Congress just took a big step forward in the fight for mothers and children around the world.

The Reach Every Mother and Child Act, or the Reach Act, has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Barbara Lee,  Dave Reichert, Dan Donovan and Betty McCollum. The bill will now be referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for a markup.

The legislation aims to help the millions of mothers and children who die from preventable cause every year by making medical solutions more accessible around the world.

Since 1990, US international leadership helped to halve the number of preventable maternal and child deaths globally. This is a huge accomplishment. But there is still work to be done.

Every single day, more than 16,000 children under 5 still die from preventable causes, and 830 women die during childbirth. Socioeconomic status is a huge indicator of death from avoidable causes: 99% of these maternal deaths occur in the developing world.

The Reach Act allows the US to make a difference. The bill helps increase the oversight and impact of health programs, and also ensures that maternal and child medical care is done in a fiscally responsible manner.

Ultimately, this is a bipartisan issue. Saving the lives of mothers and children around the world is something that we can all get behind. Supporting the Reach Act means that more women and children will be able to pursue an education, have stable careers, and contribute to both national and global economies. American investment abroad saves lives and increases global stability.

Together, let’s fight to get the Reach Act signed into law. We have the power to save millions around the world. Take Action! Call your member of Congress today and ask them to support the Reach Act.