Joe Biden: “As we stand here today women and children are suffering the ravages and privations of war and natural disasters. They…”

“As we stand here today women and children are suffering the ravages and privations of war and natural disasters. They are suffering food shortages and lack the most basic necessities in so many nations around the world. Five million people have been affected by the tsunami. Of that 5 million, 1.5 million are children, many alone and parentless, vulnerable to human trafficking, forced recruitment into military service or worse. We can help. We can do our share by making sure U.S. programs do their share. Today, I am introducing--along with Senator Lugar--the Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005, to make vulnerable people, especially women and children, an absolute priority of our foreign assistance programs. As a Nation, as a people, we probably should do more, but we certainly can do no less than to ensure the international community has a system in place to prevent the exploitation of so many lost, vulnerable, suffering women and children who are struggling to survive the most God-awful conditions imaginable.”