This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
Administrator J. Brian Atwood
Sister Cities Legislative Meeting
Washington, D.C., March 6, 1997
U.S. Agency for International Development
Sister Cities International has helped to increase global
understanding and cooperation for more than 40 years, and it is a
special pleasure to be a part of this Legislative Meeting. The
cultural benefits have been incalculable and sister cities have
often rallied to each other's aid in times of trouble.
By creating and strengthening partnerships between 1,000
American communities and 1,600 communities in 120 countries
around the globe, Sister Cities enables Americans to see for
themselves why U.S. engagement abroad is important.
The fact that President Clinton is honorary chairman, and
that almost every President has served in that capacity since the
organization was instituted by President Eisenhower, is an
indication of the value of what Sister Cities does.
As Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said recently, "In
our democracy, we cannot pursue policies abroad that are not
understood and supported here at home."
I have always thought that America is its own best
advertisement, and I believe that Sister Cities and other foreign
exchange programs have helped to spur the worldwide movement
toward democracy and free markets. This great democratic
revolution has brought very special moments as many Sister
Cities have rejoiced together when the people of formerly
autocratic countries have gained new rights and freedoms. Who
can forget the images of the Berlin Wall coming down? I will
certainly never forget the celebration when Pinochet's regime in
Chile was defeated by referendum.
One of USAID's important tasks in this decade is helping
countries make that transition from autocratic government to
democracy, from Central and Eastern Europe to countries in our
own hemisphere. This aid includes providing technical expertise
in writing laws, helping establish court and police systems that
respect human rights and property rights, and developing
commercial codes and banking systems that encourage free
markets, trade and investment. USAID programs also strengthen
civil society and the institutions that support democracy and free
markets, including free press and broadcast media.
Sister Cities International is part of our work with a free
press as participants in an important two-year program to create
partnerships between U.S. and Russian newspapers under a
USAID grant. Russian independent newspapers are exposed to
how the American free press functions. They learn management
and production techniques, participate in management exchanges
and send interns to U.S. newspapers.
Because of Sister Cities' long work in Russia and the former
Soviet Union, I know you will be pleased, as we are, that
President Clinton's budget request for Fiscal Year 1998 includes
a $476 million increase for USAID. The bulk of this -- $292
million -- will go for additional programs in Central and Eastern
Europe and the New Independent States. Helping to secure free
societies in that region is one of America's highest foreign policy
and national security priorities.
These increased funds will support reconstruction and
reform in Bosnia, programs in the Southern tier states, and
longer-term activities to spur economic growth and develop
lasting links between our peoples -- first with Russia, and then in
the other New Independent States.
An additional $135 million will go to support the peace
process in the Middle East, the democratic transition in Haiti,
breakthrough peace accords in Guatemala, fledgling democracies
in Cambodia and Mongolia, and elections, party building and
legislative training in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The third USAID component receiving increased funds is
Sustainable Development Assistance, which will get $65.5 million
more. Almost half of this will go to a pilot initiative aimed at
improving food security in Africa. Improvements in agricultural
production usually are the essential first step to broader economic
growth in developing countries. Without sufficient food and
economic growth, health, nutrition and educational improvement
cannot be sustained. And without good, environmentally sound
agricultural practices, land is ruined and people move to cities.
Imagine your city today, if you experienced a four-fold increase
in population in the past decade that is what is happening in the
developing world.
And there is a pay-off for Americans in our work to produce
greater prosperity and stability in these developing nations. This
speeds the emergence of new markets for American goods,
services and investment in the long term, and lower humanitarian
aid costs in the short term. Americans also benefit from products
developed by international agricultural research centers, including
wheat and rice that are more resistant to disease, pests and
drought.
The majority of American wheat and rice acreage is planted
in varieties that were developed by these international research
centers, or are derivatives of strains developed by the centers. A
recent study found returns for American farmers and consumers
of up to $190 for every taxpayer dollar invested.
USAID-supported research also developed improved
immunization equipment and techniques, and Oral Rehydration
Therapy (ORT) for treatment of diarrheal diseases. ORT and
immunizations have saved the lives of millions of children in
developing countries. These and other health advances that U.S.
aid programs have brought to developing countries have made a
major contribution to cutting infant mortality rates by one-half
over the past 50 years.
Our agency was part of the historic effort that eliminated
smallpox from the earth, and we are part of the ongoing effort to
eliminate the last pockets of polio in the world by the year 2000.
This is one of the great humanitarian success stories, preventing
terrible suffering, crippling and needless deaths. The eradication
of polio will also allow the United States to save $230 million a
year we now spend on immunizations. Credit goes to your
Rotary Clubs for raising millions of private dollars to support this
effort.
Our agency is the largest worldwide provider of HIV\AIDS
education, training and other preventive help. A recent study
shows that USAID helped Kenya avert over 110,000 HIV
infections in just three years. That helps Americans beat this
horrible disease as well.
Sister Cities is about to begin an exciting new health project
called the Hidden Hunger Initiative. In cooperation with Emory
University and other partners, supported by a USAID grant, the
initiative aims to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition -- vitamin
or mineral deficiencies. Human beings need only tiny amounts
of these nutrients for good health and development, but they must
get them regularly. Deficiencies can lead to tragic results.
Currently these deficiencies affect 2 billion people
worldwide. Insufficient micronutrients cause learning disabilities,
mental retardation, poor health, low work capacity, blindness and
even early death. Geographic isolation, dietary customs, lack of
understanding of nutritional needs and poverty contribute to
micronutrient deficiencies in countries from Central Europe to
East Africa, in both urban and rural areas. In addition to the
effect on individuals and their families, economic growth is lower
in countries where these deficiencies are common.
Vitamin A, iron and iodine are crucial to the survival of
children and to the health of women, and have profound effects
on educational attainment, adult productivity and overall
resistance to disease.
IQ levels of children born to iodine-deficient mothers are as
much as 15 percent below average.
Worldwide, Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of
preventable blindness. At least 40 percent of the estimated 13
million children who die each year from common childhood
infections could be saved by increasing the amount of Vitamin A
in their diets. USAID-supported researchers first demonstrated
the relationship between Vitamin A deficiencies and child deaths,
and USAID programs to increase green and yellow vegetables in
the diets of people in developing countries have helped reduce the
prevalence of such deficiencies.
Iron deficiency is the world's most common nutritional
disorder, reducing the vitality and productivity of more than one
billion people. Anemic expectant mothers are at a high risk for
spontaneous abortion and death.
The World Bank estimates that micronutrient malnutrition
can waste as much as five percent of a nations gross national
product (GNP), while a comprehensive and sustainable solution
would cost less than one-third of one percent of GNP.
Sister Cities will help to educate people about the
importance of diversity in their diets and work to fortify
commonly eaten foods (salt, sugar, flour, rice and baked goods)
with the missing micronutrients. Projects will include school-to-
school and business-to-business programs, and science and
technology exchanges.
The Hidden Hunger Initiative is one of many innovative
projects that carry out USAID's primary mission of attacking the
root causes of poverty, ill-health, premature death and poor
educational outcomes. Such efforts lay the groundwork for
sustainable development while building better lives for people all
over the world.
So, I congratulate Sister Cities. You have remained on the
forefront of international cooperation for many years. In a period
when some would pull our nation back from international
engagement, you have understood its value. You have
understood why we are the indispensable nation. And you have
acted to advance both our interests and our values. Thank you
for that.
This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
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Last Updated on: July 18, 2001
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