Advocacy issues and actions

April, 2024

Urgent Passage of Additional Emergency Funding to Save Lives

In light of multiple crises – some receiving much attention and others receiving very little – CCIH released this statement urging Congress to swiftly pass a funding package, and strongly opposes any efforts to reduce or remove resources that would go towards humanitarian efforts. As a network of Christian organizations working to care for and protect the world’s most vulnerable, we applaud the US Congress for taking steps to save lives.

April, 2024

Integrating HIV Activities into Broader Health Services

CCIH joined medical, public health and faith-based organizations in signing onto a letter sent to the leadership of the US House and Senate State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Appropriation subcommittee requiring PEPFAR to provide information on how it plans to increase support for integration of health services, such as a target for increasing the proportion of PEPFAR funding that goes towards broad-based service delivery covering HIV, other priority health conditions in the community, and outbreak prevention and response in existing integrated health services.

March, 2024

2030 Collaborative Letter for the Global Fund

CCIH joined leaders of faith communities in signing the 2030 Collaborative Letter for the Global Fund, which urges Congress to allocate up to $1.65 billion for the Global Fund in fiscal year 2025 to sustain vital healthcare services. The letter emphasizes the Global Fund’s role in saving millions of lives and reducing death rates from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria since 2002. It also shares the Fund’s commitment to prioritizing the poorest and most disadvantaged communities, showcasing its contributions to global health security and resilience.

March, 2024

CCIH Non-Discrimination Regulation Comment

CCIH submitted comments on the US State Department’s proposed non-discrimination rules. While CCIH supports non-discrimination, our comments express concerns about implementation due to diverse global challenges. The comments highlight potential negative impacts on organizations complying with local laws and emphasize the importance of considering implications for marginalized populations and faith-based organizations’ collaboration with the US government.

February, 2024

IWGFA Emergency Supplemental Funding Letter

The Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance – which includes CCIH and other FBOs – sent a letter expressing support for proposed humanitarian aid in global conflict zones, including Gaza, the West Bank, and Ukraine. The letter emphasizes the importance of focusing on vulnerable populations and urges the prioritization of funding for areas heavily impacted by conflicts, such as Sudan, Armenia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Horn of Africa, and Yemen.

January, 2024

FY25 GAVI Replenishment Sign-on Letter

CCIH and 44 organizations have signed a letter urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other stakeholders to prioritize full funding of $340 million for GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, in the Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget. The letter emphasizes the impact of an additional $40 million in funding for the R21 malaria vaccine, highlighting U.S. leadership in global immunization and advocating for continued support for USAID’s Maternal and Child Health programs. The overall goal of the letter is to strengthen U.S. leadership in global immunization efforts.

January, 2024

Alliance to End Hunger Sign-on Letter

Christian Connections for International Health and 60+ organizations signed a letter urging Congress to fully fund domestic and international nutrition programs in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. Congress must prioritize and adequately fund these programs to address the escalating food insecurity crisis. As the January 19th funding deadline approaches, bipartisan efforts are crucial to strengthening the nation’s nutrition safety net and ensuring positive health outcomes for vulnerable community members.

January, 2024

Non-Defense Discretionary Funding Support

CCIH joined nearly 1,100 organizations in signing onto a letter expressing our concern about deep cuts to non-defense programs (often referred to as non-defense discretionary appropriations or NDD) for fiscal year 24 (FY24) if a full-year continuing resolution were to pass. Such cuts would be disastrous for the capacity of the US government to serve the public, assist those in need, fuel innovation, and address national and global threats. The letter urged Congressional leadership to instead finish the FY24 appropriations process and adopt the bipartisan Senate funding framework as a starting point for final negotiations.

October, 2023

Faith-based Organization CEO Farm Bill Letter

CCIH Executive Director Doug Fountain joined the CEOs of Food for the Hungry, World Relief, ADRA International, World Vision, and Bread for the World in signing letters to the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Agriculture urging them to reauthorize and strengthen U.S. international food assistance programs in Title III of the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill will save lives while building the long-term resilience necessary to better insulate vulnerable communities and families from future shocks and stresses.

September, 2023

Faith Letter on Deep Concerns on Cuts to Food Support

The Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance (of which CCIH is a member) sent a letter to all US House of Representatives offices expressing deep concern about a rule that the House passed that stripped 70% of funding from Food for Peace – America’s premiere program successfully providing food for people who are the most hungry. The letter expressed our deep concern that people will die unnecessarily, including agonizing deaths with children starving and stunted if these cuts stand.

