[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 206 (Monday, December 7, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H6869-H6872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINED UNITED STATES LEADERSHIP TO
ACCELERATING GLOBAL PROGRESS AGAINST MATERNAL AND CHILD MALNUTRITION
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 189) recognizing the importance of sustained United
States leadership to accelerating global progress against maternal and
child malnutrition and supporting United States Agency for
International Development's commitment to global nutrition through its
multi-sectoral nutrition strategy, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 189
Whereas 151 million children under the age of 5 in the
world--22 percent--are stunted, or chronically
undernourished, and in countries highly affected by
undernutrition, stunting affects 1 in every 3 children;
Whereas wasting, or acute malnutrition, continues to
threaten the lives of an estimated 7.5 percent or nearly 51
million children under the age of 5 globally, and more than
38 million children under the age of 5 are overweight;
Whereas malnutrition directly or indirectly causes 45
percent of all deaths--2.6 million--of children under age 5
annually and puts those who survive at risk of impaired brain
development, lower IQ, weakened immune systems, and greater
risk of serious diseases;
Whereas undernourished adolescent girls have impaired
cognitive ability and productivity and their future babies
are at increased risk for low birth weight and death;
Whereas iron deficiency anemia, associated with
undernutrition, contributes to 1 in 5 maternal deaths (or 20
percent of maternal mortality);
Whereas poor maternal nutrition contributes to poor fetal
development and low birth weight, and an estimated 60 to 80
percent of neonatal deaths occur in low birth weight babies;
Whereas a large body of scientific evidence supports the
benefits of improved breastfeeding practices on the short-
term and long-term health and development of children and
their mothers;
Whereas a growing evidence base demonstrates that reducing
maternal and child malnutrition, especially in the critical
1,000 days between pregnancy and age 2, is imperative to
ending preventable maternal and child deaths, improving
cognitive and physical development, and strengthening
children's immune systems to bolster resistance to disease;
Whereas leading economists and Nobel Laureates have
identified improving child nutrition as the most cost-
effective way to enhance global health and development;
Whereas the United States Agency for International
Development's Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy's approach
addresses both direct and underlying causes of malnutrition,
and its focus on linking humanitarian assistance with
development programming helps build resilience to shocks in
vulnerable communities;
Whereas malnutrition is a universal issue that no country
in the world can afford to overlook, and countries with high
burdens of malnutrition, including stunting, wasting, anemia,
and micronutrient deficiency, will struggle to achieve
sustainable and equitable economic growth;
Whereas the United States plays a lead role supporting the
goals of Scaling Up Nutrition, a global movement of 60
countries to prioritize nutrition, particularly during the
1,000-day window of opportunity between a mother's pregnancy
and her child's second birthday, through effective policy and
dedicated national resources; and
Whereas the world has reduced undernutrition since 1990,
yet global progress has been too slow to ensure each child
can attain a full and prosperous future regardless of where
he or she was born and at the current pace, the global
community will not reach its global nutrition targets set for
2025: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) reaffirms that--
(A) food security and good nutrition in early childhood
saves lives and lays the foundation for healthy physical and
cognitive growth and development;
(B) the potential benefit of good nutrition is life-long
and influences a child's entire future, with entire
communities and nations ultimately prospering;
(C) the right nutrition helps children learn, helps protect
them from illness, increases their productivity and earning
potential, and supports the well-being and health of their
future offspring; and
(D) women who are well-nourished and do not suffer from
anemia are less likely to die in childbirth and to give birth
to children who are malnourished, breaking the
intergenerational cycle of malnutrition;
(2) reaffirms that--
(A) good nutrition is also an economic issue central to
reducing poverty and putting countries on path to economic
development;
(B) adults who were well-nourished as children earn up to
46 percent more than those who were malnourished;
(C) countries with a very high burden of early childhood
malnutrition have lower economic growth rates due to lost
income and productivity; and
(D) the cost to nations is substantial with Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) losses estimated between 3 to 16 percent with
overall potential impacts to the global economy as high as
$3.5 trillion per year;
(3) supports United States leadership in helping developing
countries meet the nutritional needs of women and children,
and supports continued efforts;
(4) supports United States Agency for International
Development's (USAID) recognition that nutrition
interventions are among the lifesaving interventions that can
have the greatest impact in ending preventable child and
