Commending efforts to eradicate the wild poliovirus.

This resolution acknowledges the historical impact of polio, which caused widespread paralysis in the United States before its elimination through vaccination in 1979. It commends the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) , a public-private partnership established in 1988, for its remarkable success in reducing polio incidence by over 99.9 percent globally. Key partners like Rotary International have contributed billions and countless hours to this effort, leading to millions of lives saved and paralysis averted. The resolution highlights that only Afghanistan and Pakistan currently face wild poliovirus transmission, with most regions having been certified free, and two of three wild poliovirus strains eradicated worldwide. It emphasizes the GPEI's crucial role in reaching vulnerable populations and its broader contributions to public health, including responding to other crises. The House of Representatives therefore supports the GPEI's goals, encourages sustained international commitment, and advocates for continued Federal Government funding to achieve complete polio eradication, recognizing that as long as poliovirus circulates anywhere, it remains a threat everywhere.