September, 2023

Global Health and International Affairs Support

CCIH joined many actors in the global health community to sign on a letter coordinated by the Global Health Council to strongly encourage Congress’ support for robust funding for global health; nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and biosafety and biosecurity programs within the International Affairs account, as well as all other global health-related budgets in the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations. Investments in these programs save lives, transform communities, and advance health equity, and it estimated that for every $1 invested in health, there is an economic return of between $2 to $4 across developing nations. The letter was sent to US House and Senate appropriations leaders.

September, 2023

CCIH Faith Community Letter Supporting PEPFAR

CCIH led a faith community letter to U.S. Congressional leaders in support of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) with signatures from 35 faith-based organizations supporting the program’s reauthorization. The letter urges Senate and House leaders to pass a clean, five-year reauthorization before PEPFAR expires on September 30. PEPFAR has saved the lives of over 25 million people, provided treatment for 20.1 million people, prevented mother-to-child transmission for 5.5 million babies, and provided care to 7 million orphans and vulnerable children. Four identical letters were sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee leadership, House Foreign Affairs Committee leadership and Senate and House Leadership.

July, 2023

CCIH Reaction to the FY24 Senate Allocation for Foreign Assistance

CCIH released a statement about the Senate allocations for the State and Foreign Operations bill, confirming our strong support for the U.S. global leadership position of promoting human dignity and security through global health investments that provide stability and economic benefits that far exceed their initial cost.

As nations continue to recover from COVID-19, we understand how vital it is to improve readiness of health systems for future disease threats, conflicts and crises.

July, 2023

Global Health Community Concern over Steep Cuts in FY2024

CCIH joined faith-based organizations and other global health advocates in signing on a letter coordinated by the Global Health Council to express our concern over the steep cuts being proposed to the House State and Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) budget. The letter points out the importance of strong support at a time when the world is facing concurrent destabilizing events, such as the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, further instability and food insecurity caused by the war in Ukraine, and the continuous threat of emerging infectious diseases.

June, 2023

Concern Over the House FY24 Allocation for Foreign Assistance Funding

CCIH released this statement expressing our alarm and disappointment over the proposal from the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations to drastically reduce funding to life-saving programs. We believe this abandons the U.S. leadership role on the global stage and undermines decades of progress toward sustainable health, and is inconsistent with our Christian values and calling to care for our neighbors. We urge Congress to reconsider these funding allocations, and to instead support the current funding level (FY2023) as the absolute floor for funding.

June, 2023

Faith-based Letter to Congress Supporting PEPFAR

CCIH joined 43 other faith-based organizations in signing on to a letter to the US Congress expressing our strong support for continuing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The letters asks Congress to reauthorize PEPFAR before the end of FY 2023, to ensure the continuation of its life-saving programs. PEPFAR has saved tens of millions of lives since it was created by President George W. Bush, who felt strongly that the US was morally obligated to help people with illnesses in low-income countries access medication that was not unavailable to them. PEPFAR has helped to turn the tide in the global fight against AIDS, demonstrating U.S. leadership in saving lives and safeguarding human dignity of the most vulnerable people.

May, 2023

CCIH Submits Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

CCIH submitted testimony to the US Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) on Foreign Assistance Programs supported by the Department of State and USAID.  The testimony highlighted the millions of lives saved by US global health investments, the economic and social gains to individuals, families, and communities worldwide, the positive diplomatic effects, and the return on investment exceeding 20 to 30 times the original investment. CCIH’s testimony also focused on the importance of faith-based global health work and the effectiveness of partnerships among FBOs and others.

May, 2023

Protecting Vital Non-Defense Programs

CCIH joined hundreds of organizations in writing to US Congressional leaders to urge against deep cuts in non-defense programs (often referred to as non-defense discretionary appropriations or simply “NDD”) for the next fiscal year and possibly beyond. Such cuts would be disastrous for the capacity of the federal government to serve the public, assist those in need, fuel innovation, and address national and global threats. The letter states that non-defense appropriations are a small part of the federal budget—less than one-sixth—yet they fund a wide range of important programs and services. Furthermore, NDD funding has not grown significantly. In fact, adjusted for rising costs and population growth, NDD funding is below where it was in 2010.

