[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 846 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 846

     Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the eradication of wild 
                     poliovirus from the Americas.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 24, 2024

    Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Reed, Ms. Sinema, Ms. 
   Klobuchar, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
 Welch, and Mr. Booker) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the eradication of wild 
                     poliovirus from the Americas.

Whereas nearly 60,000 children in the United States were reported to have polio 
        in 1952 alone, with more than 20,000 cases of paralysis;
Whereas, thanks to vaccination, polio was eliminated from the United States in 
        1979;
Whereas the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a unique public-private 
        partnership that includes the Federal Government, Rotary International, 
        the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund 
        (commonly known as ``UNICEF''), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 
        and GAVI, was established in 1988 with a goal of eradicating polio 
        globally, at a time when there were more than 350,000 cases of polio 
        recorded annually;
Whereas Rotary International, a global association founded in Illinois, has 
        contributed more than $2,700,000,000 and volunteered countless hours in 
        the global fight against polio since 1979;
Whereas, since the goal of global polio eradication was set in 1988, incidences 
        of polio have been reduced by more than 99.9 percent through the use of 
        the inactivated polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk and the oral polio 
        vaccine developed by Albert Sabin;
Whereas the Americas were the first region to be certified free from wild 
        poliovirus by the WHO in 1994, with the last case of wild poliovirus in 
        the Americas confirmed in Peru in 1991;
Whereas, since 1994, 4 other regions of the world have been certified free from 
        wild poliovirus and 2 of the 3 strains of wild poliovirus have been 
        certified eradicated worldwide;
Whereas, as of September 2024, only Afghanistan and Pakistan have been unable to 
        fully stop transmission of wild poliovirus, a decrease from more than 
        125 countries in 1988;
Whereas the GPEI reaches the world's most vulnerable children, including those 
        who have been displaced, living in areas of insecurity or conflict, 
        where cases of variant poliovirus remain of concern;
Whereas, as of September 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention, an estimated 20,000,000 people are walking who have been 
        spared from paralysis and 1,500,000 deaths have been averted worldwide 
        thanks to the efforts of the GPEI;
Whereas, in addition to combating polio, the global workforce and infrastructure 
        of the GPEI has frequently served as first responders for natural 
        disasters and other public health crises, including outbreaks of Ebola 
        and the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas, when polio is eradicated, it will be only the second human disease in 
        history to make such an achievement, the first being smallpox;
Whereas progress toward global polio eradication is a testament to what can be 
        achieved through sustained global commitment and collaboration; and
Whereas, as long as poliovirus circulates anywhere, it remains a threat to 
        children everywhere: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Americas being 
        certified polio-free by the World Health Organization on 
        September 29, 1994;
            (2) commends the work of the Pan American Health 
        Organization (PAHO) and its member states on keeping the 
        Americas wild poliovirus free;
            (3) supports the goals and ideals of the Global Polio 
        Eradication Initiative;
            (4) encourages and supports the international community of 
        governments and nongovernmental organizations in remaining 
        committed to the eradication of polio; and
            (5) encourages the Federal Government to continue 
        committing funding to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
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