Senators Collins, Coons Introduce Resolution Recognizing U.S. Leadership in Global Progress Against Maternal and Child Malnutrition
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced a resolution recognizing the importance of U.S. leadership to improve nutrition and health of children and mothers around the world. The resolution also supports USAID’s commitment to global nutrition through its multi-sectoral nutrition strategy.
“Food security and access to good nutrition in early childhood are vital to children’s physical and cognitive development. Although progress has been made in improving nutrition for mothers and children, nearly half of all child deaths worldwide are related to malnutrition. It is a tragedy that so many preventable deaths still occur,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan resolution recognizes the important role the United States plays in the global effort to end child and maternal hunger and applauds USAID’s continued efforts to promote global food security.”
“I’m proud to join Senator Collins in highlighting how important it is for the United States to continue its strong commitment to reducing maternal and child malnutrition worldwide,” said Senator Coons. “While we’ve made tremendous strides, malnutrition is still linked to 45 percent of all deaths of children under five years old, or 2.6 million deaths each year. This resolution recognizes the progress we’ve made, and reinforces the need to keep investing in federally funded programs to end global hunger and malnutrition.”
The resolution highlights the severity of malnutrition across the globe and the negative effects that this has on child development, maternal health, and economic development. It commends USAID’s efforts and recognizes that the USAID Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy, the U.S. Government Global Nutrition Coordination Plan, the Global Food Security Strategy, and the Scaling Up Nutrition movement are all platforms that can help reach global nutrition targets by 2025.
Several advocacy groups have expressed support for the resolution including Bread for the World, RESULTS, Save the Children, CARE, and UNICEF.
In addition to Senators Collins and Coons, the resolution was also introduced by Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Todd Young (R-IN) Patty Murray (D-WA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Bob Casey (D-PA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jack Reed (D-RI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Gardner (D-CO), Ed Markey (D-MA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Angus King (I-ME), Doug Jones (D-AL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Johnny Isakson (R-GA).
USAID leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people progress beyond assistance.
Last month, Senators Collins and Coons introduced the Reach Every Mother and Child Act to strengthen the United States’ efforts to end preventable deaths of mothers, newborns, and young children in developing nations around the world.
For several years, Senators Collins and Coons have co-led a letter to the Senate’s Appropriations Committee outlining why we need to maintain robust funding for maternal and child health and global nutrition.
Click HERE to read the resolution.
