[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 164 (Tuesday, September 22, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4671-H4674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    GLOBAL CHILD THRIVE ACT OF 2020

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4864) to develop and implement policies to advance 
early childhood development, to provide assistance for orphans and 
other vulnerable children in developing countries, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4864

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Global Child Thrive Act of 
     2020''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) According to a 2019 report from the United Nations 
     Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation entitled 
     ``Levels & Trends in Child Mortality'', the annual number of 
     deaths among children younger than 15 years of age dropped by 
     56 percent between 1990 and 2018, from approximately 
     14,200,000 to approximately 6,200,000.
       (2) According to a 2016 article published in The Lancet 
     entitled ``Early childhood development: the foundation of 
     sustainable development''--
       (A) an estimated 250,000,000 children in low-income and 
     middle-income countries suffer suboptimal development due to 
     poverty and stunting alone; and
       (B) children who do not meet developmental milestones are 
     expected to lose about 25 percent of their average yearly 
     income once they become adults.
       (3) According to a report from the United Nations 
     Children's Fund (UNICEF), entitled ``The State of the World's 
     Children 2016: A fair chance for every child'', nearly 
     250,000,000 of the world's 650,000,000 primary school age 
     children do not master basic literacy and numeracy.
       (4) According to a 2018 report from the World Health 
     Organization entitled ``Nurturing Care for early childhood 
     development''--
       (A) the environment in which a child grows has a profound 
     impact on future learning, behavior, and health; and
       (B) a country's economic diversity and growth could be 
     improved by investment in early childhood development.
       (5) According to a 2017 UNICEF report entitled ``UNICEF's 
     Programme Guidance for Early Childhood Development'', 
     nurturing care, which is key to early childhood development, 
     consists of a core set of interrelated components, 
     including--
       (A) behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge about caregiving, 
     including health, hygiene care, and feeding;
       (B) stimulation, such as talking, singing, and playing;
       (C) responsiveness, such as early bonding, secure 
     attachment, trust, and sensitive communication; and
       (D) safety, including routines, protection from violence, 
     abuse, neglect, harm, and environmental pollution.
       (6) According to a 2016 report published in The Lancet 
     entitled ``Advancing Early Childhood Development: From 
     Science to Scale''--
       (A) nurturing care from parents, relatives, and other 
     caregivers and services are formative experiences for young 
     children;
       (B) programs promoting nurturing care can improve early 
     childhood development outcomes; and
       (C) children who do not receive nurturing care display 
     negative development outcomes, such as greater sensitivity to 
     the effects of stress or behavioral problems, especially 
     children who do not receive nurturing care before their 
     second birthday.
       (7) According to the ``Advancing Protection and Care for 
     Children in Adversity 2019-2023: A U.S. Government Strategy 
     for International Assistance'', children who live without 
     protective family care, in abusive households, on the 
     streets, or in institutions, or who are trafficked, are 
     participating in armed groups, or are being exploited for 
     their labor are more likely to be exposed to violence, 
     exploitation, abuse, and neglect.
       (8) According to a 2017 UNICEF report entitled ``Early 
     Moments Matter for every child'', violence, abuse, neglect, 
     and traumatic experiences produce toxic stress that limits 
     neural connectivity in developing brains.
       (9) According to a 2014 working paper from the National 
     Scientific Council on the Developing Child at Harvard 
     University entitled ``Excessive Stress Disrupts the 
     Architecture of the Developing Brain''--
       (A) situations that produce toxic stress increase the 
     production of cortisol in a child's brain, which disrupts its 
     healthy development; and
       (B) chronic stress can potentially affect the expression of 
     genes that regulate the stress response across the life 
     course.
       (10) According to a 2018 article in the North Carolina 
     Medical Journal entitled ``Adverse Childhood Experiences 
     (ACEs): An Important Element of a Comprehensive Approach to 
     the Opioid Crisis'', adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are 
     traumatic or stressful experiences, including emotional, 
     physical, or sexual abuse, domestic violence, household 
     substance abuse, household mental illness, parental 
     separation or divorce, and the incarceration of a household 
     family member.
       (11) According to a 2016 report in Development and 
     Psychopathology entitled ``Childhood Adversity and Epigenetic 
     Regulation of Glucocorticoid Signaling Genes: Associations in 
     Children and Adults''--
       (A) children and adults are at risk of developing 
     psychiatric disorders and other medical conditions if they 
     have had an adverse childhood experience; and
       (B) adults who have had numerous ACEs die nearly 20 years 
     earlier, on average, than adults who have not had numerous 
     ACEs.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the United States Government should continue efforts to 
     reduce child mortality rates and increase attention on 
     prevention efforts and early childhood development programs;

