Reach Every Mother and Child Act

Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths Worldwide

Since 1990, the world has reduced mortality rates for children under 5 by more than one half. This is one of the greatest success stories in international development. 

 The U.S. has led an international effort to provide developing countries the tools to care for their children - often with simple, proven and inexpensive interventions that address leading causes of death, such as diarrhea and pneumonia. 

Building on those gains, in 2014 the U.S. declared ending preventable child and maternal deaths around the world a national priority. 

“I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 4022, the Reach Every Mother and Child Act.…It is an all-encompassing, lifesaving piece of legislation that will improve the lives of millions.”
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.)

“This is an issue that goes beyond political parties. It goes beyond partisanship. It’s what we should be doing as Americans. It’s something that’s just the right thing to do.”
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)

“The Reach Act will build on the significant progress already made…to make real the goal of ending preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths by 2035.”
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)

  

Despite this Progress…

The Reach Act would ensure more moms and kids have access to low-cost, high impact care, like Kangaroo Care.

15,000 children die each day from preventable and treatable causes such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria. A number of these children are excluded- growing up in the hardest to reach areas.

About half of the 15,000 children who die each day are newborns. 7,000 newborns die every day. And malnutrition is an underlying cause for 45 percent of deaths among children under the age of 5.

The Reach Every Mother and Child Act Would Save More Lives

Bipartisan legislation called the Reach Every Mother and Child Act (S. 1730, H.R. 4022) would put the world on a path to end preventable deaths of moms and kids. The bill was introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and in the House by Representatives David Reichert (R-WA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Dan Donovan (R-NY).

The Reach Act would:

  • Require a coordinated U.S. government strategy for how our country would contribute to ending preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths
  • Establish rigorous reporting requirements to improve transparency, accountability, efficiency, and oversight of maternal and child health programs
  • Ensure that the United States Agency for International Development scales up the most effective programs
  • Encourage the use of innovative ways to pay for these programs, including public-private partnerships

Urge Your Members of Congress to Cosponsor the Reach Act

You can help save the lives of moms and kids around the world by:

Learn more about the Reach Act and the progress we’ve made for moms and kids!