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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICA'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP DURING COVID-19
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HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL
of new york
in the house of representatives
Friday, May 1, 2020
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, on the Foreign Affairs Committee, we know
that so many critical national security threats require a global,
coordinated response. We know that we're stronger when we work with our
international partners to face challenges head-on. And we know that the
United States has a vital global leadership role to during
international crises.
Today, those principles should guide our response to this pandemic.
The rapid spread of COVID-19---an infectious disease that knows no
borders--has presented us with unprecedented challenge and heartbreak.
We need a path forward for the United States and countries around the
world to get on the road toward rebuilding and recovery.
More than 50,000 Americans have died from coronavirus. It's painfully
clear that the Administration should have done more to prepare for this
pandemic and protect our citizens. There is so much more we have to do
to keep Americans safe and our communities healthy moving forward. We
need more testing. We need to support our doctors and nurses. We need
to help those who provide our food and those who keep us safe. But, we
simply can't do those things effectively if we bury our heads in the
sand and wall ourselves off from the rest of the world.
Our world is interconnected. Fighting the coronavirus for America
means making sure other countries can effectively fight the pandemic,
as well. The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres summed
it up well: ``We are only as strong as the weakest health system in our
interconnected world.''
That's why the Trump Administration's decision to cut funding for the
World Health Organization is so counterproductive. The WHO plays a
vital role in supporting and enforcing international health
regulations, educating the public, and strengthening the ability of
health systems--particularly those in the developing world--to prevent,
detect, and respond to outbreaks. This is precisely the time that we
need the WHO most. Instead, the Administration is stopping all our
funding--just like shutting down the fire department in the middle of a
blaze.
Retreating from global health institutions at this time only makes it
harder for us to combat COVID-19, putting our national security and
American lives at risk. When America pulls away from the world, others
will fill the void. China is already providing relief and support to
countries now on the brink of their own crises--particularly in Africa
and the developing world. And, Beijing pledged an additional $30
million to the WHO just as Trump suspended American funds to the world
body. The United States must act to preserve the critical development
gains we helped drive, from basic education to access to clean water to
free and fair elections.
lf we want to see the world recover in a way that strengthens our
economy, national security, and environment--in a way that promotes and
preserves the values of freedom and democracy which we hold dear--in a
way that raises up impoverished people--we need to lead it in that
direction. Now is the time for American global leadership. Now is the
time to recognize our interconnected world and work with our partners
to save lives in countries near and far. Now is the time to move
forward for America and the world.
____________________
