2017 Issues & Actions

 

  • Protecting US International Family Planning Assistance | November, 2017 | CCIH joined the Faith-Based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide in signing a letter to the leadership of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committees with jurisdiction over State and Foreign Operations Appropriations accounts to express our support for the Senate level of funding for international family planning. The letter expresses that when women and girls lack access to the education and resources they need to create a healthy plan for becoming mothers, the result is tragic—303,000 women in developing nations die from preventable complications during childbirth, and 5.9 million children die before their fifth birthday each year. An investment in family planning is an investment that saves lives, particularly in areas of conflict and instability. See the Letter
  • Protecting Humanitarian and Poverty-Focused Development Assistance | November, 2017 | CCIH joined 27 other faith-based organizations to sign a letter calling for U.S. Senators and Representatives to demonstrate bold leadership by supporting a State-Foreign Operations (SFOPs) bill that robustly funds and protects all humanitarian and poverty-focused development assistance, and peacebuilding accounts. The letter expresses the support of FBOs to saving lives and advancing the dignity of vulnerable and marginalized individuals and communities across the world. PFDA is especially critical today as the world witnessed a rise in global hunger for the first time in more than a decade in 2016. See the Letter
  • Supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria | September, 2017 | CCIH joined the Faith-based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide coordinated by Hope Through Healing Hands to sign a letter to the Chairs of the Committee on Appropriations and the Subcommittee on Appropriations for State Department and Foreign Operations requesting the full funding for global health and development for the International Affairs Account, which represents approximately 1 percent of the total U.S. budget. The letter expressed our strong support for funding the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, a public-private partnership fund that has provided critical, strategic funding supporting programs in over 135 nations worldwide to halve HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria deaths. See the Letter
  • International Family Planning to Protect Mothers and Children | August, 2017 | CCIH joined the Faith-Based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide, coordinated by Hope Through Healing Hands to sign a letter to U.S. Senators thanking them for their leadership in support of maternal and child health programs and expressing our support for fully funding international family planning at the FY 2017 enacted level of $575M. See the Letter
  • Maintaining Full Funding for Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Family Planning | July, 2017 | CCIH joined members of the Faith-Based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide, coordinated by Hope Through Healing Hands to sign a letter to the chairpersons of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Appropriations to thank them for their leadership in support of maternal and child health programs serving the most vulnerable and to request full funding of the International Affairs Account in the FY 2018 budget at the FY 2017 level. The letter specifically requested maintaining full funding for the maternal, newborn and child health and international family planning accounts. See the Letter
  • Concern Over Steep Budget Cuts for Food Security and Nutrition | July, 2017 | As Christians, we care deeply about the health of vulnerable people. With that in mind, CCIH signed a letter organized by the Faith-based Coalition for Global Nutrition to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate expressing our concern about the severe funding cuts to global food security and nutrition programs in the U.S. President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2018, especially the reductions in the Nutrition sub-account with the Global Health Programs of USAID and to the Feed the Future global agriculture development initiative. See the Letter
  • Calling for a Moral International Affairs Budget | June, 2017 | CCIH joined 22 other faith-based organizations in signing a letter to the Senate and House Appropriations Committee calling for a moral international affairs budget for FY 2018. The letter states our belief that the international affairs budget proposed by the U.S. Administration does not reflect the moral and compassionate commitment we share as faith-based organizations. See the Letter
  • Revitalization of White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships | May, 2017 | CCIH joined a large number of faith-based organizations in signing a letter to Vice President Pence calling for revitalization of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships along with its counterpart offices in major U.S. agencies. See the Letter
  • Recognizing the Value and Impact of Frontline Health Workers | May, 2017 |CCIH joined members Catholic Medical Mission Board, IMA World Health, Medical Teams International, World Relief and World Vision in supporting a U.S. House of Representatives Resolution Recognizing the Value and Impact of Frontline Health Workers. See the Letter
  • Cervical Cancer | April, 2017 | CCIH and IMA World Health joined nearly 30 organizations working in health in signing letters to members of the Senate and House of Representatives Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs and to USAID on the high death toll from cervical cancer, which is preventable and treatable with the right screening and vaccinations. The letters urge Congress to support funding for cervical cancer programming and for USAID to clarify that programs to address cervical cancer are eligible for USAID funding. See the Letter
  • Supporting U.S. Foreign Assistance | March, 2017 | With support from CCIH, leaders of 18 members of the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority and Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer and U.S. House Leaders Speaker Paul Ryan and Representative Nancy Pelosi to express the tremendous benefits their communities have experienced from U.S. support of health and development programs. The leaders praised the role the U.S. has played as a leader in global health and expressed gratitude to Americans motivated by humanitarian goals and Christian values. See the Letter
  • Protecting Those in Need | March, 2017 | CCIH signed onto a letter from people of faith to the Trump Administration urging the administration not to reduce funding for Global Health, Humanitarian Assistance, and Development. The letter refers to Biblical scripture calling Christians to care for the marginalized, particularly women and children who are vulnerable and cites James 1:27 which states that serving others is “the heart of religion.” The letter was coordinated by Hope through Healing Hands. See the Letter
  • Protecting U.S. Foreign Assistance | February, 2017 | CCIH joined 31 other faith-based organizations in signing a letter to the leadership of the committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate with jurisdiction over foreign affairs spending urging they maintain the current level outlined in the Continuing Resolution for the U.S. International Affairs budget. The letter states critical humanitarian and poverty-focused programs provide strong return on investment to the U.S. taxpayer, helping create a healthier world for everyone, and generating goodwill toward the United States. See the Letter
  • CCIH Joins Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance in Signing Letter to President-Elect Donald Trump | January, 2017 | CCIH joined 24 faith-based organizations committed to ending extreme poverty and promot-ing the dignity of each human life in signing a letter offering our prayers, best wishes and col-lective expertise as the Trump transition team prepares for the new administration’s policy agenda and sets funding priorities. See the Letter
  • Preserving the Office of Religion and Global Affairs | January, 2017 | CCIH joined many other faith-based organizations in signing a letter in support of preserving the U.S. State Department’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs. The letter expresses our support for the office, which serves as an irreplaceable focal point where U.S. Government officials can deepen their own knowledge of religious actors and help foster relationships with and across religious communities. According to the statement, such engagement is more critical than ever in today’s world. See the Letter