maternal deaths;
(5) supports the use of the USAID Multi-Sectoral Nutrition
Strategy, the United States Government Global Nutrition
Coordination Plan, and the Global Food Security Strategy as
platforms through which to help reach global nutrition
targets by 2025, as agreed to at the World Health Assembly in
2012;
(6) acknowledges the vision and goals of the Scaling Up
Nutrition movement as a
[[Page H6870]]
global partnership to support country-led efforts to improve
maternal and child nutrition involving governments, civil
society, the United Nations, donors, businesses, and
researchers;
(7) acknowledges that progress against global malnutrition
must be accelerated using innovative, scaled-up approaches to
improve the systems that affect the nutritional status of
women and children; and
(8) calls for transformative efforts across sectors at
USAID--
(A) to accelerate progress to end maternal and child
malnutrition, including through Country Development
Cooperation Strategies that align with country's national
nutrition plans; and
(B) to include improved and clear methods to track
nutrition funding and outcomes across all United States
Government global nutrition programs, especially those in
global health, food security, agriculture, basic education,
food assistance, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H. Res. 189.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, malnutrition is a devastating crisis across the world
with far-reaching effects. People cannot lead full, healthy, productive
lives without access to food and proper nutrition, especially in the
early stages of life. The impacts of malnutrition extend from health
challenges like child stunting and infant mortality to reduced economic
productivity that can keep communities and countries from achieving
greater prosperity.
{time} 1245
That is why we cannot afford to have our international development
programs look at malnutrition as an isolated problem. To tackle this
crisis, particularly as we continue to grapple with the coronavirus
pandemic, we also have to address related economic, educational,
health, and social issues.
This good resolution, authored by Representative Marshall, outlines
the importance of continued American leadership in the fight against
global malnutrition and underscores the significance of USAID's work on
this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support it, and I urge my colleagues to
do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, all of us in this Chamber probably grew up with a mother
telling us to eat our vegetables. As a father myself, I have very
strong memories of chasing several of my children around the house,
trying to get healthy food into their mouths. That is because, as we
know, a child's growth and development is severely impacted when they
don't have proper nutrition.
Unfortunately, today, over 151 million children under the age of 5--
babies, really--suffer from chronic malnutrition. That is truly a
shocking and disturbing number. Over the last three decades, there has
been important progress to reduce chronic malnutrition around the
world, but, clearly, much more must be done.
That is why I am proud to be here today to offer my support for this
resolution, introduced by the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall),
which calls for increased efforts to end maternal and child
malnutrition.
The United States has always been a leader when it comes to
addressing maternal and child malnutrition. We must continue our
leadership role in this important endeavor.
The USAID multi-sectoral nutrition strategy is an important effort to
ensure that nutrition interventions are effective in reaching the most
vulnerable populations.
I want to thank the chairman, and I want to thank my colleagues,
Representatives Marshall and McGovern, for leading this important
resolution and bringing this to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, malnutrition around the world devastates the lives of
millions of people and prevents communities from prospering. This
problem has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, putting years of
work on nutrition at risk.
It is critical that the United States work to make even greater
progress on this major humanitarian and developmental challenge. This
resolution reaffirms the importance of American leadership in that
mission.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support it, and I urge my colleagues to
do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Kansas (Mr. Marshall), the sponsor of this resolution.
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, as a physician and obstetrician, I
represent one of the largest agriculture-producing districts in the
country. I am proud to help lead H. Res. 189, a critical resolution
addressing the health and development of children around the world and
a role the United States must continue to play to improve maternal and
child nutrition.
Every year, malnutrition accounts for half of all deaths among
children under the age of 5. Nearly a quarter of the world's children
are stunted, both physically and mentally, due to malnutrition. This
leads to long-term poor health and impaired brain development.
Mr. Speaker, food is medicine. The 1,000 days stretching from
conception, from the start of a mother's pregnancy, until the child
turns 2, is critical to increasing child survival, strengthening the
immune system to bolster disease resistance, and improving the child's
ability to grow, learn, and live to their fullest potential.
