The Hill: Want a more resilient world? Give mothers access to the tools they deserve
Bill Frist, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and founder of Hope Through Healing Hands, and Michelle Nunn, president & CEO of CARE

“…Thanks to U.S. foreign assistance, maternal and child mortality rates have dropped drastically in the past decade, as more mothers time and space their pregnancies. At a time of budget constraints, we must ensure that all of our federal programs are effective … We must continue to ensure mothers and their families have access to the tools they … need and deserve. This is particularly important during times of crisis and disaster. We applaud the Senate for passing international family planning at the level of $622.5 million in FY17, and we call on leaders in Congress to protect these funding levels when they finalize their appropriations work after the upcoming November election. We also urge the incoming presidential administration and the next Congress to prioritize international family planning programs within their FY18 budget requests and appropriations bills next year. … Through investments in women and girls, these programs will help women fulfill their potential and build a more sustainable future for their families and communities. And in the face of danger, they will be able to better control their family’s destiny and face the future with strength and resiliency…” (10/18).