The Fight Against Global Poverty

Dear Editor,

As NJ residents and members of the ONE Campaign, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization focused on eliminating extreme poverty, we applaud U.S. House of Representative Thomas Kean's leadership in the fight against global poverty by sponsoring H.Res. 1286. This bill supports the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and recognizes the importance of U.S. support for GAVI's crucial mission in providing life-saving immunizations to the world's most vulnerable populations.

GAVI's work has been instrumental in preventing 17.3 million deaths since its inception in 2000. However, its efforts are threatened by the persistent lack of funding and resources, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the United Nations reports, 4.9 million children died from preventable causes in 2022. This harsh reality serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges we face in ensuring equitable access to essential healthcare services worldwide.

Representative Kean's sponsorship of H.Res. 1286 is a commendable step towards addressing this issue and saving lives. By recognizing the importance of U.S. support for GAVI, this resolution not only reaffirms our nation's commitment to global health security but also serves as a lighthouse for public-private collaboration and a catalyst for other donor countries to contribute to this vital cause.

We urge other lawmakers to follow Representative Kean's example and prioritize investments in the fight against extreme poverty to create a safer, healthier, and prosperous world for all.

Sincerely,
William Hoffman and Nathalie Lissinna
Member of the ONE Campaign