[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 2021

  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the 
Global Partnership for Education, the largest global fund solely 
dedicated to transforming education in lower-income countries.
  Access to quality education reduces poverty, advances economic 
prosperity, improves peace and security, and strengthens public health. 
As we now know too well, COVID-19 has compounded the barriers that keep 
kids from being educated both here at home and around the world.
  International basic education programs, including GPE, increase 
equitable access to education, providing children with foundational 
reading, math, social, and emotional skills.
  Access to education is severely impacted by emergencies. 1 in 3 
children and young people are out of school in countries affected by 
conflict or disaster, and half of school-age refugee children are out 
of school. And, of course, 1.6 billion children in more than 190 
countries were impacted by the closure of educational institutions at 
the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. GPE works in the countries with the 
greatest need, targets the hardest to reach children, and can respond 
quickly to emergencies.
  I thank my colleagues, Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick and Mike 
Quigley, who have joined me to introduce this important resolution. I 
urge all of my colleagues to cosponsor this resolution, which affirms 
the leadership and commitment of the U.S. to improving access to 
quality, inclusive public education; calls for multi-year pledges from 
the U.S. to allow GPE to maximize its impact in supporting governments 
to provide this education; and calls on the State Department and USAID 
to promote children and youth attending schools around the world.
  Madam Speaker, we know the value and impact quality education can 
make on one's dignity, wellbeing, and livelihood. This resolution 
affirms that every child deserves to reach their fullest potential.

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