The following are excerpts of statements from several organizations regarding the president’s FY 2018 budget blueprint, which was released Thursday.

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation: Statement from Chip Lyons on the President’s proposed Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Blueprint
“The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) expresses great concern with the suggested cuts to foreign assistance in the president’s proposed FY 2018 budget blueprint. Such cuts threaten to roll back stunning progress made in recent years toward the goal of ending AIDS in children globally…” (3/16).

Friends of the Global Fight Blog: President’s FY 2018 Budget Blueprint Affirms U.S. Commitment To The Global Fund
“In the preliminary FY 2018 budget blueprint released [Thursday], President Trump announced plans to meet U.S. commitments to the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). … ‘We welcome the president’s commitment to the Global Fund, which recognizes the extraordinary value and impact that the Global Fund has in saving millions of lives and supporting a more safe, stable, and prosperous world,’ said Friends President Chris Collins…” (3/16).

MFAN: Proposed Cuts to Foreign Assistance Will Reverse Decade-Long Bipartisan Reform Effort
“The Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) is gravely concerned over the proposed … cut from FY17 levels to the International Affairs Budget, and urges Congress to reject such a draconian approach to programs that are central to U.S. interests. These deep and disproportionate cuts would threaten our national security, diminish America’s standing in the world, and reverse progress that has been made in building more accountable and effective development institutions…” (3/16).

ONE: 100+ Christian leaders tell Congressional leadership: Protect foreign assistance
“More than 100 Christian leaders from across the United States are calling on Congress to avoid disproportionate cuts to America’s foreign assistance programs that make up less than one percent of the federal budget. … The signers — representing the Catholic and evangelical communities — include national leaders, pastors, heads of faith organizations, recording artists, and authors…” (3/16).