April 28, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 80 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E401-E402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              AMERICA'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP DURING COVID-19

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 28, 2020

  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise in the midst of a global pandemic to 
emphasize importance and need of America's global leadership to combat 
COVID-19. I have seen firsthand in my district in Queens, NY--the 
epicenter of the epicenter--that those who were the most vulnerable 
before this crisis, such as individuals who were experiencing 
homelessness or housing instability, economic instability, or food 
insecure--are also the most likely to be affected by this pandemic.
  There is a temptation, in this moment of extreme personal suffering, 
to buy into the dichotomy that we can either help Americans or we can 
help our allies. This is a false choice. By only focusing on 
``flattening the curve'' in America, we not only risk the lives of 
allies and partners in other countries, but we risk a resurgence of 
cases as the global economy re-opens.
  As a Member of the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations 
Subcommittee, I believe it is more critical than ever to pass a robust 
international affairs budget that supports the healthcare systems of 
developing countries. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene programs, for 
example, are more critical than ever. Vigorously washing our hands has 
become our new normal in the U.S., but that requires access to a safe, 
reliable water supply, which is not available in many communities 
around the world.
  Americans leadership is not only needed to stop the physical spread 
of the virus, but also to deal with its serious, secondary 
consequences. For instance, crises and emergencies exacerbate cases of 
domestic violence; we have already seen this evidence

[[Page E402]]

here at home during this pandemic. Humanitarian programs, like the Safe 
from the Start program which I have strongly advocated for, supports 
surges in rapid deployment of senior gender advisors to at-risk 
communities during humanitarian emergencies. This type of programming 
seeks to mitigate gender-based violence and develop ways to include 
women in decision-making processes. With that, I am proud to have 
spearheaded my bipartisan legislation Safe from the Start Act (H.R. 
4092)--to codify this critical program.
  Madam Speaker, American leadership is critical in the global fight 
against COVID-19; without it, this global health crisis will continue 
to devastate countries around the world and rebound back to our shores.

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