Commending efforts to eradicate the wild poliovirus.
This House resolution (H. Res. 81) commends and supports the global fight to eradicate wild poliovirus. It highlights the historical burden of polio in the United States, notes the long-running international effort led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), and credits partnerships including Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, and GAVI. The resolution underscores substantial progress: polio cases have declined dramatically since the 1980s, regions have been certified free of wild poliovirus, and the Americas have been polio-free since 1994. It acknowledges that, as of September 2024, the remaining transmission is concentrated in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and it emphasizes the importance of continuing vaccination, surveillance, and international cooperation to finish eradication. The resolution ends by urging ongoing funding and commitment from the U.S. government and the international community to support the GPEI and the broader polio eradication effort.
Key Points
- 1Commends the progress in eradicating wild poliovirus and the historical impact of vaccination in the United States and globally.
- 2Recognizes the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) as a public-private partnership involving the U.S. government, Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, and GAVI.
- 3Documents notable milestones, including the Americas being certified wild poliovirus-free since 1994 and substantial global reductions in polio cases (over 99.9% decrease since 1988); notes that only Afghanistan and Pakistan remained unable to stop transmission as of Sept. 2024.
- 4Emphasizes that polio remains a threat until transmission is stopped worldwide, and that vulnerable populations, including displaced or conflict-affected communities, are prioritized by eradication efforts.
- 5Encourages continued funding and political support from the U.S. government and international partners to sustain and advance the GPEI mission.