2016 Issues & Actions

 

  • CCIH Signs Letter to President-Elect Donald Trump on Foreign Assistance | December 2016 | CCIH joined faith-based organizations and people of faith in signing a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump expressing the support of the faith community for protection of the vulnerable and foreign assistance from the U.S. The letter points out the small percentage (less than 1%) of the U.S. Federal Budget that is dedicated to foreign assistance and the extraordinary, lifesaving success of programs such as PEPFAR. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Signs Letters to U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Maternal, Child Health | October 2016 | CCIH joined 31 organizations working in global health in signing letters to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee urging strong support for Maternal and Child Health, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF in the FY 2017 budget. | Letter to the House | Letter to the Senate
  • CCIH Signs Letter to USAID Urging Action to Protect Mothers and Children from Second-Hand Tobacco | September 2016 | CCIH joined 24 organizations working in global health in signing a letter to the USAID Assistant Administrator in the Bureau of Global Health urging the agency to take steps to mitigate the health effects of tobacco use. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Signs Letter Calling for Increases in Funding Support for Nutrition | September 2016 | CCIH joined a number of nongovernmental organizations in signing a letter to the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees for State and Foreign Operations urging an increase in support for funding of the nutrition sub-account in the global health programs account to combat global malnutrition, especially in children. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Signs Letter to Support Reach Act to Improve Maternal and Child Health | June 2016 | CCIH joined faith-based organizations in signing a letter to the U.S. Congress to advocate in support of the Reach Every Mother and Child Act, which aims to accelerate U.S. efforts in partnerships with country governments and the private sector to end preventable maternal and child deaths by the year 2035. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Signs Letter to Support Base and OCO (Overseas Contingency Operations) Levels for 2017 SFOPS | April 2016 | CCIH joined 26 other faith-based organizations in signing a letter to the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations urging robust support for 302(b) funding allocations for fiscal year 2017. The letter explains that robust funding from the base account is important for on-the-ground agencies to plan effective programs and build sustainable partnerships to successfully address poverty, violent conflict, and disease. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Signs Letter to Support Robust Funding for International Relief and Development | February 2016 | CCIH joined 33 other faith-based organizations in signing a letter to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations urging robust funding for international humanitarian, global health, poverty-focused development and peace-building assistance programs in Fiscal Year 2017. The organizations express their desire to end extreme poverty and promote the dignity of human life. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Joins People of Faith in Signing Letter Supporting Healthy Timing & Spacing of Pregnancies | February 2016 | CCIH joined a number of Christians from the global health field, academia, the entertainment industry, and others in signing a letter sponsored by Hope Through Healing Hands urging the U.S. Senate and House of Representative Appropriations Committees to fund international family planning at the level requested by the President’s budget, as healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies protects the health of mothers and children. | See the Letter

