Guirguis 1

Mariam Guirguis
Mr. Rogers
Government 4
25 October 2016
Foreign Aid Issue
Many people all around the world struggle to survive every minute of their lives due to
harsh conditions in their country. In this world it is necessary for the rich, developed countries to
aid the poorest countries. The United States is one of the strongest and richest countries in the
world and it is capable of increasing its foreign aid spending. Although some argue that the
United States already spends a lot of money on foreign aid but the statistics disprove their
argument. Furthermore, foreign aid is not given to the poorest countries but the countries the
donor country benefits from the most. My bill should become a law because it will save billions
of lives, will ensure that aid primarily benefits the countries that urgently need it, and doesnt
greatly affect the amount of money taken from the Unites States.
By increasing aid to these penurious countries, they will be able to get more supplies for
food, education, and health, which will help decrease the amount of deaths. We can rebuild their
economy by giving more money to these countries. In many poor countries many households
live on a low income of $2.50 and some live in severe poverty with an income of less than
$1.25 (Tarnoff & Larry). The income that these household earn are less than what American
children earn for doing chores. A family cant survive on this low of an income; this is mainly
what leads to the death of many people. If the United States increases its aid, it will lead to an
increase in their income, ultimately increasing their chances of survival. $1 trillion is stolen
every year from third world countries; this money could have been used to fight poverty, disease

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and hunger (By Step FoundationUMI). If developed countries assist and give back the money
these countries deserve many children and families will be able to have food, clean water, be
safe, and healthy. Foreign aid doesnt just mean increasing the peoples daily income but also in
extending education, improving health and psychological wellbeing, and human rights and
violence (Youngerman 67). Foreign aid is meant to relief and support countries that are
incapable of supporting themselves in all aspects necessary. If that occurs then many lives will be
saved. Right now, the countries that truly need help are not getting any real support.
Furthermore, if the United States increases its foreign aid spending it will be only to the
underprivileged countries. The aid program is flawed due to the fact that its focus is not on the
poorest countries. The United States doesnt focus on giving aid to the poorest countries but the
countries it can benefit from. These are some of the countries U.S.A supports, Israel, Egypt,
Afghanistan, Jordan, and Pakistan (Foreign Aid). If this bill passes it will ensure that aid isnt
about what benefits the U.S., but rather what benefits impoverished countries. Foreign aid was
created to escalate production in developing countries and diminish poverty; if aid is not doing
what it is meant for, it's meaningless. In 2015, Burundis economy suffered from political
turmoil over President NKURUNZIZAs controversial third term. Blocked transportation routes
disrupted the flow of agricultural goods. And donors withdrew aid, increasing Burundis budget
deficit (The World Factbook: BURUNDI). Burundi is one of the poorest countries that need
support yet when it was in crisis no aid was given to it. Aid is needed during harsh times and
should be given. The United States should invest its money in countries that cant support
themselves. Aid is primarily designed to serve the economic interests of the donor countries; or
aid is primarily intended to convenience powerful domestic interest groups; Aid systems that
focus on the interests of donors instead of what the recipients need is inefficient development

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assistance; (O'neill). Basing aid on the donor countries benefits is selfish and puts the countries
in need at a disadvantage. These countries get no support because they cant benefit the donor
country. The United States can easily increase its foreign aid to these countries by correctly
managing its budget.
Additionally, not a lot of money out of the federal budget goes to foreign aid, if we
increase foreign aid spending it wouldnt have a huge impact on the citizens or the Unites States.
The amount of money the United States spends on foreign aid is minuscule and many believe it
should be increased. The United States donates 25 cents per American per year in foreign aid
spending (@usaid). Increasing the foreign aid spending to more than 25 cents is an easy process
that we can fortuitously execute. This can be achieved through minimal increase in tax payments
and the collection of donations. Americans spend: $204 per person on soft drinks,$101 per
person on candy, and $126 per person on lawn care (Hnath). The federal government spends
400 times the amount of money on nonessential things other than aid. The federal government
can easily increase the amount of foreign aid spending. The United States pays less than one
percent of the federal budget to foreign aid (The U.S. House of Representatives Committee).
Many citizens believe that we spend at least 10 percent of our budget on foreign aid, it is proven
to be a lie. This proves how much the citizens want to increase the aid spending to the less
fortunate countries. Although, this is a beneficial bill, but some may not agree with this change in
aid.
Some would argue that it doesnt actually save lives and that it is too costly therefore the
foreign aid spending shouldnt increase. They state these things due to the flawed aid system.
private citizens and the nation's government can then invest the new wealth in human health,
education, infrastructure and technology to increase worker productivity and make the country

