U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) praised the Dec. 18 committee passage of the bipartisan, bicameral Global Child Thrive Act of 2019, which he introduced in October to support early childhood development around the world.
“I applaud my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee for marking up the Global Child Thrive Act today and passing it unanimously,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “I encourage House leadership to bring this legislation to the floor and pass it with the same urgency that we did in committee.”
Rep. Fitzpatrick is the lead original cosponsor of H.R. 4864 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) to develop and implement policies to advance early childhood development and to provide assistance for orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries, according to the text of the bill.
The same-named S. 2715 was introduced by U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Chris Coons (D-DE) in their chamber.
“As an FBI 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,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, who is co-chair of the International Basic Education Caucus and a commissioner on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission.
If enacted, the measure would direct the U.S. Agency for International Development to engage relevant executive agencies to incorporate early childhood development into current programming over the next five years; would identify evidence-based strategic priorities, indicators, outcomes, and targets to support inclusive early childhood development; and would support the design, implementation and evaluation of pilot projects in partner countries, with the goal of taking them to scale, among other provisions.
“It is of the utmost importance that we help other countries help their children,” the congressman said. “As we all know, focusing on children is focusing on our future.”