Humanity United Action welcomes the introduction of S. 3368, the Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act, by Senators Christopher Coons (D-DE), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Todd Young (R-IN), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). This bill establishes an interagency initiative focused on preventing and reducing root causes of violence around the world. S. 3368 requires the Department of State, along with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies, to develop and execute a 10-year strategy addressing the fundamental drivers of conflict in a handful of countries.

This bill, along with its House counterpart, H.R. 5273, correctly shifts the focus of the U.S. government’s work on conflict prevention to be more long-term and coordinated across the different federal agencies. It also emphasizes prevention and working with civil society and local actors to address the root causes of violence and fragility.

We support S. 3368 and urge the Senate to swiftly pass this important legislation.

Read more about the bill and Humanity United Action’s efforts to address violence and mass atrocities from Humanity United Action’s President Randy Newcomb in The Hill: Preventing conflicts and atrocities must be our legacy.