 

2015 Issues & Actions

 

  • CCIH Signs Letter Supporting International Family Planning | November 2015 | CCIH joined a number of faith–based organizations and people of faith in signing a letter sponsored by Hope Through Healing Hands urging the U.S. Senate and House of Representative Appropriations Committees to fund international family planning at the level included in the Senate State Foreign Operations appropriations bill, as family planning protects the health of mothers and children by helping families safely time and space pregnancies. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Signs Letter from Faith Organizations Supporting Poverty-Focused Development | June 4, 2015 | CCIH joined 24 other faith-based organizations in signing on to a letter to the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees for State and Foreign Operations advocating for robust funding for international humanitarian poverty-focused development programs. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Participates in “Take Stock” Initiative | CCIH is advocating to reduce stockouts of family planning commodities by participating in the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition (RHSC) “Take Stock” initiative to raise awareness of the need for a secure supply of commodities for the health of women. | More information about the initiative | See CCIH Letter
  • CCIH Signs Letters from Faith Organizations to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees | April 2015 | CCIH signed on to letters to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees urging funding for maternal and child health, nutrition, and family planning programs in the U.S. 2016 federal budget. | House Letter | Senate Letter
  • CCIH Signs Letter from 24 Faith Organizations to the U.S. House of Representatives Budget Commitee Supporting Robust Funding of Global Health Programs | CCIH signed on to a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee urging robust funding for critical international assistance, humanitarian and global health programs in the 2016 U.S. federal budget. | See the Letter

 

2014 Issues & Actions

 

  • CCIH Signs Letter Urging U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to Support Maternal/Child Health | December 2014 | CCIH signed on to a letter coordinated by the Faith-Based Coalition of Hope Through Healing Hands thanking members of the U.S. Senate Appropriations committee for their leadership in support of maternal and child health programs and to urge them to protect funding for these programs, including those that fund healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies as they finalize the 2015 appropriations bills. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Joins Faith-Based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide | CCIH has endorsed the Faith-Based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide, a campaign of Hope Through Healing Hands in partnership with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The coalition seeks to galvanize faith-based leaders and their constituencies around the issues of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) as well as healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies (HTSP) to improve maternal health and reduce child mortality. | View the declaration
  • CCIH Joins FBOs in Supporting Poverty-Focused Development Assistance | October 2014 | CCIH joined 31 other faith-based organizations in signing onto a letter to appropriators expressing support for poverty-focused development assistance in the 2015 fiscal year budget. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Joins FBOs in Expressing Concern over Foreign Assistance | June 2014 | CCIH joined 14 other faith-based organizations in signing onto an interfaith letter to appropriators expressing our concern over the U.S. Senate’s low baseline allocation for the State, Foreign Operations (SFOPS) Appropriations bill. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Joins FBOs in Expressing Support for Poverty-Focused Development Assistance | May 2014 | CCIH joined 31 other faith-based organizations of the Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance in sending a letter to the U.S. Congress House of Appropriations Committee in support of poverty-focused development assistance. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Joins FBOs in Expressing Appreciation to Appropriations Committee | March 2014 | CCIH joined 23 other faith-based organizations in signing on to a letter to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Appropriations expressing appreciation for supporting life-saving humanitarian and poverty-focused development programs in the fiscal year 2014 omnibus spending package. The letter stated, “Due to your hard work and support, the FY 2014 budget provides over $24.1 billion in funding for poverty-focused development assistance accounts, an increase of roughly $800 million from FY 2013 enacted levels.” | See the Letter

 

2013 Issues & Actions

 

