CASTRO, MCCAUL INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE AND EFFICIENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressmen Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) and Michael McCaul (R-TX-10) introduced the Global Development Lab Act of 2015, legislation that authorizes and augments the capabilities of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Global Development Lab. The Global Development Lab applies science, technology, innovation, and partnerships to accelerate development impact and solve the world's most pressing problems.
"USAID's Global Development Lab is revolutionizing our efforts to save lives, foster international stability, and fulfill strategic foreign policy objectives through development work overseas,"? said Rep. Castro. "The Lab harnesses the brightest minds in government, the private sector, non-profits, and academia to develop pioneering solutions. With such an impressive collection of ingenuity and perspectives, our problem-solving capabilities go into overdrive. This legislation is essential for continuing the Lab's dynamic work that's disrupting cycles of poverty and improving lives around the world."?
"The United States is currently facing some of the most difficult global challenges in recent history,� said Rep. McCaul. “However, these challenges will not solve themselves and must be confronted head on. The Global Development Lab Act of 2015 is a critical component in a much broader strategy currently underway. By combining the ideas developed through public-private partnerships, and by collaboration amongst NGOs, innovators and entrepreneurs, this bill will help foster ingenuity and innovation in a cost-effective manner to improve lives of millions abroad. This crucial bill is one I'm proud to support."
Specifically, The Global Development Lab Act of 2015 would allow the Lab to:
- Use program funding for all development purposes, including global health;
- Bring in term-limited technical experts in a more cost-effective manner;
- Utilize innovation incentives, a pay-for-success model, allowing the Lab to tap into good ideas, no matter the source; and
- Return program income generated from Lab activities, allowing it to be more self-funding over time.
The U.S. Global Development Lab seeks to produce breakthrough development innovations by sourcing, testing, and scaling proven solutions to help hundreds of millions of people lift themselves out of poverty. Furthermore, the Lab aims to accelerate the transformation of the development enterprise by opening development to people everywhere with good ideas, promoting new and deepening existing partnerships, bringing data and evidence to bear, and harnessing scientific and technological advances.
Examples of efforts the Lab is currently undertaking include: helping healthcare workers on the front lines provide better care and stop the spread of Ebola; creating new water management technology to support food production in developing and emerging countries; pursuing medical and technological advances to reduce time-of-birth health problems in poor, low-resource communities; and seeking innovations to improve child literacy around the world. More information about these and other Lab projects can be found here: LINK
The Lab partners with businesses, NGOs, foundations, universities, and governments that contribute cutting-edge technologies, advanced research and development capabilities, deep expertise, and far-reaching networks of customers, suppliers, and community organizations. A list of current partners can be found here: LINK
Both Congressman Joaquin Castro and Congressman Michael McCaul serve on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
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