Tonight’s deal to include $4 billion for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a critical step in the right direction for our global response that will save lives and directly impact America’s health and economic recovery. We are grateful Congress prioritized Gavi and the importance of global vaccine distribution.

But as long as the virus is spreading anywhere in the world, Americans are not safe, and that means our current global response is simply not enough.

There’s no denying this year-end agreement was difficult and hard-fought to address many critical domestic needs. At the same time, hundreds of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have spoken out in recent months that failing to invest in a global response comes at our own peril. They recognize that as the global pandemic rages on, the growing global instability is impacting our top trading partners, boosting terrorist activity in Africa, and driving massive increases in disease, hunger, and poverty around the world.

The urgency is increasing by the day for additional emergency investments in global health, the economic and humanitarian response, and frontline U.S. civilian operations. As the 117th Congress convenes next year, the entire USGLC network will look to partner with lawmakers to ensure a robust international response in order to strengthen and protect our nation’s recovery.