have audiences...