U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on Dec. 14 cosponsored a bipartisan resolution that calls on the United States to increase support for and work with international partners — including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Education Cannot Wait, and the Global Partnership for Education — to address the education and health needs of every child as the world recovers and rebuilds from the ongoing pandemic.
House Resolution (H.Res.) 853, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), also urges the U.S. State Department, the United States Agency for International Development, and other agencies to work with UNICEF and other partners to reimagine basic education programs in foreign assistance, according to the text of the resolution, and to ensure access across childhood from the earliest years through adolescence to early childhood interventions, basic education services, modern tools and learning platforms, including online and youth skills-building programs that lead to career opportunities.
“Underserved youth cannot be left out of the equation as the world begins to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “I am proud to join Rep. Jacobs in urging the United States to increase support to organizations like UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait, and the Global Partnership for Education, who are our allies in the mission to ensure that every child has access to educational opportunities and vital health care services.”
Additionally, the non-binding H.Res. 853 urges the U.S. government to reinforce its diplomatic efforts with the international community to increase global support for the pandemic response in low- and middle-income countries, especially to promote greater vaccine equity across sub-Saharan Africa, the text says, and to support Giga, a global initiative to connect every school to the internet and every young person to educational resources and opportunities.
The resolution received endorsements from UNICEF-USA, the Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait, the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, and the Global Campaign for Education-U.S.
“The last two years have been devastating for the world, and we must do everything we can to ensure the needs of children are prioritized as we rebuild from the pandemic,” said Rep. Jacobs. “I am proud to lead this resolution with Congressman Fitzpatrick to shine a light on the need to put children at the forefront of global recovery efforts and to raise greater awareness of their needs in Congress.”