McDuffee letter: Preventable deaths

For many of us, the presidential race has become a circus. Never is this more prevalent than watching the news or scrolling though Facebook — both of which seem to be breeding ground for partisanship. Despite this, there is at least one area where Congress is coming together from both sides to do something that actually benefits the world.

It is estimated that 11 children die every minute from preventable causes. While we have made progress in the last decade, these remaining deaths still cost the United States a great deal. Bipartisan legislation has been introduced to the House and Senate that will put us on track to end preventable maternal and child deaths without requiring additional funding.

The Reach Act (S. 1911 and H.R. 3706) will ensure that USAID, our country’s main international development agency, cultivates a clear and measurable strategy to help achieve this goal. This legislation focuses on increasing evidence-based interventions and would create new innovative funding sources, like private/public partnerships, to complement our investment.

By cosponsoring this legislation, our Congress has the opportunity to keep this momentum moving forward and create a legacy worth remembering. It’s hard to imagine a more powerful way to work together.

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 6:22 PM with the headline "McDuffee letter: Preventable deaths."