“Last week, Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Karen Bass (D-Calif.), and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced the Global Partnerships Act of 2013 [.pdf],” Ashley Bennett, a policy officer at the Global Health Technologies Coalition, writes in the coalition’s “Breakthroughs” blog. “The bill is a welcome step to reform the U.S. government’s foreign assistance programs, including strengthening important aspects of U.S. global health research and development (R&D) efforts,” she continues, noting, “Throughout the bill, research and innovation to improve health worldwide are highlighted as central components of U.S. foreign assistance programs.” Bennett provides details of the bill and adds, “Congress should unquestionably move this legislation forward and introduce a Senate companion bill. However, given that Congress hasn’t made much traction on most pieces of legislation in the past few years, the Partnership Act’s fate isn’t clear” (5/8).