  • CCIH Joins FBOs in Supporting International Humanitarian Assistance | December 2013 | CCIH and 25 other organizations signed onto the Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance’s letter to the U.S. House and Senate Members of Congress who serve on committees with jurisdiction over foreign policy issues. The letter urged support for international humanitarian and poverty-focused development assistance programs, in order to protect and promote the dignity of all God’s children. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Joins Faith Organizations in Support of Foreign Assistance | November 2013 | CCIH joined 35 other faith-based organizations in signing a letter urging the U.S. Congress to protect life-saving humanitarian and poverty-focused development assistance in budget negotiations. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Coordinates Faith Groups in Support of PEPFAR Stewardship | October 2013 | CCIH took the lead in mobilizing signatures for a faith-based organization sign on letter to send to Congressional leaders urging passage of the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013. CCIH worked in cooperation with Shepherd Smith of the Institute for Youth Development, a CCIH affiliate, who drafted the letter. More than 70 FBOs signed the letter, which was circulated widely in Congress and among the AIDS advocacy community. | See the Letter
  • CCIH Signs On to Letters Supporting Humanitarian Assistance and Poverty-Focused Development Accounts | September 2013 | CCIH joined 175 organizations in signing letters to foreign affairs staff in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The letters express support for protecting humanitarian assistance and poverty-focused development accounts in the International Affairs Budget throughout all upcoming budget negotiations. | Senate Letter | House Letter
  • CCIH Endorses the Water for the World Act | August 2013 | The CCIH Board of Directors has endorsed the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act reintroduced by Congressman Judge Ted Poe and Congressman Earl Blumenauer. The bill aims to improve the well-being, education, economic opportunity, safety and dignity of 2.5 million people in the world who live without a basic latrine every day. The bill is designed to improve USAID’s focus on the poorest of the poor and the countries and communities suffering most from water-related diseases, like undernutrition and pneumonia, and to use current funding for water, sanitation and hygiene more effectively.
  • Sample Opinion Pieces on Support for Global Health and Importance of Men in Family Health (Download PDF) | Advocating on behalf of others in need is an important part of CCIH’s mission. To help you submit a letter or opinion piece to a publication, CCIH has prepared two samples: one addresses support for U.S. funding of global health programs and one addresses family planning as a health intervention and the importance of support from men in the health of women and children. We encourage you to use these samples as a basis for your own letter, but to personalize it with your own experiences. The sample also includes instructions on how to find a publication to which you can submit your piece. | See the Sample Op Ed
  • Priorities for a Faithful Budget FY 2014: Acting with Mercy and Justice as One Nation under God | CCIH joined a community of faith groups to develop and support a proposal for a Fiscal Year 2014 U.S. budget that promotes Christian values of protection of the world’s vulnerable populations and of creation.

 

2012 Issues & Actions

 

  • Letter to Protect International Affairs Budget | September 2012 | CCIH joined 165 other faith-based and humanitarian organizations in signing a letter asking all Members of Congress to protect the International Affairs account from deep cuts to spending focused on poverty as Congress addresses U.S. financial and fiscal problems. The letter expresses recognition of the difficult decisions facing U.S. leaders as they attempt to meet current economic challenges while ensuring a bright and secure future. | House Letter  | Senate Letter
  • London Family Planning Summit 2012  | CCIH expressed support by faith-based organizations for the Family Planning Summit in London on July 11, 2012 and called for making family planning a global priority to improve family health and well-being. | See Statement of Support | View commitments by civil society and government organizations
  • CCIH Appreciation for Increase in Senate State and Foreign Operations Appropriations | CCIH joined other religious institutions and faith-based organizations in expressing support for poverty-focused international development, humanitarian assistance and global health programs within State and Foreign Operations appropriations. The state and foreign operations subcommittee and full appropriations committees responded by voting to increase the Development Assistance account by 23 percent, global health programs by 3 percent, and disaster assistance and refugee programs by 27 percent above FY2012 level. CCIH was pleased to sign a letter to the committee expressing appreciation for this increase. | See the Letter
  • CCIH signed on to a faith community letter dated May 9, 2012 to Senate State Foreign Operations Subcommittee Members to urge the passage of a faithful budget that increases funding above FY 2012 levels for poverty-focused international development, humanitarian assistance and global health programs within State and Foreign Operations. A total of 36 U.S.-based Christian, Muslim, Jewish and nondenominational faith-based organizations signed on to the letter.  | See the Letter

 

2011 Issues & Actions

 

  • DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung), Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH) and Muhammadiyah conducted an extended consultation and adopted an “Interfaith Declaration to Improve Family Health and Well-Being” in June 2011. The Nairobi Declaration clearly supports provision of information and means for couples to control the timing and spacing of their children consistent with their own faith and needs. See the Declaration in English or French
  • December 2011 | CCIH signed on to a community letter to House and Senate Appropriation Committee Members, both Republicans and Democrats, to urge the defense of long-standing U.S. commitments to meet critical health and development needs by allocating the highest possible funding for global health and development programs. This letter was coordinated by the Global Health Council. |  See the Letter
  • August 2011 | The U.S. House of Representatives voted for major cuts in aid, including global health. U.S. Senate offices have said it is extremely important that they hear from organizations all over the U.S. about our concerns about these cuts. CCIH and some member organizations signed onto this letter to Senator Patrick Leahy, the Chair of the Subcommittee on State/Foreign Operations of the Committee on Appropriations. This letter was coordinated by the Global Health Council. | See the Letter