Resolution in Support of the Global Partnership for Education

Floor Speech

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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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