World Vision Thanks the Biden Administration for Supporting Foreign Assistance

May 28, 2021 (Washington, DC) ––World Vision applauds the Biden Administration’s strong commitment to the most marginalized around the world though its Fiscal Year 2022 budget request.  Increases to foreign assistance are critical to address the significant global impacts of COVID-19, conflict and climate, and to elevate the U.S. government’s ability to respond to the needs of vulnerable children and their families.

“We are seeing first-hand the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the lives of children, especially the most vulnerable children—girls, children with disabilities, those living in fragile and humanitarian contexts, and others,” said World Vision U.S. President and CEO, Edgar Sandoval. “Many are facing increased food insecurity, a lack of access to education, increased rates of violence, and risks to their health and well-being. Our faith compels us to respond and to ensure the U.S. government is doing its part.”

“The FY 2022 budget request calls for critical life-saving funding and we appreciate the Administration’s acknowledgement that this funding must increase,” added World Vision’s Director of Government Relations, Lisa Bos.  “We hope more can be done to increase funding for development programs that are particularly focused on the most vulnerable children. We must ensure that children are at the center of U.S. foreign assistance programs and have access to the skills and services needed to not only survive but thrive. This includes responding to the long-term secondary impacts of COVID-19. World Vision also calls on Congress to move forward with bills that increase funding in these areas.”

World Vision specifically notes funding in key accounts and regions, including:

• Global health programs at USAID and State increased $855 million to $10.05 billion, including $1.56 for the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria
• A significant increase in development assistance, which supports programs in areas such as education, gender-based violence, and water, sanitation, and hygiene
• International Disaster Assistance programs increased by $287 million to $4.68 billion
• An increase in funding for the Bureau of International Labor affairs to prevent and respond to forced and child labor
• $861 million to address the root causes of irregular migration from Central America
• $2.5 billion for the international response to climate change
• $60 million for the Complex Crisis Fund to address the growing need to prevent and respond to unforeseen crisis

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.