WASHINGTON (August 3, 2017) – The global poverty-fighting organization CARE welcomes yesterday’s introduction of the Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2017 (S.1730), a bipartisan bill that will improve how the United States provides lifesaving assistance to women and children around the world.
This legislation, introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), aims to put the United States on track to end preventable maternal and child deaths within a generation by prioritizing evidence-based interventions and improving the effectiveness of current programs.
“In a time of growing global uncertainty, the Reach Every Mother and Child Act reaffirms America’s commitment to being a force for good,” said Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of CARE. “This bill will ensure the U.S. remains a leader in providing lifesaving services to vulnerable women, girls and children around the globe,” said Nunn.
Every day, more than 800 women around the world die from pregnancy-related complications and over 16,000 children under the age of five die from entirely preventable causes, such as malaria and pneumonia. Helping women time and space their pregnancies and providing mothers and babies with adequate vitamins, nutrition and vaccinations are simple steps that can save countless lives around the world.
“Ending preventable maternal and child deaths is an ambitious goal, but one that we can and must achieve,” said Nunn. The Reach Every Mother and Child Act will ensure that the United States can continue its role in providing critical interventions in an efficient and strategic manner, reaching some of the world’s poorest and most marginalized populations and ensuring that every woman and child can survive and thrive.
ABOUT CARE
Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year, CARE worked in 94 countries and reached more than 80 million people around the world. To learn more, please visit www.care.org.
Media Contacts
Nicole Ellis, +1-202-560-1791, nicole.ellis@care.org