Aid groups plead with Congress to stop funding cuts

They argue that the bill will also undermine the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan since it would slash funding to deal with refugees flowing into Pakistan from that country.

The groups have their work cut out for them; polls in recent weeks have consistently shown that the public favors cutting foreign aid above all other cuts, including education and defense. A January Gallup poll found 59 percent of the public favored cutting foreign aid.

The letter is signed by ADRA International, the American Jewish World Service, the American Refugee Committee, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, CHF International, ChildFund International, Church World Service, Food for the Hungry, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, the International Medical Corps, International Relief and Development, the International Relief Teams, the International Rescue Committee, the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Life for Relief & Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Refugees International, Relief International, Resolve, Save the Children, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, the Women’s Refugee Commission, the World Food Program–USA, Hope International and World Vision.