Bill Summary
This legislation is a resolution that acknowledges and praises the efforts to eradicate the wild poliovirus. It recognizes the success of vaccination in eliminating polio in the United States and the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988 with the goal of eradicating polio globally. It also highlights the significant contributions of organizations, such as Rotary International, in the fight against polio. The resolution acknowledges the progress made in reducing polio incidence and certifying regions as free from wild poliovirus. It also emphasizes the importance of continuing global commitment and collaboration to fully eradicate polio. Ultimately, the resolution encourages the Federal Government to continue providing funding to support the GPEI's efforts.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could affect people by recognizing and commending their efforts to eradicate the wild poliovirus, giving them a sense of accomplishment and recognition for their hard work.
2. The legislation could also bring awareness to the issue of polio and encourage people to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, potentially leading to increased funding and resources to help combat the disease.
3. The legislation could also impact people living in areas with active polio transmission, as it encourages the international community to remain committed to eradicating polio and providing resources to protect vulnerable children.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 81 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 81
Commending efforts to eradicate the wild poliovirus.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 31, 2025
Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Davis
of North Carolina, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Norton,
Mr. Thanedar, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Commending efforts to eradicate the wild poliovirus.
Whereas nearly 60,000 children in the United States were reported to have polio
in 1952 alone, with more than 20,000 cases of paralysis;
Whereas thanks to vaccination, polio was eliminated from the United States in
1979;
Whereas the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)--a unique public-private
partnership that includes the Federal Government, Rotary International,
the Gates Foundation, and GAVI--was established in 1988 with a goal of
eradicating polio globally, at a time when there were more than 350,000
cases of polio recorded annually;
Whereas Rotary International, a global association founded in Illinois, has
contributed more than $2,800,000,000 and volunteered countless hours in
the global fight against polio since 1979;
Whereas, since the goal of global polio eradication was set in 1988, polio
incidence has been reduced by more than 99.9 percent through the use of
the inactivated polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk and the oral polio
vaccine developed by Albert Sabin;
Whereas the Americas were the first region to be certified free from wild
poliovirus in 1994, with the last case of wild poliovirus in the
Americas confirmed in Peru in 1991;
Whereas, since 1994, 4 other regions of the world have been certified free from
wild poliovirus and 2 of the 3 strains of wild poliovirus have been
certified eradicated worldwide;
Whereas, as of September 2024, only Afghanistan and Pakistan have been unable to
fully stop transmission of wild poliovirus, a decrease from more than
125 countries in 1988;
Whereas the GPEI reaches the world's most vulnerable children, including those
who have been displaced, living in areas of insecurity or conflict,
where cases of variant poliovirus remain of concern;
Whereas today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an
estimated 20,000,000 people are walking who have been spared from
paralysis and 1,500,000 deaths have been averted worldwide thanks to the
efforts of the GPEI;
Whereas, in addition to combating polio, the global workforce and infrastructure
of the GPEI has frequently served as first responders for natural
disasters and other public health crises, including outbreaks of Ebola
and the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas progress toward global polio eradication is a testament to what can be
achieved through sustained global commitment and collaboration;
Whereas when polio is eradicated, it will be only the second human disease in
history to make such an achievement, the first being smallpox;
Whereas the GPEI effectively reaches children to protect them from polio even in
fragile and conflict-affected countries including most recently in
Palestine;
Whereas countries long considered polio-free, including the United States, which
confirmed a case of polio in 2022 in the State of New York, are
vulnerable to outbreaks of polio until poliovirus transmission is
stopped globally; and
Whereas as long as poliovirus circulates anywhere, it remains a threat to
children everywhere: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the work that has kept the Americas free from
wild poliovirus;
(2) supports the goals and ideals of the Global Polio
Eradication Initiative;
(3) encourages and supports the international community of
governments and nongovernmental organizations in remaining
committed to the eradication of polio; and
(4) encourages the Federal Government to continue
committing funding to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
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