Funding Foreign Aid in Public Health Makes America Great

As a first-generation Filipino-American who spent her childhood in the Philippines, I experienced firsthand the impact of U.S. foreign aid, including vaccines, disaster relief, and the promise of protection from foreign adversaries. Like many Filipino children, I grew up hearing about the kindness of the world’s most powerful country. Receiving aid from such a strong global leader fostered an image of the United States as our most trusted ally, a nation we could always rely on. America’s generosity was met with immense gratitude by the Filipino people. Witnessing this growing up, I dreamed of one day coming to America to give back and serve in the government, continuing the generosity I had once benefited from.

It has been nearly 13 years since my family immigrated to the United States in pursuit of a better life. When we first arrived, we settled in New York City, a place that embodied the promise and energy of the American Dream. Over time, seeking a quieter and more affordable life, we eventually moved to Shelton, Connecticut in 2020, at the height of the pandemic’s first wave. I found myself in a new home at a time when the importance of public health had never been more evident. The pandemic showed us how deeply interconnected we are, proving that investing in health infrastructure, both locally and globally, is not just a matter of charity but of national and international security.

Yet, in recent weeks, I have watched with concern as government programs are defunded, vital bills rescinded, and executive orders signed to freeze foreign aid, America’s soft power, while long-standing alliances are gradually dismantled. The America I once admired is fading. Our nation is retreating into isolationism, diminishing its global influence and abandoning its role as a benevolent leader.

We cannot afford to turn our backs on public health, whether at home or abroad. The pandemic taught us that when we neglect public health funding, we all pay the price. Investing in global health initiatives, including vaccine distribution and disease prevention, strengthens our country’s resilience while fostering goodwill worldwide. Here in Connecticut, we must continue to advocate for public health funding because safeguarding health systems benefits all of us in the long run.

I urge Congress to continue investing in foreign aid, especially in public health. Around the world, countless people still believe in America’s kindness. Children in many countries continue to die from vaccine-preventable diseases, and without our support, those numbers will only rise. These children see the United States as a beacon of hope, just as I did when I was younger. We cannot let them down. If we choose empathy, we will recognize that having the power and privilege to help other nations thrive is not a burden. It is what makes the United States of America truly great.