Investments that focus on the first year of a child's life are among
the best and most cost-effective investments that can be made to help
achieve lasting progress in global health, economic prosperity, and
development.
The USDA and the USAID oversee America's longstanding commitment to
reducing hunger and improving global food security. Our international
feeding programs originated in my home State of Kansas, in Cheyenne
County, when a group of farmers presented the idea of distributing
food, rather than just funding, to countries to help their populations
thrive.
Programs like the USAID's Food for Peace and USDA's McGovern-Dole
Food for Education provide basic humanitarian aid to families, women,
and children worldwide and help our farmers and ranchers reach more
markets for the high-quality commodities they produce. The U.S. exports
about $140 billion worth of agricultural products each year, thanks to
the hard work of farmers and their partnership with USDA and USAID.
Not only are U.S. investments in nutrition efficient and effective,
but U.S. nutrition programs also leverage other investments in foreign
assistance, increasing the impact on improving health globally, which
can lead to countries lessening their dependence on foreign aid and
thriving economically.
However, the COVID-19 outbreak threatens achievements made by many
USDA and USAID programs due to restrictions to supply chains that are
stressing food markets and placing people suffering from hunger on the
brink of starvation.
The cost of malnutrition to the global economy is estimated to be
$3.5 trillion in healthcare costs and lost productivity every year, and
COVID-19 is only making it more challenging to address.
Fortunately, help is on the way. This week, we hope the FDA will
approve and review the emergency use authorization for vaccine
candidates. Meanwhile, we have all got work to do.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the committee and the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my good friend, and our 154 cosponsors
for bringing our resolution to the House floor.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the author of this important resolution
and the co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
[[Page H6871]]
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank Mr.
Engel for his incredible service, not only to this Nation, but to the
world.
Mr. Engel has been a champion for human rights, for diplomacy, and
for all things good. This institution is a better place because he has
served here. There are countless people around the world who are safe
because of his advocacy on their behalf when they have been unjustly
imprisoned or targeted unjustly. I want him to know how much I admire
him and how much I appreciate his service.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 189, introduced by
my good friend and colleague, Congressman Roger Marshall, and me, in
support of U.S. leadership and USAID's commitment to advancing global
maternal and child nutrition.
I am very proud that this bill has 154 cosponsors, which is a strong
statement of support for continuing U.S. leadership.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate
Congressman Marshall on moving on to the Senate next year. I hope we
will continue our bipartisan partnership to ending hunger here at home
and around the world. He has been a valuable member of the House Hunger
Caucus. In case he doesn't already know it, there is a similar caucus
over in the Senate.
Mr. Speaker, the world has made impressive progress on improving
nutrition in the past decade, thanks in part to strong U.S. leadership
and a bipartisan commitment here in Congress to address these issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse all of the world's hard-won
nutrition gains and leave an entire generation in danger of being
seriously mentally, emotionally, and physically impaired.
In a world where we produce enough food to feed everyone, 821 million
people, 1 in 9, still go to bed on an empty stomach each night. Even
more, one in three, suffer from some form of malnutrition. Based on
current trends, this number is set to rise to one in every two by 2025.
Eradicating hunger and malnutrition is surely one of the great
challenges of our time. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world
risks backsliding even more on nutrition.
In July, The Lancet published an article with estimates showing that
wasting among malnourished children could rise by 14.3 percent if we do
not act now. This would translate to an estimated additional 6.7
million wasted children during the first 12 months of the pandemic and
more than 10,000 additional child deaths per month during this same
period.
According to the World Health Organization, 52 percent of the world's
nations have reported disruptions in health and nutrition services for
sick and malnourished children.
But there is always hope, Mr. Speaker, to change the course of these
trends.
We are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.N. Decade of
Action on Nutrition, 2016 to 2025. This gives us a historic opportunity
to adapt, reimagine, and invest more in the fight against child and
maternal malnutrition.