[[Page H4672]]

       (2) investments in early childhood development ensure 
     healthy and well-developed future generations that contribute 
     to a country's stability, security and economic prosperity;
       (3) efforts to provide training and education on nurturing 
     care could result in improved early childhood development 
     outcomes and support healthy brain development; and
       (4) integration and cross-sector coordination of early 
     childhood development programs is critical to ensure the 
     efficiency, effectiveness, and continued implementation of 
     such programs.

     SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD OUTCOMES 
                   GLOBALLY.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--Amounts authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out section 135 in chapter 1 of part 1 
     of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et 
     seq.) for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 are 
     authorized to be made available to support early childhood 
     development activities in conjunction with relevant, existing 
     programming, such as water, sanitation and hygiene, maternal 
     and child health, basic education, nutrition and child 
     protection.
       (b) Assistance to Improve Early Childhood Outcomes 
     Globally.--Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:

     ``SEC. 137. ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD OUTCOMES 
                   GLOBALLY.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     `appropriate congressional committees' means--
       ``(A) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
       ``(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       ``(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       ``(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives.
       ``(2) Early childhood development.--The term `early 
     childhood development' means the development and learning of 
     a child younger than 8 years of age, including physical, 
     cognitive, social, and emotional development and approaches 
     to learning that allow a child to reach his or her full 
     developmental potential.
       ``(3) Early childhood development program.--The term `early 
     childhood development program' means a program that ensures 
     that every child has the conditions for healthy growth, 
     nurturing family-based care, development and learning, and 
     protection from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect, 
     which may include--
       ``(A) a health, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene 
     program that serves pregnant women, children younger than 5 
     years of age, and the parents of such children;
       ``(B) a nutrition program, combined with stimulating child 
     development activity;
       ``(C) age appropriate cognitive stimulation, especially for 
     newborns, infants, and toddlers, including an early childhood 
     intervention program for children experiencing at-risk 
     situations, developmental delays, disabilities, and 
     behavioral and mental health conditions;
       ``(D) an early learning (36 months and younger), preschool, 
     and basic education program for children until they reach 8 
     years of age or complete primary school; or
       ``(E) a child protection program, with an emphasis on the 
     promotion of permanent, safe, and nurturing families, rather 
     than placement in residential care or institutions, including 
     for children with disabilities.
       ``(4) Federal departments and agencies.--The term `Federal 
     departments and agencies' means--
       ``(A) the Department of State;
       ``(B) the United States Agency for International 
     Development;
       ``(C) the Department of the Treasury;
       ``(D) the Department of Labor;
       ``(E) the Department of Education;
       ``(F) the Department of Agriculture;
       ``(G) the Department of Defense;
       ``(H) the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     including--
       ``(i) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
       ``(ii) the National Institutes of Health;
       ``(I) the Millennium Challenge Corporation;
       ``(J) the Peace Corps; and
       ``(K) any other department or agency specified by the 
     President for the purposes of this section.
       ``(5) Residential care.--The term `residential care' means 
     care provided in any non-family-based group setting, 
     including orphanages, transit or interim care centers, 
     children's homes, children's villages or cottage complexes, 
     group homes, and boarding schools used primarily for care 
     purposes as an alternative to a children's home.
       ``(b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United 
     States--
       ``(1) to support early childhood development in relevant 
     foreign assistance programs, including by integrating 
     evidence-based, efficient, and effective interventions into 
     relevant strategies and programs, in coordination with 
     partner countries, other donors, international organizations, 
     international financial institutions, local and international 
     nongovernmental organizations, private sector partners, civil 
     society, and faith-based and community-based organizations; 
     and
       ``(2) to encourage partner countries to lead early 
     childhood development initiatives that include incentives for 
     building local capacity for continued implementation and 
     measurable results, by--
