James T. Callahan: “First, this bill includes a tremendous Republican accomplishment--the creation of a new $600 million child survival and…”

“First, this bill includes a tremendous Republican accomplishment--the creation of a new $600 million child survival and disease prevention account. Each year millions of innocent children die from indiscriminate diseases. In most cases these deaths can be prevented. The establishment of this new account is a major step toward that goal. It also reflects the powerful commitment of this Congress to the eradication of infectious disease--including that cruel crippler of young children, polio--as well as the immunization of children everywhere. If there is a disappointment, it is that some in the executive branch have opposed our effort to focus on children and infectious diseases. I think it is time for administration bureaucrats to stop carping and to get on with this critical program. We also stood up to the administration on another extremely important issue affecting children. We firmly rejected the President's proposed cut in funding for the United Nation's children fund [UNICEF]. This is exactly the kind of foreign aid that really works and, not surprisingly, that the American people strongly support.”