[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 169 (Thursday, October 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 POLIO

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today is World Polio Day, and I want to 
comment briefly about the funding to support global polio eradication 
efforts in the Senate version of the fiscal year 2020 Department of 
State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, which was reported 
unanimously by the Appropriations Committee on September 26.
  Polio is a highly infectious, crippling, and potentially fatal 
disease. While there is no cure, there are safe and effective vaccines. 
The global strategy to eradicate polio, therefore, focuses on 
preventing infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops 
and the world is polio-free.
  Through the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, the 
United States provides financial support and technical leadership 
around the world to support the eradication strategy. USAID focuses 
specifically on recognizing and raising the importance of identifying 
and reaching mobile populations, cross-border coordination, 
communications, and the need for more women vaccinators and community-
based disease surveillance.
  Since global polio eradication efforts began 30 years ago, when cases 
numbered 350,000 annually, polio has been eliminated in more than 120 
countries and remains endemic in only three--Afghanistan, Nigeria, and 
Pakistan.
  While significant progress has been made, much work remains. Cases of 
polio persist in insecure areas and in countries with porous borders 
and large migratory populations, posing considerable obstacles to 
eradication. However, while there have been real setbacks, and the goal 
posts continue to change, complacency is not an option.
  To that end, the Appropriations Committee has recommended $61 million 
in fiscal year 2020--an increase of $2 million over last year--for 
USAID's polio eradication activities. Increased resources are necessary 
to get over the finish line in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, and 
to demonstrate the continued U.S. commitment to polio eradication. It 
is our hope that this increase will cause other donors to follow our 
example.
  I am not alone in my support for these activities. The State and 
Foreign Operations Subcommittee heard from more than 20 members, 
Republicans and Democrats, requesting funding for global polio 
eradication efforts in fiscal year 2020.
  So while many Senators have advocated for this critical funding, I 
want to be sure that all 100 Senators are aware of these efforts which 
are essential to achieving a polio-free world.

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