Support of the United Nations Millenium Goals

Floor Speech

Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and to strongly urge the United States to do everything in its power to combat global inequalities. This week, as the UN gathers to discuss these important priorities, we must demonstrate our shared commitment to meeting the challenges we face as a global community.

The Millennium Development Goals aim to significantly reduce global injustices including extreme poverty and hunger, inferior education and healthcare systems, and unequal opportunity between the sexes by 2015. Of particular importance is the effort to cut in half the number of people worldwide--nearly one billion--who suffer from undernourishment or malnourishment.

Before the recent global economic and agriculture crises, many developing regions of the world were on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals for hunger. Now, the tremendous progress seen in Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean has been stymied. It is imperative that we address this issue now. Increased food security leads to advances in health, education, and equality in developing nations, all of which are vital to fostering international goodwill and national security.

Rashieda Weaver, president of the African Youth Coalition Against Hunger, Malnutrition, HIV and AIDS, and a constituent of mine, believes the key to solving this crisis lies in a strong local response, particularly through supporting women farmers. Women produce the majority of food in many developing regions, including up to 80 percent in Africa and 60 percent in Asia. However, in many developing nations, inferior education and economic injustice leaves women, and as a result their families and communities, unable to maximize their output. The U.S. should support programs that emphasize empowering women to produce at their full capacity, which studies show can increase yields by up to 20 percent, reducing hunger in the process.

As we approach the deadline, I urge my colleagues to embrace and support the Millennium Development Goals, and take steps to eradicate food insecurity worldwide.

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