Pakistan Enduring Assistance And Cooperation Enhancement Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

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Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Berman for working with me so closely to include provisions in H.R. 1886 to ensure that the empowerment, protection and human rights of women are an important purpose for our aid to Pakistan and to help address the high rate of maternal mortality in Pakistan.

As Secretary of State Clinton noted earlier this year, the status of women and girls is a key indicator of whether or not progress is even possible in a society. We simply can't solve the global problems confronting us--from the worldwide financial crisis to the risk of climate change, chronic hunger, disease, poverty--when the energies and talents of hundreds of millions of people, half the world's population is left behind.

According to the World Health Organization, maternal mortality is an indicator of disparity and inequity between men and women and reflects a woman's so-called place in society and their ultimate access to social health, nutritional services and to economic opportunities. In this case, Pakistan's maternal mortality rate speaks of the great challenges facing Pakistani women.

Over 400 women die per 100,000 live births in Pakistan, and, for comparison, that is compared to 11 per 100,000 in the United States.

It is the aim of my amendment to make clear that the U.S. aid authorized in this bill addresses this challenge. We need to make it unmistakably clear, Mr. Speaker, that addressing that nation's high child and maternal mortality rates is a key part of our assistance to Pakistan. We know that these interventions will save these women's lives and ultimately save the nation.

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