Bono Heads To Capitol Hill, Meets With Steve Scalise Staff

WASHINGTON, DC — U2 frontman and philanthropist Bono had a beautiful day visiting the Capitol Building Wednesday, seeking to lobby on behalf of foreign aid spending and deliver his best wishes to the injured House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise.

"Bono, the lead singer of U2 and co-founder of The ONE Campaign, is on Capitol Hill meeting with Republicans and Democratic Lawmakers from both chambers about fully funding the International Affairs account in the FY18 budget," Ian Koski of The ONE Campaign said in a statement. "Bono is highlighting the lives saved by America's investments in foreign assistance and underscoring testimony given by 16 retired generals and admirals last week about the critical importance of development to America's national Security."

Koski added: "Bono also met briefly with staff to U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise." (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch for daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, was shot last week at congressional baseball practice by a gunman believed to be acting on political motivations. Scalise was one of five injured in the attack, and he was reported to be in "critical condition" after the shooting. On Wednesday, officials reported that Scalise's condition was upgraded to "fair."

Bono has long been an advocate of foreign aid and donations as a powerful tool in fighting poverty and promoting global health.

The ONE Campaign says it is a "policy and advocacy organization of nearly 8 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa." It says it is non-partisan and seeks to "raise public awareness and press political leaders to combat AIDS and other preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programs."

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