       ``(A) scaling up the most effective, evidence-based, 
     national interventions, including for the most vulnerable 
     populations and children with disabilities and developmental 
     delays, with a focus on adaptation to country resources, 
     cultures, and languages;
       ``(B) designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating 
     programs in a manner that enhances their quality, 
     transparency, equity, accountability, efficiency and 
     effectiveness in improving child and family outcomes in 
     partner countries; and
       ``(C) utilizing and expanding innovative public-private 
     financing mechanisms.
       ``(c) Implementation.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the Administrator of the 
     United States Agency for International Development, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of State, shall direct 
     relevant Federal departments and agencies--
       ``(A) to incorporate, to the extent practical and relevant, 
     early childhood development into foreign assistance programs 
     to be carried out during the following 5 fiscal years; and
       ``(B) to promote inclusive early childhood development in 
     partner countries.
       ``(2) Elements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
     Administrator, the Secretary, and the heads of other relevant 
     Federal departments and agencies as appropriate shall--
       ``(A) build on the evidence and priorities outlined in 
     `Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity: A 
     U.S. Government Strategy for International Assistance 2019-
     2023', published in June 2019 (referred to in this section as 
     `APCCA');
       ``(B) to the extent practicable, identify evidence-based 
     strategic priorities, indicators, outcomes, and targets, 
     particularly emphasizing the most vulnerable populations and 
     children with disabilities and developmental delays, to 
     support inclusive early childhood development;
       ``(C) support the design, implementation, and evaluation of 
     pilot projects in partner countries, with the goal of taking 
     such projects to scale;
       ``(D) support inclusive early childhood development within 
     all relevant sector strategies and public laws, including--
       ``(i) the Global Water Strategy required under section 
     136(j);
       ``(ii) the whole-of-government strategy required under 
     section 5 of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 
     9304 note);
       ``(iii) the Basic Education Strategy set forth in section 
     105(c);
       ``(iv) the U.S. Government Global Nutrition Coordination 
     Plan, 2016-2021; and
       ``(v) APCCA; and others as appropriate;
       ``(E) improve coordination with foreign governments and 
     international and regional organizations with respect to 
     official country policies and plans to improve early 
     childhood development, maternal, newborn, and child health 
     and nutrition care, basic education, water, sanitation and 
     hygiene, and child protection plans which promote nurturing, 
     appropriate, protective, and permanent family care, while 
     reducing the percentage of children living in residential 
     care or on the street; and
       ``(F) consult with partner countries, other donors, 
     international organizations, international financial 
     institutions, local and international nongovernmental 
     organizations, private sector partners and faith-based and 
     community-based organizations, as appropriate.
       ``(d) Annual Report on the Implementation of the 
     Strategy.--The Special Advisor for Children in Adversity 
     shall include, in the annual report required under section 5 
     of the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children 
     in Developing Countries Act of 2005 (22 U.S.C. 2152g), which 
     shall be submitted to the appropriate congressional 
     committees and made publicly available, a description of--
       ``(1) the progress made toward integrating early childhood 
     development interventions into relevant strategies and 
     programs;
       ``(2) the efforts made by relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies to implement subsection (c), with a particular focus 
     on the activities described in such subsection;
       ``(3) the progress achieved during the reporting period 
     toward meeting the goals, objectives, benchmarks, described 
     in subsection (c); and
       ``(4) the progress achieved during the reporting period 
     toward meeting the goals, objectives, benchmarks, and 
     timeframes described in subsection (c) at the program level, 
     along with specific challenges or gaps that may require 
     shifts in targeting or financing in the following fiscal 
     year.
       ``(e) Interagency Task Force.--The Special Advisor for 
     Assistance to Orphans and Vulnerable Children should 
     regularly convene an interagency task force, to coordinate--
       ``(1) intergovernmental and interagency monitoring, 
     evaluation, and reporting of the activities carried out 
     pursuant to this section;
       ``(2) early childhood development initiatives that include 
     children with a variety of needs and circumstances; and
       ``(3) United States Government early childhood development 
     programs, strategies, and partnerships across relevant 
     Federal departments and agencies.''.

[[Page H4673]]

  


     SEC. 5. SPECIAL ADVISOR FOR ASSISTANCE TO ORPHANS AND 
                   VULNERABLE CHILDREN.

