[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 10, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1606-S1607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. 
        Durbin):
  S. 1547. A bill to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to 
implement policies to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child 
deaths globally; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Reach 
Every Mother and Child Act of 2023, known as the Reach Act. This 
bipartisan legislation would strengthen the United States' efforts to 
end preventable deaths of mothers, newborns, and young children in 
developing countries by 2030. I want to thank Senator Coons for his 
partnership on this important bill, and I also appreciate the 
cosponsorship of Senator Durbin and Senator Wicker.
  Senator Coons and I have led efforts to ensure robust funding for the 
U.S. Agency for International Development's maternal and child health 
programming. These programs have been the backbone of the United 
States'' commitment to helping to end preventable child and maternal 
deaths globally.
  Due in part to American leadership and generosity, many lives have 
already been saved. While progress has been made in reducing maternal 
mortality rates, recent data suggest that these improvements are 
slowing. Far too many mothers, newborns, and young children under the 
age 5 continue to succumb to disease and malnutrition that could easily 
be prevented.
  Nearly 300,000 women die annually from causes related to pregnancy 
and childbirth, with 99 percent of maternal deaths occurring in 
developing nations. In addition, a significant proportion of the deaths 
of children under the age of 5 occur in the first 28 days after birth, 
with newborns accounting for nearly 50 percent of all under 5 deaths. 
In 2021, 5 million children under the age of 5 died from mainly 
preventable and treatable diseases.
  The Reach Act aims to help these mothers and children with simple, 
proven, costeffective interventions that we know will help them 
survive. A concentrated effort could end preventable maternal and child 
deaths worldwide by the year 2030, but continued U.S. leadership and 
support from the international community are critical to achieve this 
goal.
  To advance this cause, our bill would require the implementation of a 
strategy focused on bringing to scale the highest impact, evidence-
based interventions, with a focus on country and

[[Page S1607]]

community ownership. These interventions would be specific to each 
country's needs and include support for the most vulnerable 
populations. We do not have to guess what interventions will work--the 
reality is that thousands of children die each day of conditions we 
know how to treat.
  These lifesaving interventions include clean birthing practices, 
vaccines, nutritional supplements, handwashing with soap, and other 
basic needs that remain elusive for far too many women and children in 
developing countries. This must change.
  Our bill would require the establishment of a Maternal and Child 
Survival Coordinator at 1USAID who would focus on implementing the 5-
year strategy and verifying that the most effective interventions are 
being scaled up in key countries. The Coordinator would identify and 
promote the most effective interventions to end preventable maternal 
and child deaths globally, which would improve the efficiency of the 
programs operating across several Agencies.
  To promote transparency and greater accountability, our bill would 
also require detailed public reporting on progress toward implementing 
the strategy.
  The Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations 
recently heard testimony from USAID Administrator Samantha Power. 
During that hearing, asked Administrator Power about the Reach Act and 
emphasized the critical reforms needed to increase the success and 
impact of USAID's maternal and child survival programs.
  Administrator Power testified to sharing the goals that motivate this 
important legislation.
  She agreed about the importance of resourcing key U.S. investments, 
scaling them up, and getting them to mothers and children living in 
remote areas.
  Other bipartisan initiatives, such as the successful President's 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which was started by 
President George W. Bush, demonstrate that results-driven interventions 
can turn the tide for global health challenges. Applying lessons 
learned from past initiatives, our bill would provide the focus and 
tools necessary to accelerate progress toward ending preventable 
maternal and child deaths.
  I urge my colleagues to join Senator Coons, Senator Durbin, Senator 
Wicker, and me in supporting this legislation that will save the lives 
of mothers and children around the world.

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