George Bush's position on

Humanitarian Aid: Part of U.S. "development assistance" which refers to the transfer of resources from the United States to developing countries and to some strategic allies. It is delivered in the form of money (via loans or grants), contributions of goods (such as food aid), and technical assistance. Humanitarian aid goes to countries and people suffering famine, recovering from a natural disaster, or displaced by conflict and for long-term development to help countries fight poverty, build roads, educate children, fight health crises, create small businesses, and spur economic growth.

Description of candidate's position: President Bush said that combating poverty is a moral imperative and has made it a U.S. foreign policy priority. Bush has proposed a "new compact for development" that increases accountability for rich and poor nations alike, linking greater contributions by developed nations to greater responsibility by developing nations (link). In March 2002, President Bush announced the Millennium Change Account (MCA), which proposed a 50 % increase in America's core development assistance to other nations by 2006 and tied this record increase in aid to political, legal, and economic reforms in the recipient countries. link

Quotation from the candidate: "We must tie greater aid to political and legal and economic reforms. And by insisting on reform, we do the work of compassion. The United States will lead by example. I have proposed a 50 % increase in our core development assistance over the next three budget years. Eventually, this will mean a $5 billion annual increase over current levels. These new funds will go into a new Millennium Challenge Account, devoted to projects in nations that govern justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom." March 22, 2002, from the White House website.

Assessment of the proposal:

Positive: Bread for the World, a Christian citizens movement feels that, "The proposed Millennium Challenge Account provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to engage members of Congress and other key decision makers on the issues facing hungry and poor people around the world. People of faith and conscience will work to ensure that the Millennium Challenge Account is designed in a way that will indeed help poor people become self-reliant, help parents care and provide for their children, and enable children in developing countries to grow up to lead long, healthy and productive lives." link

Negative: According to Steve Radelet, a senior fellow and Sheila Herrling, Director of Communication at the Center for Global Development, growing budget deficits will create pressures to provide smaller amounts of funding for the MCA and to delay full implementation of the program over more than three years. The Bush administration requested $1.3 billion for the MCA for FY04, $400 million less than it originally implied it would seek. link

Comparison: Both John Kerry and President Bush agree that humanitarian assistance to other countries is, in part, a responsibility of the U.S. Kerry supports the general concept of the MCA but would want to put his own stamp on the program, perhaps by changing the way countries are selected or backing away from the corporate nature of the program. Bush has made this a foreign policy priority and favors holding countries receiving U.S. aid accountable by making sure they are ruling justly, investing in their people, and encouraging economic freedom. The MCA is seen as a natural bipartisan initiative.

Link to Kerry's Humanitarian Aid page