[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR CHILDREN

                                 ______


                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give special recognition to 
last week's celebration of the fourth anniversary of the World Summit 
for Children. The World Summit for Children, reportedly the largest 
gathering of heads of state and heads of government up until that time, 
united the world in a commitment to protect the lives of children, 
diminish their suffering, and enhance their futures.
  The Summit calls for a shift in U.S. and global priorities to 
increase assistance toward enhanced health and education of the world's 
children and families.
  Malnutrition and disease suffered by millions of children around the 
world is one of the most paramount obstacles to the social and economic 
development of all nations. Tragically, 35,000 children around the 
world die each day largely from preventable and treatable malnutrition 
and disease. Further, over the past decade, a total of 40 million 
children died from vaccine preventable and treatable diseases. Mr. 
Speaker, we have a global obligation to end this misery and 
devastation. I credit the World Summit for Children for catalyzing that 
global commitment.
  The World Summit for Children set a number of goals which serve as a 
global blueprint for eliminating severe poverty and suffering. Those 
goals include: reducing child and infant deaths by at least one third; 
reducing maternal mortality and child malnutrition by half; providing 
all children access to a basic education; and ensuring universal access 
to safe drinking water, safe sanitation, and family planning education.
  I call on the United States and all other nations of the world to 
continue to take to heart this united commitment to achieve the goals 
set forth by the World Summit for Children. I also urge my colleagues 
to support the World Summit for Children Implementation Act, the bill 
which implements the Plan of Action adopted by the Summit, and directs 
adequate funding levels for key education, health and nutrition 
programs. Mr. Speaker, with strong international solidarity and 
support, we can soon make the goals of the World Summit for Children a 
reality.

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