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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICA'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP DURING COVID-19
______
HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING
of massachusetts
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic we face today has
made it abundantly clear how truly connected to one another we all are
and how widely our connections span the globe. This pandemic is the
greatest global challenge we have faced since World War II and
cooperation has never been more important.
As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee for Europe,
Eurasia, Energy and the Environment, it has been one of my top
priorities to strengthen and support our transatlantic alliance.
Together, the United States and our friends and allies in Europe have
worked side by side to tackle challenges while advancing democratic
values. Through our NATO alliance and as members of multilateral
institutions like the United Nations and the World Health Organization,
we have consistently worked together to maximize our resources to
address shared security threats.
Now as we face the COVID-19 pandemic, our cooperation today is more
important than ever. Although it has caused many to look inward and
focus on those in our own communities, it is critical to remember that
the threat from COVID-19 will not end once we have flattened the curve
here at home. If we fail to rally support and resources for countries
struggling with COVID-19 abroad, especially developing countries and
countries marred by conflict, we risk this disease once again finding
its way to our shores. Beyond the disease itself, we will face threats
from the security and economic conditions COVID-19 is already leaving
in its wake including famine, a global recession, and heightened
instability and the extremism that often follows it.
However, we must also remember that we don't have to go it alone and
that in fact we are stronger in meeting our shared challenges when we
work together. We can learn from each other to better understand the
pathology of COVID-19 and how we may ultimately begin safely reopening
our economies. We can share resources to ensure all of our medical and
health personnel have access to personal protective equipment,
ventilators and other medical devices, and eventually to vaccines as
well. We can work together to debunk myths and combat disinformation so
our communities are not misled by malign actors. Our NATO alliance is
already working to coordinate these kinds of assistance and we must
build on these successes to be most effective in ending this pandemic
for good.
We are capable of meeting this challenge if we do so together, and
for that, American leadership is crucial. We have seen American
leadership raise critical resources to fight pandemics in the past and
improve the effectiveness of multilateral institutions like the World
Health Organization. If we cede this leadership role, we relinquish our
ability to shape a safer, more secure future for all Americans, their
families and friends overseas, and the myriad business and educational
opportunities they have created together to grow the global economy and
connect so many communities all around the world. Only together with
our friends and partners, can we rise to meet this unprecedented
challenge so that we may soon reunite with our loved ones, safely
reopen our economies, and return to the lives we once knew.
____________________
