{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-blunt-coons-and-reps-fitzpatrick-castro-celebrate-passage-of-global-child-thrive-act", "Sens. Blunt, Coons & Reps. Fitzpatrick, Castro Celebrate Passage of Global Child Thrive Act", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Chris\r\nCoons (Del.), along with U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and\r\nJoaquin Castro (Texas), celebrated the passage of the Global Child Thrive Act,\r\nwhich was included in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.\r\nThe bipartisan legislation strengthens the implementation of policies that\r\nadvance early childhood development internationally, which includes learning\r\nand physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development for children younger\r\nthan eight years old. Children who experience poverty and hunger in their\r\nearliest years face developmental challenges that could shape their entire\r\nlives, said Blunt. This bill would strengthen our country's childhood\r\ndevelopment policies across the world, especially those affecting the most\r\nvulnerable children. I've been proud to work with Senator Coons and\r\nRepresentatives Fitzpatrick and Castro on this bill, and I appreciate our\r\ncolleagues' support on this critical issue. With nearly 250 million children in low- and middle-income\r\ncountries suffering from poor development due to poverty and stunting alone,\r\nit's critical that that we do everything possible to support children in\r\nmeeting their developmental milestones, said Coons. I'm pleased that the\r\nSenate passed the bipartisan Global Child Thrive Act, which I have been proud\r\nto champion with Senator Blunt. Together, we understand the value of investing\r\nin the reduction of preventable child deaths worldwide and ensuring the healthy\r\ndevelopment of future generations. I am thrilled to see our bipartisan and bicameral Global\r\nChild Thrive Act in this year's NDAA. One of my greatest concerns has always\r\nbeen the welfare of children, not just children in the United States but\r\nchildren across the globe, said Fitzpatrick. I would like to thank Rep.\r\nCastro, Sen. Coons, and Sen. Blunt for their partnership on getting our\r\nlegislation over the finish line. It is of the utmost importance that we help\r\nother countries help their children. As we all know, focusing on children is\r\nfocusing on our future. During the COVID-19 pandemic, children are more vulnerable\r\nthan ever before. This bipartisan legislation is a robust measure to elevate,\r\neducate, and empower vulnerable children around the world, said Castro. I\r\nappreciate the leadership of Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, who\r\nco-wrote this important legislation, and thank Senators Roy Blunt of Missouri\r\nand Chris Coons of Delaware for partnering with the House on this bill. \"It was an honor to work with Senators Blunt and Coons\r\nand their staff on the Global Child Thrive Act. Thank you Senator Blunt for\r\nyour life-long dedication to the well-being of children and Senator Coons for\r\nyour passion for Africa, especially for its children. We at CRS are grateful to\r\nyou both for your bipartisan leadership, which will ensure hundreds of\r\nthousands of the world's most vulnerable children reach their God-given\r\npotential-- an outcome that benefits us all,\" said Bill O'Keefe, EVP of\r\nMission Mobilization and Advocacy at Catholic Relief Services. The Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in\r\nDeveloping Countries Act of 2005 created the U.S. Government Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, who is tasked with coordinating all U.S.\r\nassistance to orphans and other vulnerable children among U.S. departments and\r\nagencies, among other responsibilities. The Global Child Thrive Act builds upon\r\nthat foundation by strengthening the implementation of policies that advance\r\nearly childhood development internationally. The bill expands the number of agencies over which the\r\nSpecial Advisor has explicit authority to coordinate early childhood\r\ndevelopment policies. It also directs the U.S. Agency for International Development\r\nto engage relevant executive agencies to incorporate early childhood\r\ndevelopment into current programming over the next five years. To incorporate early childhood development into current\r\nprogramming, the agencies would: build on the evidence and priorities outlined in Advancing\r\nProtection and Care for Children in Adversity: A U.S. Government Strategy for\r\nInternational Assistance 2019-2023';identify evidence-based strategic priorities, indicators,\r\noutcomes, and targets to support inclusive early childhood development;support the design, implementation, and evaluation of pilot\r\nprojects in partner countries, with the goal of taking them to scale;support bureaus, working groups, and task forces\r\nimplementing relevant sector strategies and public laws; andfocus on improving coordination with foreign governments and\r\ninternational and regional organizations with respect to official country\r\npolicies and plans for early childhood development.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://www.blunt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-blunt-coons-and-reps-fitzpatrick-castro-celebrate-passage-of-global-child-thrive-act"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.577757764607668, "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"}