U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, and Vice Chair Patty Murray, along with several committee members, called on May 4 for the State Department to reinstate U.S. contributions to Gavi, a global health partnership focused on vaccinations in low-income countries.
The senators say that restoring this funding is important because Gavi has played a significant role in vaccinating over one billion children worldwide and preventing millions of deaths from preventable diseases. The letter requests that Secretary of State Marco Rubio use $600 million appropriated by Congress in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to fulfill the United States' pledge to Gavi.
In their letter, Collins and her colleagues wrote: “We question why the Department of State has not used $600 million appropriated in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 ($300 million each fiscal year) to replenish the U.S. Government’s pledge to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI).” They added: “GAVI plays a critical role in averting the spread of preventable diseases around the globe and helps protect public health in our country by stopping outbreaks before they reach our borders.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee is responsible for overseeing federal expenditures as mandated by law and ensuring accountability in public money management according to its official website. The committee also manages legislation related to federal funding, conducts hearings on spending proposals, and oversees government programs according to its official website. Its authority comes from the U.S. Constitution's requirement that funds be drawn from the treasury only through appropriations made by law according to its official website.
In their letter, the senators noted that prior efforts had encouraged countries supported by Gavi toward taking ownership of vaccination costs: “Prior to President Trump’s America First Global Health Strategy, GAVI was already modeling the glidepath to host-country governments’ ownership of their vaccination costs.” They further highlighted economic benefits for American industry: “GAVI also supports U.S. industry and jobs, purchasing more than $12.5 billion in U.S.-manufactured goods and vaccines.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee has influenced federal spending through oversight of budgets addressing issues such as trade and international affairs according to its official website. The committee is known for producing bills like the Homeland Security Appropriations Act according to its official website, with historical figures such as Lot Morrill serving as chairman during early operations according to its official website.
Concluding their appeal regarding future action on global health security policy, Collins wrote: “Restoring U.S. contributions to GAVI is a necessary step for the U.S. to regain a seat on the board of GAVI, without which the United States cannot directly shape technical, financial, and scientific decisions that have direct implications for America’s health security.”
