Letter to the Editor: Supporting the Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act

Dear Editor:

As Loyola students, our classes always challenge us to look beyond our community and engage with social justice. Right now, an important piece of humanitarian policy needs our attention. Congress is voting on the Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act (H.R. 6347), a bill ensuring U.S. foreign aid keeps protecting early childhood development through the year 2030. 

The earliest years of life shape one’s future entirely, yet millions of children globally face extreme poverty and malnutrition. The Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act reauthorizes federal agencies to prioritize early childhood care. It doesn’t require a single cent of new taxpayer funding; rather, it ensures our existing resources are being used effectively. 

Advocating for the world’s most vulnerable children aligns directly with Loyola’s core Jesuit values. I am urging Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth to support this bill. If we want a better world, protecting a child’s right to thrive is an imperative place to start. 

Sincerely,

Julene Shaffer