I want to thank Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office for a Zoom meeting with a group of 20 Washingtonians to request she include three national peace-building funds in the next budget: the Complex Crises Fund, Atrocities Prevention Fund and Reconciliation Programs.
Since April is Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month, it is a great time to remember that any ongoing efforts that invest in regions of the world where conflict arises help us to keep our military members out of harm’s way. Many of these well-established funds allow flexibility for a local rapid response, which is key to knowing what is happening in any local region.
These programs have proven to be effective, save money in the long run and give power to the local communities involved. All three funds save lives and the long-range impact of military being assigned abroad. We appreciate Sen. Cantwell’s interest in our concerns.
