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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICA'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP DURING COVID-19
______
HON. DAVID E. PRICE
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, now, more than ever,
America must remain a global leader. We cannot afford to ignore what is
happening outside our borders.
As we have learned from the Ebola and Zika crises before, and now the
new coronavirus pandemic; infectious disease respects no borders and it
has no political ideology.
No matter how successful we are in combating COVID-19 here at home,
we will never neutralize the pandemic's threat unless we also fight it
abroad.
As Congress continues to address the urgent domestic health and
economic crisis, we also must maintain our nation's commitment to
providing emergency resources to confront COVID-19 around the world.
Such assistance must address both the immediate health crisis and the
long-term effects of this pandemic.
Furthermore, the spread of the novel coronavirus has the potential to
undo decades of American investments in democracy, health, education,
agriculture, and security around the world. Only a robust,
comprehensive response from the United States can ensure these
investments are not lost and can prevent the exacerbation of second-
order intractable social, economic, and political crises in communities
ravaged by COVID-19.
As chairman of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), a bipartisan
congressional commission that works to strengthen parliaments in
emerging democracies, I have seen first-hand the success of U.S.
development assistance programming on the ground. We cannot and should
not abandon these hard-fought development gains or withdraw our
leadership and leave our partners in the lurch at this critical time.
HDP is organizing virtual round tables with our parliamentary
colleagues, starting with Tunisia and Kosovo, to keep up the dialogue
and show support.
Combating COVID-19 requires a bold, complex, and comprehensive
response that must include coordination with and support for allies,
partners, and developing countries, as well as multilateral
international institutions, such as the World Health Organization
(WHO).
The WHO is at the forefront of conducting vaccine research,
distributing resources, and sharing best practices with governments
around the world. Whatever criticisms we may have, this is not the time
to cut funding to the very organization that may have the largest
global impact on combating COVID-19.
The United States has a proud history of global leadership that is
rooted in our country's founding purpose and in our strategic
interests.
We must build on that legacy and join with our partners at home and
abroad to respond to this pandemic. The stakes could hardly be higher.
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