TORONTO, Canada — The United States (U.S.) Congress plays an important role in determining how the nation addresses global poverty through its legislative and budget decisions. By authorizing foreign aid programs and setting funding priorities, Congress influences international development initiatives which provide food assistance, health care and economic support to vulnerable populations. Bills in the U.S. Congress that address global poverty demonstrate how decisions can influence poverty reduction worldwide.
Together, the Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021, Global Health Security Act of 2021, Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2023 and PEPFAR Extension Act of 2024 illustrate how congressional policymaking supports humanitarian aid, promotes long-term development and strengthens health systems.
The Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021
Malnutrition also plays a major role in prolonging poverty, especially among children. The Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021 expanded U.S. efforts to combat malnutrition worldwide by strengthening USAID’s global nutrition programming. The legislation directed USAID to increase evidence-based interventions focused on preventing and treating malnutrition, particularly among women and children across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and other vulnerable regions.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is responsible for a large share of child deaths worldwide and can lead to long-term health complications including impaired cognitive development. Through implementation of the Act, USAID expanded support for maternal and child nutrition initiatives, acute malnutrition treatment programs and infant feeding interventions in countries including Nigeria, Mozambique and Haiti. By prioritizing early nutrition programs, lawmakers address one of the root causes of intergenerational poverty.
The Global Health Security Act of 2021
The Global Health Security Act of 2021 represents another critical effort to reduce poverty by strengthening health systems around the world. The legislation focuses on improving disease surveillance, emergency response systems and laboratory capacity in partner countries, such as Bangladesh. Strengthening these systems helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases and reduces the disruptions that accompany health crises.
Congressional appropriations for global health initiatives support programs such as vaccination campaigns and international health partnerships that aim to protect populations from public health threats, such as pandemics. Investments in global health security could not only protect vulnerable countries but also help prevent pandemics that can disrupt economies and increase poverty levels in low-income countries.
The Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022
Another important piece of legislation addressing poverty is the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022, which reauthorized and expanded the Global Food Security Act of 2018 and programs such as the Feed the Future initiative.
The legislation strengthened U.S. international food security programs by continuing investments in agriculture development, nutrition and food system sustainability across regions including Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa with programming in countries such as Guatemala and Ghana. Programs under this framework support smallholder farmers, improve child nutrition and promote economic growth in food-secure regions. Since the broader Global Food Security framework was first enacted, Feed the Future has helped more than 23.4 million people rise above the poverty line and supported the development of more than 1,000 agricultural innovations to improve food production and resilience. The 2022 reauthorization aimed to build on these outcomes amid worsening global food insecurity caused by conflict, climate change and economic instability. By reauthorizing these initiatives, Congress reinforces a long-term strategy that addresses systemic causes of hunger and poverty.
The PEPFAR Extension Act of 2024
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFAR) is one of the most influential initiatives connected to global poverty reduction. Since its launch, the program has invested more than $110 billion worldwide for HIV prevention, treatment and care programs and has saved more than 25 million lives, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
The PEPFAR Extension Act of 2024 supports the continuation of the government’s global HIV/AIDS program and ensures that millions of people continue receiving lifesaving treatment and prevention services. With the USAID funding cuts last year, the International AIDS Society warns that failing to maintain PEPFAR could result in millions of additional infections and deaths, highlighting how bills in U.S. Congress shaping global poverty can directly influence health outcomes in developing countries.
Together, these four initiatives demonstrate the powerful role Congress plays in global development. From global health programs to food security, bills in U.S. Congress shaping global poverty underscore how domestic policymaking can influence poverty reduction efforts around the world. As global humanitarian crises continue to affect vulnerable populations, congressional leadership will remain essential in shaping policies that improve the lives of millions worldwide.
– Sara Aboulela
Sara is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Celebs and Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr