[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 160 (Friday, October 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10958-S10959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       GLOBAL CHILD SURVIVAL ACT

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I wish to speak in support of the Global 
Child Survival Act of 2009, which I introduced earlier this week along 
with Senators Corker and Durbin.
  I do so in the hopes that the United States will take these important 
steps towards living up to its obligation as the world's wealthiest 
nation.
  Ours is a moral obligation, of course; reducing mortality rates for 
children in developing areas of the world is within our grasp. We--we 
in this very body--have the power to save millions of innocent and 
vulnerable lives.
  Ours is also a literal obligation. As part of the Millennium 
Development Goals, the United States has made an explicit commitment--
along with 188 other nations--to doing its part to reach this goal.
  To date, we have made significant progress and improved the lives of 
tens of thousands of individuals. But unless we bring to bear the full 
force of our knowledge, our creativity, our compassion, and our 
commitment to implementing effective strategies, we will ultimately 
fail to keep our promise to millions around the world who need us.
  I can't accept that.
  Not when nearly 9 million children under the age of five die every 
year--more than 24,000 every day. That is a number equal to the 
population of South Windsor, CT, dying every day--mostly from 
preventable and treatable causes like pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and 
sepsis.
  Not when nearly 4 million newborns every year die in the first 4 
weeks of life.
  Not when 2.5 million children die each year from diseases for which 
vaccines are readily available.
  Not when it is clear that simply by living up to the commitments we 
have already made, to say nothing of furthering our commitments, we 
could save so many lives so easily.
  This is a moral imperative. But it is also a strategic imperative. 
The state of a country's public health is inextricably linked to its 
security. Poor health systems around the world represent a danger to 
America. Last year, the Director of National Intelligence reported as 
follows:

       Chronic, non-communicable diseases; neglected tropical 
     diseases; maternal and child mortality; malnutrition; 
     sanitation and access to clean water; and availability of 
     basic health-care also affect the US national interest 
     through their impacts on the economies, governments, and 
     militaries of key countries and regions.

  Countries with high child and maternal mortality are inherently less 
stable and more prone to violence. The consequences of failing to live 
up to our commitments under the Millennium Development Goals will be 
felt around the world.
  These goals are not beyond our reach. Already, the increased 
distribution of simply technologies like mosquito nets and basic 
vaccinations has reduced child mortality to its lowest level since we 
began keeping track of the statistics in 1960.
  Simple efforts like distributing bed nets and micronutrients are 
saving 10,000 children a day.
  But our success to date is not an excuse for complacency going 
forward. There is more we can do.
  We could save 1.4 million newborns by encouraging exclusive breast 
feeding for the first 6 months of life.
  We could cut in half newborn mortality and reduce maternal mortality 
simply by providing basic childbirth assistance--things like clean 
equipment and trained attendants.
  If we make simple remedies like oral rehydration therapy for diarrhea 
and antibiotics for respiratory infections available in accordance with 
the Millennium Development Goals, we could cut the child mortality rate 
by two-thirds, saving nearly 6 million lives a year.
  The legislation requires the administration to develop and implement 
a strategy to improve the health of, and reduce mortality rates among, 
newborns and children in developing countries.
  It supports effective, life-saving programs to provide children and 
mothers with basic minerals and vitamins that we daily take for 
granted, and it takes on the scourge of easily treatable and 
preventable diseases such as pneumonia and cholera.
  It empowers young girls by helping them get good educations, and 
protects them from abusive practices such as female genital cutting.
  It establishes a task force to monitor and evaluate the progress of 
government agencies responsible for ensuring that we meet our 
commitment to the Millennium Development Goals.

[[Page S10959]]

  It puts Congress on record as supporting innovative intervention 
strategies--from community based health centers to ready-to-use food 
therapies.
  It authorizes the President to put our money where our intentions 
are.
  Finally, this bill makes an important statement at a pivotal time. We 
are close to reaching a key milestone on the road to achieving our 
Millennium Development Goals in 2015. This legislation will put the 
Senate on record supporting robust child survival health programs as 
the international community redoubles its efforts to achieve these 
goals and prepares for the 2010 G8 and G20 summit in Canada, where 
child survival and maternal health will be a major priority for the 
assembled nations.
  It doesn't cost a lot to save a life. Children in developing 
countries die of diarrhea every day--but the oral rehydration therapy 
needed to treat it costs just 54 cents. Children die of respiratory 
infections--but the treatment is just 71 cents.
  The United States does a lot to combat child mortality. We have 
devoted more than $6 billion to child survival programs over the past 
20 years. It has worked. But we can do more. We have committed to do 
more. We must do more.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort, which has already 
garnered bipartisan support. Millions of lives hang in the balance.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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