       Section 135(e)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2152f(e)(2)) is amended--
       (1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
       ``(A) Coordinate assistance to orphans and other vulnerable 
     children among the relevant Executive branch agencies and 
     officials.''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the various offices, 
     bureaus, and field missions within the United States Agency 
     for International Development'' and inserting ``the relevant 
     Executive branch agencies and officials''.

     SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in the amendments made by this Act may be construed 
     to restrict or abrogate any other authorization for United 
     States Agency for International Development activities or 
     programs.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Castro) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).


                             General Leave

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include in the Record extraneous material on H.R. 4864.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As I begin, I express deep gratitude to Chairman Engel for his strong 
and steady leadership on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and 
specifically, with respect to this bill, for working with me to move 
important legislation through the committee and the Congress.
  I also thank Representative Brian Fitzpatrick for working with me on 
this legislation that enjoys wide bipartisan support in both the House 
and the Senate.
  Finally, I recognize USAID as the country's lead agency to provide 
humanitarian assistance and lead in international development. The 
tireless efforts of its staff helped millions of vulnerable people 
every year and advanced core United States interests.
  The Global Child Thrive Act shows that the leadership in Congress is 
concerned about future generations in developing countries, and we are 
concerned that they be empowered to survive and succeed.
  I would like to speak to the importance of this bill that we are 
considering here today in the House of Representatives.
  Over 250 million children worldwide are at risk of stunted growth and 
damage to their brains due to the long-lasting impacts of poverty, 
conflict, and displacement. Research indicates that poor health, 
stress, and lack of learning impairs a child's growth and development, 
with lifelong negative effects.
  The Global Child Thrive Act is designed to reduce the devastating 
effects of poverty through early childhood development programming. 
Early childhood development, or ECD, provides for the care and 
nurturing that restores a child's prospects for success in the future. 
ECD interventions build a brain architecture that is necessary for 
growth through reading, singing, play activities with shape and color, 
and responsive interaction.
  The benefits of ECD are particularly critical during this coronavirus 
pandemic when children face severe disruptions in development. Hundreds 
of thousands of children have already lost a family member, and 
quarantines and school closures have led to isolation and increased 
child protection concerns.
  With so much at stake, we need to take action now.
  This bill is not just my bill or a Democratic bill, but a bipartisan 
bill that has garnered widespread support because saving children's 
lives is not a partisan measure but a human imperative.
  The Global Child Thrive Act shows that the United States is there for 
the world's most vulnerable and precious possession, its children. It 
also shows that we are serious about combating poverty as one of the 
greatest scourges that affects human dignity.
  This leadership is critical because we, as a nation, need to 
demonstrate to the world that we are still the North Star of freedom, 
democracy, and human rights.
  We need to show that the world can trust and follow our lead in 
welcoming those seeking refuge and helping marginalized populations 
around the world who just want the chance not only to survive but to 
thrive.
  I have spoken about the need to build up what I call an 
infrastructure of diplomacy. The work of USAID and international 
development, and our partnerships with NGOs that implement these 
programs, is an important component of that infrastructure that enables 
our Nation's leadership on the world's stage.
  Foreign affairs issues need the attention of our Nation because the 
truth is, foreign affairs touches all aspects of our lives, including 
national security, personal health, and access to essential goods. It 
determines how we trust and look at the goodness of our neighbors, not 
only across borders but across our own streets.
  This is a good measure. It has bipartisan support, and I hope that my 
colleagues will support it.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Castro and Representative 
Fitzpatrick for their leading efforts on the Global Child Thrive Act, 
which we are considering here today.
  Although children have not faced as many direct health effects from 
COVID-19, the follow-on effects of the pandemic endanger the welfare of 
countless vulnerable children around the world. Over the summer, the 
U.N. estimated that an additional 10,000 children are dying every month 
due to hunger caused by COVID-19.
  This pandemic is also reversing hard-fought gains we have made in 
combating other diseases, increasing access to education, and reducing 
extreme poverty.
  This legislation supports efforts to integrate early childhood 
development into existing interventions on nutrition, education, 
maternal health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
  It also expands the role of the Special Advisor for Assistance to 
Orphans and Vulnerable Children in coordinating U.S. assistance and 
improving interagency cooperation.
  This bill, in short, Madam Speaker, protects the most vulnerable in 
our society, our children, from hunger and disease, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), the coauthor of the bill. An esteemed 
member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the gentleman, again, 
working with my good friend, Congressman Castro, has brought this 
measure forward today.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McCaul for 
yielding me time to speak on the Global Child Thrive Act.
  Madam Speaker, as a lifelong FBI special agent, one of my greatest 
concerns has always been the welfare of children, not just children in 
the United States, but children across the globe.
  Last year, as the ranking member indicated, I partnered with my 
colleague, Congressman Castro, to introduce H.R. 4864, the Global Child 
Thrive Act. This legislation was written to support young children and 
their families across the globe.
  Our bill has wide bipartisan and bicameral support. Our bill passed 
unanimously out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in December. We 
have over 60 bipartisan cosponsors. It is also supported by over 50 
civil society groups working in child and international development.
  Madam Speaker, I want to particularly thank Catholic Relief Services, 
whose constituent advocates in my home district have championed these 
issues.
  Madam Speaker, the Global Child Thrive Act would update our foreign

