In a US Congress bitterly divided across party lines, at least one law is bringing both sides together. With the addition of 12 new cosponsors, the Reach Every Mother and Child Act (HR 3706) now has a total of 100 members from both political parties supporting its passage.

The Reach Act sets out the bold vision to eliminate preventable child deaths in the next 20 years. It focuses on improving accountability of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), targets resources at the most vulnerable, deploys proven solutions. and codifies a child and maternal survival coordinator. 

With more than 16,000 children reportedly dying of diseases and ailments that are preventable, it would represent a landmark achievement for humanity to commit resources like this. All of that comes at no additional cost to the government. What's not to like?

“Our bipartisan bill would build on the remarkable progress already made by UNICEF and other international partners by reforming and scaling up interventions to have a larger short- and long-term impact,” said Senator Chris Coons (D-Del), co-sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, in a statement last fall. “The United States has been an essential leader in our progress to end maternal and child mortality so far, and we must continue to work together with our international partners to not just bring these numbers down, but to end preventable child deaths for good.”

Coons is joined by Susan Collins (R-Maine) as lead sponsor of the bill. Another 14 members of the Senate signed on in support, including Presidential hopeful Marco Rubio. Passage of the bill could help speed up the progress of reducing global child deaths.

Child mortality fell by more than half between 1990 and 2015, according to UNICEF. It is a great accomplishment, but not quite the goal of two-thirds reduction set by the Milennium Development Goals, that helped guide the last 15 years of international development. The good news is that the global child mortality rate fell twice as fast since 2000, as compared to the prior decade.

“I thank each of the Reach Act’s 100 cosponsors for their leadership in the effort to end preventable deaths of mothers and children around the world,” said Mark Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network. "We’ve already made tremendous progress over the last 25 years, drastically reducing preventable deaths of mothers and kids under 5. Investments in cost-effective solutions can give all kids and mothers a chance at a healthy life."

More than 20 aid groups are rallying behind the :Reach Act" with the hopes it can be passed soon. It is not often that there is this much agreement inside the Beltway. Passing the Reach Act is possible and can demonstrate how the US Congress can actually work together to create some good in the world.

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