May, 2023

PEPFAR Reauthorization Support Letter to Congress

CCIH joined partners in endorsing a letter highlighting the contributions the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program has made to children and urged Congress to have a quick and simple reauthorization. The letter highlighted the job that began 20 years ago is not yet finished, especially for children. In the last two decades, there have been significant advances in knowledge and programmatic best practices for reaching children and families, and urged Congress ensure the continued use of all the tools available to support this population. This includes strong local leadership and partnerships with community and faith-based organizations.

May, 2023

Faith-based Support for Family Planning FY 2024

CCIH joined faith-based organizations in a letter urging robust funding for Family Planning to protect the health of mothers and children and help families have the size family they wish and can support. Family Planning and Reproductive Health (FP/RH) programming lowers maternal mortality and morbidity rates as well as infant and child death rates. Globally, one-third of women are affected by illness or death due to poor reproductive health. Every year more than half a million women die in childbirth, with over 95% of them in Africa and Asia. The deaths of these women leave behind children that are more vulnerable to disease and death themselves. The use of voluntary family planning, which gives women and couples the tools to time and space their pregnancies in ways that are consistent with their faith and culture, allows families to have the number of children they wish to have in the healthiest and safest way possible.

March, 2023

Support for Expanding Base Foreign Aid Funding

CCIH joined a group of 20 multifaith organizations urging US representatives to support strong U.S. investments in international humanitarian, poverty-focused development assistance, and peacebuilding programs. These programs alleviate suffering as they increase food and water security, economic development opportunities, and global health; they support human rights, democracy and good governance, while addressing complex emergencies and conflict. This would be accomplished through their support of at least $72.9 billion for the 302(b) topline of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill.

December, 2022

Faith-based Support for the Keeping Girls in School Act

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA), CCIH, and World Vision joined together to write to Members of Congress in support of the Keeping Girls in School Act (H.R. 4134/S.2276). The Keeping Girls in School Act is a critical piece of legislation that would address the challenges girls are facing in accessing secondary educational opportunities. The letter expressed concern about a demonstrated decline in education levels  in the past two years in low- and middle income countries and emphasized the critical need to keep girls in school.

December, 2022

CCIH Comments on USAID Policy on Engaging Faith-Based and Community Partners

CCIH hosted a Forum Call on December 9, 2022 to receive feedback to the draft policy on engaging faith-based and community partners. During the call CCIH led a discussion on initial feedback and sought input from members on what they would like to see reflected in the policy. After this discussion, CCIH synthesized the feedback and submitted comments to the policy through the USAID website, as well as directly to the Faith Engagement office with USAID.

October, 2022

Support for Global Health and Security in 2023

CCIH joined global health organizations in signing onto letters to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives encouraging the U.S. Congress’ continued support for robust funding for global health; nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and biosafety and biosecurity programs. The letter stressed that investments in these programs save lives, transform communities, and advance health equity. In concert with U.S. humanitarian and development programs, these programs are also cost-effective and support U.S. foreign assistance priorities to reduce poverty, achieve gender equality, promote human rights, and improve national and global security by supporting stable, resilient, and democratic communities.

September, 2022

Support to End Global Hunger

CCIH joined other NGOs and faith-based organizations in signing on a letter to thank President Biden for his leadership on the global food crisis and to express alarm at the human toll and potential long-term consequences this crisis has created. The letter describes the current situation of high and rapidly rising food, fertilizer and fuel prices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and intensified by the Ukraine conflict, which is exacerbating the devastating trend of rising hunger since 2014. The letter urges additional funding to help address the crisis and save lives.

June, 2022

Testimony to Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs

CCIH submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs highlighting the importance and necessity of strong health systems and global coordination and cooperation to support global health programs. The testimony explained the wide reach of faith-based health systems and how FBOs are crucial partners in the global effort to provide care to those in need.

March, 2022

Call For Robust Emergency Funding for Global COVID-19 Response

CCIH joined global health, humanitarian, development and private sector organizations in a letter to the Biden Administration urging engagement with Congress to support increased funding for the global health, humanitarian, and development accounts in the final FY2022 spending package. The letter asks for additional emergency supplemental funding that reflects the true needs outlined by agency experts to respond to the challenges of COVID-19 globally, as well as the increasingly alarming global hunger and humanitarian situations.

January, 2022

Comments on USAID Draft Local Capacity Development Policy

CCIH gathered feedback from our members and held a forum for them to learn more about their thoughts on USAID’s Draft Local Capacity Development Policy in January 2022. The policy is intended to establish an Agency-wide vision and common approach towards developing local capacity that can be applied and adapted across the wide variety of sectors, contexts, countries, and sets of actors with which USAID works. CCIH thanked USAID and its leadership for emphasizing the role, voice, and autonomy of local partners, many of which are faith-based. Our comments raise questions we believe are important for any effort to systematically strengthen our ability to align global development authority with the voices of those who are most responsible for the results.