[[Page H4674]]

aid programs to increase their effectiveness and multiply developmental 
outcomes for young children. Currently, less than 1 percent of our U.S. 
budget goes towards international aid programs, so it is critical that 
those limited dollars do as much good as possible.
  Today, the need for the enactment of our bill into law is more 
pressing than ever, as experts agree that the secondary impacts of 
COVID-19, such as increased food insecurity, malnutrition, and 
violence, will fall most heavily on vulnerable children. The Global 
Child Thrive Act will support the most vulnerable children to withstand 
the secondary impacts of the coronavirus, as well as future deadly 
pandemics.
  Moreover, this act is crucial, since children around the globe are 
continuously affected by widespread poverty and the lack of adequate 
childcare. According to UNICEF, extreme poverty in low- and middle-
income countries is the reason why 250 million children 5 years old and 
younger may not achieve their full developmental potential.
  Moreover, UNICEF reports that at least ``75 million children under 
age five live in areas affected by conflict.'' Conflict increases a 
child's ``risk of toxic stress'' and ``can inhibit brain cell 
connections.''
  Finally, Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Castro for his 
bipartisanship and his hard work on this legislation. I also thank 
Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul, all fine colleagues of mine, 
for their cooperation and support on our legislation.
  As we all know, Madam Speaker, focusing on children is focusing on 
our future, and I urge all of my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, 
to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4864, the Global Child Thrive Act.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
I am prepared to close.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend, Brian Fitzpatrick, for his 
work in the FBI. I thought it was very compelling, the testimony about 
putting children's lives as the highest priority as he served as a very 
distinguished special agent in the Bureau and now serves in this 
Congress. I think Georgetown University ranked him as the most 
bipartisan Member of this body, of the House. I take pride in being on 
the top of the list, but Mr. Fitzpatrick's service in this House has 
been to issues of importance to Americans.
  Most Americans don't want us bickering. Most Americans want us 
working across the aisle to get good things done for the people of this 
country. The gentleman has demonstrated that every day I have witnessed 
him in office in this Congress and since he has served in office.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Castro for his leadership.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, being a Catholic myself, I do want to thank 
Catholic Relief Services and the development community for their work 
on this bill, working so hard to get to this point where we are now on 
the floor of the House of Representatives in the United States Congress 
getting ready to pass such an important bill that will save so many 
children's lives.

  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  It is now up to us to pass this bill that is before us today and to 
send a strong signal to the Senate that passing the Global Child Thrive 
Act into law is urgent.
  I also, Madam Speaker, as folks have said, want to thank Catholic 
Relief Services for all of their work and the work of their members and 
different chapters throughout the country in helping to shepherd this 
bill.
  As the world toils through a devastating pandemic, now more than 
ever, we must keep child welfare and the elimination of poverty front 
and center if we are to lead our country and the world to a stronger, 
healthier, and more resilient condition. We must stand united and be 
the acting conscience of the country. It is our job to do so.
  I, therefore, Madam Speaker, urge my colleagues in the House to 
support this measure so we can get it to the President's desk and have 
it signed into law.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4864, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________