Mercy Corps Calls for Swift Senate Vote on Bipartisan Global Fragility Act After House of Representatives Approval

Statement from Neal Keny-Guyer, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps

WASHINGTON — Mercy Corps celebrates the U.S. House of Representatives passage of the Global Fragility Act (H.R. 2116) today. This strong bipartisan support demonstrates an emerging political consensus that investing in efforts to address the root causes of violence and conflict is smart, cost-effective policy. With more than 68 million people displaced globally by violent conflict, the U.S. government must prioritize efforts to prevent violence and human suffering. Mercy Corps commends the leadership of the Global Fragility Act’s lead sponsors, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX).

Over the past decade, we have seen a drastic increase in the number of people forced to flee their homes and in need of life-saving assistance due to man-made violent conflict. With more people displaced globally than at any time since the end of the Second World War, the world cannot keep pace with ballooning humanitarian needs. We must also prioritize efforts to prevent conflict, and the Global Fragility Act can help us achieve that goal.

If enacted, the Global Fragility Act would strengthen the capacity of the U.S. government to address the causes of fragility and violent conflict, such as poor governance, economic and social marginalization, and human rights abuses. The Act would establish a whole-of-government violence prevention initiative to enhance and streamline U.S. government coordination, and it would increase transparency and accountability of taxpayer resources by mandating public reporting, data collection and research to determine which U.S. government-funded programs are most effective.

The Senate should vote as soon as possible on this common-sense legislation. Effective implementation of the Global Fragility Act requires an investment of dedicated resources. The Senate should follow the lead of the House of Representatives in authorizing resources for both the Complex Crises and Stabilization and Prevention Funds. Enacting this legislation can help break the cycle of violent conflict and alleviate humanitarian suffering around the world.