[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4873-S4874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 275--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
 UNITED STATES SHOULD RENEW ITS COMMITMENT TO THE WORLD'S MOTHERS AND 
 CHILDREN BY INCREASING FUNDING FOR BASIC CHILD SURVIVAL AND MATERNAL 
     HEALTH PROGRAMS OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL 
                  DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Murray, Ms. 
Landrieu, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Corzine) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 275

       Whereas 10 years ago at the World Summit for Children, the 
     United States joined with 159 other governments to commit the 
     world to supporting efforts that reduce infant and maternal 
     mortality, child malnutrition, and illiteracy;
       Whereas more than 11,000,000 children die before the age of 
     5 (30,500 children every day) due to preventable infectious 
     diseases, including pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, malaria, 
     and malnutrition;
       Whereas more than a quarter of the world's children are 
     malnourished, which hinders their ability to learn and 
     thrive;
       Whereas over 500,000 women who die every year during 
     pregnancy and childbirth could be saved by low-tech, low-cost 
     interventions;
       Whereas research has found that the health of a child and 
     his or her mother is closely intertwined and good maternal 
     health is essential for the survival of both mothers and 
     children;
       Whereas studies have shown that high maternal and child 
     mortality are directly correlated with social and political 
     instability;
       Whereas the number of women of reproductive age in less 
     developed countries will grow by 34 percent in the next 20 
     years, making the need to improve health care services for 
     women and their children even more important;
       Whereas past evidence has shown that programs to improve 
     child survival do work, for instance, in the past 8 years, 
     the United States Agency for International Development child 
     survival programs have significantly contributed to a 10 
     percent reduction in infant mortality rates worldwide;
       Whereas while research has shown that maternal deaths 
     during pregnancy and childbirth could be easily prevented, 
     the number of women who die as mothers has not decreased in 
     10 years due to the lack of additional resources to address 
     the problem;
       Whereas the world has been able to reduce maternal 
     mortality in the developed world, the disparity between 
     developed and developing countries continues to grow;
       Whereas, according to the World Health Organization, the 
     lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications 
     or during childbirth in developing countries is 1 in 48, in 
     developed countries the ratio is 1 in 1,800, and the risk is 
     even greater in some sub-Saharan African countries where 1 in 
     every 14 girls entering adolescence will die from maternal 
     causes before completing her child-bearing years; and
       Whereas according to a World Health Organization report, 
     between $27,000,000,000 and $38,000,000,000 will be needed in 
     2007 and 2015, respectively, to provide the necessary health 
     interventions to those living in low-income countries: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) child survival and maternal health programs supported 
     by the United States Agency for International Development 
     have and will make a difference in the lives of mothers and 
     children in the developing world;
       (2) an increased commitment to improving the health of the 
     world's mothers and children will have a long-term impact on 
     the political, economic, and social stability of developing 
     countries;
       (3) the United States should take a lead in improving the 
     lives of millions of people in the developing world through 
     targeted, effective, and multi-faceted health and development 
     programs; and
       (4) the United States should renew its commitment to the 
     world's mothers and children by increasing funding for basic 
     child survival and maternal health programs of the United 
     States Agency for International Development by at least 
     $500,000,000.

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a 
resolution regarding the Senate's commitment to improving the health of 
mothers and children around the world. I am proud to be joined by 
Senators Feinstein, Murray, Landrieu, Corzine, and Durbin in 
introducing this important legislation and we hope, by introducing this 
resolution, we will illustrate an increased commitment to improving the 
health of the world's mothers and children and show that this 
commitment will have a long-term impact on the political, economic, and 
social stability of developing countries.
  Earlier this month, representatives from over 179 countries met at 
the United Nations Special Session on Children. During this meeting, 
they reviewed the progress made since the 1990 World Summit for 
Children and renewed their pledge to improve the lives of the world's 
children over the next decade.
  The Bush Administration knows that investing in better health 
increased a country's ability to prosper. President Bush proposed 
increased funding for global HIV/AIDS programs at USAID. And I applaud 
these efforts and am pleased to support them in the Senate. But I am 
hoping that this resolution will also break ground for an increase for 
maternal and child health programs. Difficult choices must be made,