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more attractive to foreign aid, thus creating additional wealth. The country thereby enters a
"Cycle of Prosperity" in which wealth is generated and invested in the economy, creating a
second wave of wealth which is once more invested in the economy (The Foreign Aid Debate).
It has been proven that the countries that have been given the most aid have had economic
growth which leads to more resources and ultimately saves the citizens lives. the majority of
Americans believes the US government spends 28 percent of its federal budget on foreign aid. In
reality, foreign aid accounts for only 0.7 percent (Hu).The United States is one of the wealthiest
countries in the world, compared to its size and the amount of money it obtains yet it is giving
the lowest amount of aid. The statistics proves that foreign aid in the United States is not costly.
On average, major donor countries give over half of their aid to the poorest countries. The U.S.
directs just 29 percent of its development assistance to the poorest countires (Does Aid Promote
Development). The Unites States should increase aid spending accordingly and the majority of
the citizens agree with this statement. We must be completely aware of what foreign aid is and
how much it helps these penniless countries.
This bill should become a law because it will ensure the decrease in deaths, will fix the
flaws in the aid system to ensure the necessities are given to these poor countries, and is
inexpensive for the United States. Aid is meant to create unity between all countries and allow
this world to prosper as one unit. Support me in aiding the substandard countries flourish.

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Work Cited
@usaid. "Quick Facts." U.S. Agency for International Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct.
2016.
By Step FoundationUMI ISRAELUMID Humanitarian and SSCUMODZI ConsultingUmoza
Small Holder Farmers UnionUmu-Oma Idu-Obosiukwu Young Farmers Cooperative
SocietyUmu-Oma Idu-Obosiukwu Young Farmers' Cooperative Society
(UIYFCS)Umuryango Rice Production Project.
"ForeignAssistance.gov." ForeignAssistance.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.
"Does Aid Promote Development?" ReCom. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.
"Foreign Aid: History, Theories, and Facts : Monthly Labor Review: U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Jan. 2014.
Web. 13 Oct. 2016.
Hnath, Moriah. "THE EFFECTS OF FOREIGN AID ON GROWTH IN DEVELOPING
NATIONS." (n.d.): n. pag. Mmss Wcas Northwestern. June 2010. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
Hu, Alice C. "Foreign Aid and the 28 Percent Myth - Harvard International Review." Harvard
International Review. N.p., 21 May 2015. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.
O'neill, Helen. "The Evolution of Ireland's Foreign Aid over the past 20 Years: A 'Review of
ISIA Reviews' since 1994." International Affairs 24 (2013): 179-236. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
Tarnoff, Curt, and Larry Nowels. "Introduction: An Overview of U.S. Trade Policy." (n.d.): n.
pag. CRS Report for Congress. 15 Apr. 2004. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
"The Foreign Aid Debate." PovertyEducation.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.

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"The U.S. House of Representatives Committee On Appropriations Chairman Hal

Rogers." Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2017 State and Foreign
Operations Bill. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
"The World Factbook: BURUNDI." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency,
n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
Youngerman, Barry. Pandemics and Global Health. New York, NY: Facts On File,
2008. Print.