December, 2021

Support of Locally Led Development

CCIH joined other faith-based actors and humanitarian organizations in sending a letter to USAID Administrator Samantha Power in support of the agency’s commitment to make foreign assistance more responsive and centered on the needs and aspirations of local actors. The letter expressed support for placing more trust and decision-making power in our foreign service nationals, and also expressed a commitment to help USAID achieve its near-term goal that 25 percent of U.S. foreign assistance directly fund authentically local, autonomous organizations, and its longer-term target to ensure 50 percent of assistance funds local voices by the end of the decade.

September, 2021

New Partnerships Initiative Support Letter

CCIH led an effort among faith-based organizations to show our support for the New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) Authorization Act (S. 2509) led by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) which would make the NPI a permanent fixture of USAID’s mission and a tool to help local partners build their capacity and allow for sustainable investments. Twenty FBOs joined CCIH in supporting the legislation, which aims to streamline access to USAID resources; strengthen local organizations and build capacity with an emphasis on sustainability; and, authorize funding in each fiscal year from FY22 through FY26 specifically for NPI program grants, increasing awards to new and underutilized partners, such as faith-based organizations.

July, 2021

Faith-Based Global Vaccine Access Letter to President Biden

CCIH joined over 80 faith-based organizations in sending a letter to the Biden administration urging them to ramp up global vaccine access. We wish to express our gratitude for the Administration’s commitment to donate 500 million vaccine doses through COVAX and to other “hot spots” around the world. However, we witness the great inequality in vaccine access between rich countries and low-and middle- income countries as well as within countries themselves. The United States is approaching the goal of a 70% vaccination rate and pharmaceutical companies are working on possible booster shots. Meanwhile, most countries have yet to secure, or are only now receiving, vaccine doses and are facing the possibility of vast majorities of their people not receiving a vaccine until 2022 or as late as 2024. With this letter we, and fellow organizations, implore the Biden administration to Continue to distribute the surplus doses the United States has purchased to COVAX-AMC (for distribution to lower-income countries) and to “hot spots” around the globe; and prioritize worldwide distribution of vaccines to those without access before considering booster shots for the already vaccinated.

February, 2021

Christian Health Networks Call for Vaccine Equity

CCIH joined other Christian health organizations, service providers and networks to appeal for global equity and solidarity in access to COVID-19 vaccines. We are grateful for the remarkable swiftness of developing safe and effective vaccines that are expected to help bring the pandemic under control. In particular, we commend the public financing to the pharmaceutical industry for research and development that has helped to make this possible. We are concerned however with the emerging trend of rich countries hoarding excess doses to vaccinate their entire populations two or more times over, inflating vaccine prices for poor countries and the overall picture of low or no vaccinations in low-income countries. We are equally concerned that even in rich countries, racial/ethnic minorities and low-income persons are being marginalized in access to the vaccines. Providing vaccines for all must be part of a global plan to end the pandemic. A global response based on solidarity and equity must be everyone’s interest.

February, 2021

Support for the Appointment of Samantha Power as USAID Administrator

CCIH joined other members of the Interfaith Working Group on Foreign Assistance, a network of faith-based organizations advocating for the world’s most vulnerable people, in signing on to a letter to the U.S. Senate leadership supporting the appointment of Ms. Samantha Power as the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The faith community plays a very active role in providing humanitarian and development assistance to millions impacted by violence, poverty, and hunger. Through USAID, the United States leads the world in addressing these global concerns as the largest government provider of foreign assistance. the letter urges for strong leadership at USAID in order to leverage U.S. resources on global development initiatives and to increase the impact of FBO work for the world’s most vulnerable populations.

March, 2020

CCIH Joins non-profit community in support of COVID-19 Relief

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic facing the country is having a profound impact on the economy and has greatly expanded the need for charitable organizations to provide additional services in an unprecedented manner. At the same time, the economic downturn will undoubtedly result in a contraction in contributions and other sources of revenue which are the lifeblood of many charitable organizations. CCIH signed a letter to provide support to America’s charitable nonprofits so the people they serve can receive life-saving mission services at a time when our efforts are needed like never before by the most vulnerable in our communities.