[[Page S4874]]

understandably, but funds should not be shifted from one essential 
health program to another. We must find new funding overall for health 
programs, especially maternal health.
  Every year, over 500,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth. 
These lives can be saved by low-tech, low-cost interventions. The 
health of a child and her mother are closely intertwined, and good 
maternal health is essential for the survival of both mother and child. 
In developing countries, a mother's death in childbirth due to 
malnutrition, or inadequate prenatal and delivery care, means almost 
certain death for her newly born child.
  I also know that we must invest in programs that improve the health 
of young children. Every year, nearly 11 million die needlessly before 
their fifth birthday, almost all from diseases easily prevented or 
readily treated. Pennies worth of antibiotics could save three million 
children who will die this year of pneumonia alone.
  This resolution calls for increased funding for basic child survival 
and maternal health programs of at least $500 million dollars. This 
figure is just a small investment when the dividends would be political 
stability, international security, and a renewed hope for the future of 
mothers and children around the world. I call on all my colleagues to 
join me in supporting this important resolution.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today with Senators Gordon 
Smith, Durbin, Murray, Landrieu, and Corzine to submit a resolution 
voicing the Senate's commitment to improving the health of mothers and 
children around the world.
  This resolution illustrates that an increased commitment to improving 
the health of the world's mothers and children will have a long-term 
impact on the political, economic, and social stability of developing 
countries. The stability of our own nation depends significantly on the 
economic and political stability of developing nations. And their 
economic and political stability cannot be realized unless the health 
of their people is improved.
  The resolution we are introducing today calls for increased funding 
for basic child survival and maternal health programs of at least $500 
million dollars. This figure is a small investment when the dividends 
could be political stability, international security, and a renewed 
hope for the future of mothers and children around the world.
  A few weeks ago, representatives from over 179 countries met at the 
United Nations Special Session on Children. During this meeting, they 
reviewed the progress made since the 1990 World Summit for Children and 
renewed their pledge to improve the lives of the world's children over 
the next decade. Overall, the funding for global health, which includes 
HIV/AIDS programs, has increased significantly. Child survival and 
maternal health programs was funded at $345 million in fiscal year 
2001. Funding was cut by $26 million in fiscal year 2002. The Bush 
administration also acknowledges that investing in health care 
increases a country's ability to prosper.
  President Bush made a wise decision when he proposed increased 
funding for global HIV/AIDS programs at USAID for fiscal year 2003. 
However, his budget also recommends a $25 million decrease in support 
for maternal and child health programs. The funding situation is 
getting worse rather than better for child survival and maternal health 
programs. Difficult choices must be made, understandably, but funds 
should not be shifted from one essential health program to pay for 
another. Especially when funding for maternal and child health programs 
have been decreased in previous years.
  At this precarious time in our world, we cannot lose sight of the 
health of women, the primary caregivers who instill values and provide 
hope for their children; the future of every society. Women in 
developing countries put their lives at risk when they become pregnant, 
over 500,000 women die every year during pregnancy and childbirth. The 
health of a child and his or her mother are closely intertwined, and 
good maternal health is essential for the survival of both mother and 
child. In developing countries, a mother's death in childbirth due to 
malnutrition, or inadequate prenatal and delivery care, means almost 
certain death for her newly born child. We must also invest 
substantially more in programs that improve the health of young 
children.
  Every day around the world, over 30,000 children die preventable 
deaths from diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles, and 
malnutrition.
  Additionally, every year, nearly 11 million children die needlessly 
before their fifth birthday--almost all from diseases easily prevented 
or readily treated. Pennies worth of antibiotics, for example, could 
save three million children who will die this year of pneumonia. The 
true tragedy is that we know how to prevent these 11.5 million deaths 
that occur each year. Low-tech, low-cost interventions exist, and with 
additional resources to fund these interventions, could save lives. 
Children must be nourished so that they can thrive and disparities 
between developed and developing countries can be reduced.
  As studies continue to show that high maternal and child mortality 
are directly correlated with social and political instability, we must 
take action to ensure the growth and development of the countries who 
need it most and their people who are dying needlessly.
  The World Health Organization has reported that $27 billion will be 
needed in 2007 to provide necessary health interventions to those 
living in low-income countries. I believe we must do all we can to 
provide funds to improve the health of the world's mothers and 
children. The resolution being introduced proposes an increase in 
funding by at least $500 million for child survival and maternal health 
programs. We need to renew our commitment to mothers and children all 
over the world. The programs supported by USAID have and will make a 
difference in the lives of mothers and children in the developing 
world.
  I strongly believe that an increase in funding is necessary and will 
have a positive long-term impact on the political, economic, and social 
stability of those countries.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

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