2024 Global Poverty Laser Talks
Global nutrition
Engage: Last year, almost five million children still died before their fifth birthday.
State Problem: Most of these deaths were from preventable or treatable causes in impoverished countries. Malnutrition was the underlying cause of almost half of those deaths.
Inform: The return on investment in nutrition interventions is significant. Studies show that for every $1 invested, society recoups as much as $35 in economic returns. If the U.S. shows strong positive pledging signals early in the run-up to the Nutrition for Growth Summit, it will inspire increased commitments from others.
Call to Action: I urge the Biden Administration to make a bold pledge to N4G as soon as possible. This alone will save lives. It will also send a strong signal to other world leaders to follow our lead and prioritize nutrition and child survival.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Resolutions
Engage: Every year, almost five million children die before their fifth birthdays of mainly preventable causes.
State Problem: For example, last year, more than 700,000 children died from pneumonia, despite the fact there are safe and vaccines around $2.00 per dose.
Inform: Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective interventions to save lives and prevent illness. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has helped to vaccinate over 1 billion children, preventing more than 17.3 million child deaths since 2000.
Call to Action: U.S. leadership on basic global health inspires other nations to do more for global access to life-saving vaccines. Will you please co-sponsor the bipartisan resolution in support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance? (In the Senate, it’s S.Res. 684. In the House, it’s H.Res. 1286.) Your support will encourage other nations to do their part at the upcoming Gavi pledging conference.
End Tuberculosis Now Act (H.R.1776/S.288)
Engage: Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading infectious disease killer. In fact, it infected 10.6 million and killed 1.3 million in 2022.
State Problem: Incredible strides were being made in the fight against TB, but when COVID-19 arrived, TB resources around the world were diverted. Most TB cases are curable, but in resource-poor areas, treatment often comes too late.
Inform: But Congress can make a difference. The bipartisan, bicameral End Tuberculosis Now Act (H.R.1776/S.288) calls for setting bold U.S. goals to reach those most vulnerable to the disease. It will help save lives and provide frontline healthcare with needed support. The bill has just passed the Senate. We must keep the momentum going.
Call to Action: I urge our representatives to follow the Senate’s lead and pass the End Tuberculosis Now Act as soon as possible.
READ Act Reauthorization (H.R.681/S.41)
Engage: Up to 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries are experiencing learning poverty. They are not receiving quality education.
State Problem: COVID-19 related school closures disrupted learning for nearly all of the world’s 1.5 billion school-aged children. Now, in order to reach world education goals by 2030, we must enroll a child every two seconds.
Inform: Congress can support kids getting the foundational skills they need by co-sponsoring the bipartisan READ Act Reauthorization Act of 2023 in both the House (H.R.681) and Senate (S.41). The bill calls on the U.S. to update its foundational literacy and numeracy strategy. It calls for reaching vulnerable populations. And it calls for proof of robust monitoring and evaluation.
Call to Action for the House: Will you co-sponsor the READ Act and urge leadership to bring the bill to the floor?
(Call to Action for the Senate: Thank you for passing the READ Act last year!)