Breathless headlines about the so-called Supercommittee have been popping up everywhere these days. And as the hours until the committee's deadline tick by, it seems like everyone in Washington is asking the same questions: "Will they or won't they agree to a deal?", "Which party will win, and which will lose?"

Here at Refugees International, we're asking a different question: "What will the debt deal mean for the world's most vulnerable people?"

Since the earliest days of our nation, the United States has self-identified as a beacon of hope for the world’s oppressed and most vulnerable. Every year, the Congress decides anew whether or not our country will live up to its highest ideals and continue to provide global leadership in response to humanitarian crises. In times of plenty – when the economy is growing – living up to the high standard we set for ourselves, may happen as a matter of course.

It has been a big week for those of us working on Pakistan.  New attention on the intensely fractured relationship between the US and Pakistan has led to questions about the fate of current and planned aid packages- with emphasis on the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (or the Kerry-Lugar Act).

Budgets matter.  They show us two things: 1) how our government is spending our scarce resources; and 2) where our national values and priorities lie.

Yesterday, President Obama unveiled his budget request for Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12). His budget proposal comes a mere three days after the fledgling GOP House leadership unveiled its plan to fund the U.S. government for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year.  The two documents – the President’s FY12 budget and the House of Representatives' GOP FY11 spending plan – both display starkly different visions for U.S. spending abroad.