What is one reason why Senator Markey and Senator Warren
care about poverty focused foreign aid? Because I do, my team does, and we are
the megaphone for the 111,448 Oxfam America supporters in Massachusetts.
Because our team brought these issues to the offices of our Senators in lobby
visits with their staff members, our Senators know that this is an important
issue that their constituents believe needs more attention.
On July 23rd, and August 11th, Action
Corps volunteers carried out meetings with the offices of Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren to talk about several points including the Feed the Future program, the
Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act (Poe-Rubio S 1271/HR 2638), Food for Peace Reform Act (Corker-Coons S 2421) and peace talks and Voices for Hope for South Sudan. In all topics, we
are lobbying for the reform of our antiquated systems of food aid, ending
monetization and cargo preferences, in effort to reach more people in a shorter amount of time. Each
community in need of humanitarian assistance has different challenges and
solutions, and the US should be responding appropriately, not applying the same
model to each situation.
Markey has yet to co-sponsor either Poe-Rubio, or Corker-Coons,
though we have hopes that he follows his colleague Warren after she signed on as a co-sponsor to the Poe-Rubio bill. Each lobby visit was an engaging discussion with a thoughtful and knowledgeable
staff member who knows of Oxfam America’s reputation and impact.
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| Lobby delegations of Action Corps organizers and volunteers meet with staff in the offices of Senator Warren and Senator Markey in Boston, MA |
We in the Action Corps are helping Oxfam America to build a
global movement for change – it’s time to Right the Wrong of poverty, and the
US needs to step up in improving our foreign aid. We believe that our country
has an obligation to its taxpayers, as well as recipients of aid, to provide more
efficient and effective assistance. Let's Open the Books on US Foreign Aid. We care how our money is spent and our
members of congress care what we think – especially 111,448 of us! The only way
they’ll know about us and what we care about is by bringing important issues like these to their doorsteps.
Volunteers who have participated in lobby visits with the
Action Corps have called it an empowering opportunity that they feel truly
makes a significant policy impact. Before each visit, we equip volunteers with informational
research, articles, and talking points about the issues – no one is expected to
be an expert on Oxfam’s asks! We then set up a conference call to go through
the meeting agenda and ensure everyone is comfortable and ready. On the big day
we meet at an outside location for last minute preparation. Action Corps
leaders and organizers are here to guide and foster your voice for justice!
Are you a registered voter in Massachusetts? Are you eager to get involved after reading this blog post? We’re always ready to schedule
meetings with Representatives. It’s their responsibility to
listen to us – let’s help them do what’s right.
Want to join us in lobbying or other Oxfam America campaigns? Visit our Facebook or email us directly at boston@oxfamactioncorps.org to learn more and get involved!
Sarah Lucey
Lead Community Organizer
Sarah Lucey
Lead Community Organizer