H. Res. 189 recognizes the importance of these challenges and the
need for continued U.S. leadership. The resolution urges USAID to fully
implement the multi-sectoral nutrition strategy to improve global
nutrition.
I am sure that I speak for all of my colleagues on both sides of the
aisle that we all support strengthening U.S. efforts to protect women
and children from malnutrition and related deaths.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 189 on
global nutrition.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to thank organizations like
Bread for the World, the Eleanor Crook Foundation, Catholic Relief
Services, and many others around the world. These are the people who
implement and advocate for these critical nutrition interventions.
As the world grapples with the impact of COVID-19, it is more
important than ever that we ramp up our fight to end chronic
malnutrition.
I have been proud to support this critical work, including advocating
for nutrition programs in annual appropriations bills. I look forward
to continuing to support these efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 189 is a very important resolution. I
support it and encourage my colleagues to do so as well. I think that
both sides of the aisle understand how important this is, and it is
good to see us working together.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior Member of the House of
Representatives and the founding chair of the Congressional Children's
Caucus, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan resolution, H. Res.
189, ``Recognizing the importance of sustained United States leadership
to accelerating global progress against maternal and child malnutrition
and supporting United States Agency for International Development's
commitment to global nutrition through its multisectoral nutrition
strategy.''
First and foremost, I would like to recognize and thank Congressmen
Roger Marshall and Jim McGovern for their leadership on this vital
resolution.
By passing H. Res. 189 today, we are committing ourselves to
improving the health of women and children in impoverished areas,
helping prevent illness, and improving economic conditions in poorer
countries.
With that in mind, I wish to commend the U.S. Agency for
International Development's (USAID) maternal and child nutrition
programs that seek to improve health outcomes by implementing
nutrition-specific interventions, or those that address the immediate,
health-related determinants of undernutrition.
These critical investments are closely coordinated with USAID's
nutrition-sensitive interventions that address underlying or systemic
causes of inadequate nutrition, such as education, water, sanitation,
and hygiene, agriculture, as well as the healthy timing and spacing of
pregnancy.
It is no secret that poverty amplifies the risk of, and risks from,
malnutrition.
People who are poor are more likely to be affected by different forms
of malnutrition.
Furthermore, malnutrition increases health care costs, reduces
productivity, and slows economic growth, which can perpetuate a cycle
of poverty and ill-health.
Malnutrition can have several negative and deadly effects such as
decreased cognitive development in newborns, greater vulnerability to
disease and other issues.
Women, infants, children, and adolescents are at particular risk of
malnutrition.
Optimizing nutrition early in life, especially from the 1,000 days
from conception to a child's second birthday ensures the best possible
start in life, with long-term benefits.
For example, adults who were not malnourished as children earn nearly
46 percent more than their counterparts, as stated in the resolution.
According to UNICEF, nearly half of all deaths in children under 5
are attributable to undernutrition.
Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I stood here today without
addressing the global impact of COVID-19 on malnutrition.
Today, the significant and life-altering shocks created by the
pandemic and the necessary containment measures have meant that more
vulnerable children are facing malnourishment, as efforts to mitigate
the transmission of COVID-19 have resulted in the disruption of food
systems, thereby upending health and nutrition services, devastating
livelihoods, as well as threatening food security.
As of July 2020, an estimated 370 million children were missing
school meals, which have been directly tied to improving students'
health and nutrition while also helping them develop good eating
habits.
Recent estimates from UNICEF indicate that in addition to the 690
million undernourished people in 2019, at least another 83 million
people, and possibly as many as 132 million, may go hungry in 2020.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution is needed now more than ever, and I am
proud to be here and voice my support for it.
I urge all Members on both sides of the aisle to join me in voting
for H. Res. 189, ``Recognizing the importance of sustained United
States leadership to accelerating global progress against maternal and
child malnutrition and supporting United States Agency for
International Development's commitment to global nutrition through its
multi-sectoral nutrition strategy.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 189, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``A resolution
[[Page H6872]]
supporting sustained United States leadership to accelerating global
progress against maternal and child malnutrition and supporting United
States Agency for International Development's commitment to global
nutrition through its multi-sectoral nutrition strategy.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________