Congress has taken a critical step forward in closing the gap on urgently needed resources for America’s global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nearly $11 billion in international response funds approved today by the Senate following House passage last week – alongside $4 billion approved in December for GAVI – brings us closer to what experts identified last spring is needed to appropriately resource the international fight against this pandemic – which is essential for the health, security, and economic recovery here at home.

As new variants of COVID-19 continue to spread around the world, this pandemic has left no doubt that no one is safe until everyone is safe. In fact, new studies show that failing to stop this pandemic abroad could cost the global economy as much as $9 trillion. And without support from the U.S. and our partners, the pandemic will continue to undermine decades of progress on global health and exacerbate humanitarian crises from hunger to poverty to infectious disease.

Democrats and Republicans alike have been united on the need for a fully resourced international response to COVID-19. We look forward to continuing to work closely with both Congress and the Administration to ensure America continues to lead at home and abroad in fighting this pandemic threat and stopping the next one from reaching our shores.