At an event at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Barbara Bush, CEO of Global Health Corps and a board member of Population Services International (PSI), told the Daily Caller that reducing foreign aid as part of efforts to reduce the national debt would have “enormous implications for the U.S. if we don’t continue the efforts that we’ve already started” (Ballasy, 10/3). The event marked the launch of a campaign called “The Power of 1%,” sponsored by PSI, FHI360, PATH, World Vision and ONE and aimed at highlighting “the economics of global health and the benefits U.S. investments overseas have for Americans at home,” according to a campaign press release (.pdf) (10/3).

Actor and singer Mandy Moore, who is a PSI Ambassador and appeared on a panel with Bush, said in an interview with the Daily Caller that less than one percent of foreign aid is being spent on global health, but “so much good is being done with relatively little and [we] just want to continue to stay the course” (10/3). The panel also included USAID Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg, the press release notes (10/3). On Tuesday, Bush and Moore are scheduled to meet with representatives of the House and Senate and hold an afternoon briefing for additional lawmakers on Capitol Hill, according to a PSI press release (10/3).