Humanity United Action celebrates passage of the Global Fragility Act as part of the FY 20 appropriations package to fund the federal government. The Global Fragility Act takes critical steps towards ensuring the U.S. government is able to more effectively prevent violent conflict. The bill, which has been a key HUA legislative priority, directs an interagency initiative to develop a comprehensive, integrated, ten-year strategy to address issues of fragility and violence.

The legislation is groundbreaking for several reasons: it takes a preventive, rather than a reactive, approach to conflict and violence; it allows a whole of government approach to complex issues of fragility and resilience; and it weaves a strong peacebuilding approach into the development and defense-oriented aspects of US policy.

As costs related to violent conflict continue to skyrocket and threats to stability and security around the world rise, this legislation gives the U.S. government a framework for addressing the root causes of fragility and violence, The Global Fragility Act represents a significant step in US leadership around complex issues of fragility and violence, and HUA applauds the tremendous work done by the many congressional champions who helped get this important bill across the finish line.

HUA is grateful for the tireless efforts of all the Members of Congress who have worked on and supported this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, particularly Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), JIm Risch (R-ID), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-TX).