Dear Illinois Senators Duckworth and Durbin,
Yesterday’s (Jun 12, 2025) narrow 214-212 House passage of the Rescissions Act reflects the challenging fiscal environment Congress faces, yet it puts $8.3 billion in historically bipartisan global health and humanitarian programs at risk. As your constituent, I write with respect for the genuine budgetary concerns driving this debate, while advocating for programs that have earned decades of bipartisan support.
The math is straightforward: the Senate needs 51 votes to pass this package. If just four Republican senators vote no, these programs survive. Four votes. That’s the razor-thin margin between preserving America’s most effective global investments and abandoning them entirely. This reflects the tradition of bipartisan foreign aid leadership that has defined American global engagement since the Marshall Plan—a legacy built by Republicans and Democrats who understood that strategic generosity serves both humanitarian and national security interests.
The proposed reductions warrant serious consideration. Two-thirds of Development Assistance would disappear—programs with documented success in building stable societies that become economic partners. Nearly half of Economic Support Funds would vanish, eliminating tools that prevent conflicts requiring costlier military interventions. Most significantly, 78% of Complex Crises Fund resources would be eliminated precisely when global instability demands flexible response capabilities.
These programs embody principles that transcend partisan divides. From a Catholic Social Teaching perspective, they reflect our commitment to human dignity and the common good. From a conservative security standpoint, they represent cost-effective investments in global stability. From a liberal development view, they advance evidence-based approaches to poverty reduction. From a business perspective, they create future markets and trading partners.
Effective foreign assistance requires rigorous oversight—a concern both parties legitimately raise. However, these programs have demonstrated measurable results: maternal mortality reductions, infectious disease prevention, and economic development that transforms aid recipients into self-reliant partners.
What’s at stake extends beyond immediate humanitarian concerns. This vote signals America’s commitment to global leadership at a time when multiple crises demand sustained engagement. The administration’s characterization of this as an “appetizer” suggests more cuts ahead, making Senate opposition even more critical.
Att
William Becerra, IL Resident.
Sensus Fidelium Hispanorum
