{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-leads-bipartisan-reauthorization-of-global-child-thrive-act", "Fitzpatrick Leads Bipartisan Reauthorization of Global Child Thrive Act", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) today led a bipartisan coalition\u2014including Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rich McCormick (GA-07), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02)\u2014in introducing the Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act of 2025, legislation that strengthens the United States\u2019 commitment to advancing early childhood development across U.S. foreign assistance programs.\n\nFitzpatrick played a key role in advancing the original Global Child Thrive Act of 2020\u2014 signed into law through the FY21 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act)\u2014 which for the first time required U.S. foreign assistance to prioritize early childhood development.\n\n\u201cOur of our greatest responsibilities in public service is to ensure every child begins life with a strong and stable foundation. I was proud to help champion the landmark Global Child Thrive Act in 2021, which for the first time placed early childhood development at the center of our foreign assistance strategy. Reauthorizing this critical program strengthens that commitment\u2014restoring the leadership needed to coordinate support for orphans and vulnerable children and updating the guidelines that drive this work across our agencies. Every child deserves the chance to thrive, and our policies must continue to reflect that fundamental truth,\u201d said Fitzpatrick.\n\n\u201cReauthorizing the Global Child Thrive Act of 2020 means continuing to support the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional health of vulnerable children and their families,\u201d said Castro. \u201cThe early years of childhood are crucial, and U.S. foreign assistance programs provide critical support. Thank you to my colleagues for their efforts in supporting these important policies.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to cosponsor the reauthorization of the Global Child Thrive Act. This initiative enhances America's leadership on the global stage by ensuring that vulnerable children receive the support they need to grow and succeed,\u201d said McCormick. \u201cBy extending this program for another six years and establishing a Special Advisor to oversee it, we are making a smart investment that promotes stability and delivers a strong return for American taxpayers. I am grateful for the ongoing bipartisan support this initiative has received since it was first championed by leaders like Senator Marco Rubio.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and reach their full potential \u2014 no matter where they\u2019re born,\u201d said Olszewski. \u201cThe Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act puts that belief at the heart of America\u2019s work around the world. I\u2019m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to support early childhood development, protect vulnerable children, and strengthen families and communities. It\u2019s the right thing to do \u2014 and it helps build healthier societies, reduce poverty, and advance America\u2019s values and security for years to come.\u201d\n\nNational child advocacy organizations praised the bipartisan effort:\n\n\u201cWe applaud Representatives Castro, McCormick, Fitzpatrick, and Olszewski for their bipartisan leadership in ensuring that the world\u2019s most vulnerable children are able to grow up to their full potential, protected from abuse, neglect and trafficking. The Global Child Thrive Act is a bipartisan recognition that every child, regardless of where they are born, has the right to grow up safe, healthy, and supported. The Global Child Thrive Act ensures early childhood development is a priority, not an afterthought,\u201d said Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children.\n\n\u201cThe earliest years of life are the most critical for healthy brain development.\u201d stresses Michael J. Nyenhuis, UNICEF USA CEO and President. \u201cEnsuring that early childhood development remains a strong component of U.S. foreign assistance will help to support the growth and development of hundreds of millions of children under the age of 5 globally who currently face extreme poverty and stunting. We\u2019re thrilled to support the bipartisan reauthorization of the Global Child Thrive Act so that these children have an equitable chance to not only survive, but thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Global Child Thrive Act is an important step to reach vulnerable children with the basics they need, like good nutrition and responsive family care. Prioritizing the needs of young children and their families leads to far-reaching benefits in health, education, and much more. The Global Child Thrive Act is key to making this impact possible,\u201d said Mishelle Rudzinski, Executive Director, SPOON.\n\nThe Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act of 2025 reauthorizes the Global Child Thrive Act of 2020, landmark legislation that was enacted in early 2021 that strengthened the prioritization of supporting early childhood development in foreign assistance.\n\nThe Global Child Reauthorization Act of 2025 would:\n\nRequire the Secretary of State to appoint a new Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, a position that coordinates all United States foreign assistance programs for orphans and vulnerable children.\n\nThis position has traditionally resided at the United States Agency for International Development and is currently unfilled.\n\nRequire the administration to issue new guidelines to implement the Global Child Thrive Act of 2020.\n\nThe 2020 legislation required the creation of a government-wide strategy for children in adversity.\n\nThis strategy, released in 2024, heavily relied on agencies like the United States Agency for International Development.\n\nGiven the significant changes to U.S. foreign assistance this year, the Global Child Reauthorization Act of 2025 would require a new set of implementing directives.\n\nReauthorizes appropriations to implement the Global Child Thrive Act of 2020 for an additional 5 years.\n\nRead the Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act of 2025 here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-leads-bipartisan-reauthorization-of-global-child-thrive-act"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7828439120203257, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}