March, 2019

HIV/AIDS Programs at CDC and NIH

CCIH joined the Global AIDS Policy Partnership (GAPP) in signing on to a letter to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to request support for programs that advance the global HIV/AIDS response in the Fiscal Year 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Programs Appropriations bill. GAPP is a coalition of advocacy, research and implementing organizations committed to ending AIDS for the next generation by expanding and improving global HIV/AIDS programming. The letter urges the subcommittee to include at least $128 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global AIDS Program and support for strong, increased investment funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

March, 2019

State Department and Related Agency Funding for 2020

CCIH joined the Global AIDS Policy Partnership (GAPP) in signing on to a letter to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations. The letter requests that FY 2020 funding legislation for the State Department and related agencies protect funding levels for global health and development programs and at a minimum maintain the FY 2019 enacted levels. The group also urged expansion of funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to $5.5 billion and requested $1.56 billion for the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) and $350 million for the USAID HIV/AIDS program.

October, 2018

Moral Imperative Statement

CCIH signed onto “Results for Children: The Moral Imperative’s Core Message for Action to Secure Well-being” presented at the World Bank and  International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting in Indonesia, in October 2018. CCIH is a member of the Moral Imperative to End Extreme Poverty, which was first convened in 2015 to bring together religious and faith-based organizations and the World Bank Group into a broad forum to advance a faith-based action framework to end Extreme Poverty and Realize Sustainable Development Goals. The work of the Moral Imperative is organized around three pillars: Evidence, Advocacy and Collaboration, each with a Corresponding Working Group.

Other CCIH members who also participated and signed onto this call for the World Bank to focus on outcomes for early childhood include: Christian Health Association of Kenya, Christian Journal for Global Health, Episcopal Relief & Development, IMA World Health, and World Relief.

September, 2018

PEPFAR Extension Act

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been introduced in the U.S. Congress for reauthorization. CCIH has joined other groups and signed on to a global health community letter in support of the legislation.

August, 2018

Faith-Based Coalition for Global Nutrition FY 2019 Request

CCIH joined others in the faith community in signing a letter to the leadership of the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees and State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee thanking them for their leadership on global food security and nutrition, and commitment to protect and strengthen critical funding for programs that curb hunger and malnutrition in the FY 2019 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bill. The letter stated that our faith compels us to work to eliminate the structural causes of hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, and to promote improved health and development for the world’s poorest. The letter requested that funding levels in the FY 2019 SFOPS bill will fund the Nutrition sub-account at the $145 million level included in the House SFOPS bill because investments in nutrition are the most cost-effective way to ensure children have a chance to survive and thrive, as malnutrition is responsible for almost half of all deaths of children under the age of five.

July, 2018

FY 2019: Support for Global Health and Related Programs

CCIH joined 27 other faith-based organizations in signing a letter to the leadership of the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs expressing our appreciation for their support and urging them to provide the maximum level of funding possible to vital programs that alleviate suffering for people living in extreme poverty. The letter requested funding for Global Health, Disaster Assistance, Development Assistance, Migration and Refugee Assistance, and the Complex Crisis Fund.

July, 2018

FY 2019 Support for Strong Agriculture Appropriations

CCIH joined 27 other faith-based organizations in signing a letter to the leadership of the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittee to express our appreciation and urge them to provide the maximum level of funding possible for programs to alleviate hunger and food insecurity. The letter encouraged support for Food for Peace and for the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program.

May, 2018

Food Security and Nutrition FY 2019

CCIH’s Executive Director and Executive Director Emeritus joined other people of faith in signing a letter to U.S. Senate and House leaders to thank them for their leadership on global food security and nutrition, and to urge them to protect critical funding for these programs in the FY 2019 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. The letter expresses our concern about the health of vulnerable populations worldwide, and our realization that American leadership is needed now more than ever as we face an unprecedented global challenge of four potential famines, and more than 65 million displaced persons worldwide. The letter expresses our concern about the steep cuts to global food security and nutrition programs in the President’s FY 2019 budget request, specifically a severe cut to the Nutrition sub-account within the Global Health Programs of USAID.

February, 2018

Advocating for Full Funding in FY 2019 for PFDA

CCIH joined members and partners of InterAction to urge support for full funding in Fiscal Year 2019 for poverty-focused international development and humanitarian assistance accounts at no less than the levels that reflect the minimum requirements needed to maintain American leadership in these vital areas, and could be achieved with an International Affairs Budget of $59.1 billion.