Global Child Thrive Act of 2020
Floor Speech
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Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McCaul for yielding me time to speak on the Global Child Thrive Act.
Madam Speaker, as a lifelong FBI special agent, one of my greatest concerns has always been the welfare of children, not just children in the United States, but children across the globe.
Last year, as the ranking member indicated, I partnered with my colleague, Congressman Castro, to introduce H.R. 4864, the Global Child Thrive Act. This legislation was written to support young children and their families across the globe.
Our bill has wide bipartisan and bicameral support. Our bill passed unanimously out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in December. We have over 60 bipartisan cosponsors. It is also supported by over 50 civil society groups working in child and international development.
Madam Speaker, I want to particularly thank Catholic Relief Services, whose constituent advocates in my home district have championed these issues.
Madam Speaker, the Global Child Thrive Act would update our foreign aid programs to increase their effectiveness and multiply developmental outcomes for young children. Currently, less than 1 percent of our U.S. budget goes towards international aid programs, so it is critical that those limited dollars do as much good as possible.
Today, the need for the enactment of our bill into law is more pressing than ever, as experts agree that the secondary impacts of COVID-19, such as increased food insecurity, malnutrition, and violence, will fall most heavily on vulnerable children. The Global Child Thrive Act will support the most vulnerable children to withstand the secondary impacts of the coronavirus, as well as future deadly pandemics.
Moreover, this act is crucial, since children around the globe are continuously affected by widespread poverty and the lack of adequate childcare. According to UNICEF, extreme poverty in low- and middle- income countries is the reason why 250 million children 5 years old and younger may not achieve their full developmental potential.
Moreover, UNICEF reports that at least ``75 million children under age five live in areas affected by conflict.'' Conflict increases a child's ``risk of toxic stress'' and ``can inhibit brain cell connections.''
Finally, Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Castro for his bipartisanship and his hard work on this legislation. I also thank Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul, all fine colleagues of mine, for their cooperation and support on our legislation.
As we all know, Madam Speaker, focusing on children is focusing on our future, and I urge all of my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4864, the Global Child Thrive Act.
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