WASHINGTON – Ambassador Katherine Tai today met with leaders from the Jubilee USA Interfaith Network, representatives from the Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and United Church of Christ Churches, and officials from the AFL-CIO. The group discussed ongoing efforts to address global vaccine distribution and the need for the World Trade Organization to demonstrate that it can step up in a global crisis and act efficiently to improve the lives of ordinary people.
The meeting attendees raised the importance of investments in vaccine development and production to combat COVID-19, particularly in South Africa. Ambassador Tai agreed and highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to donating vaccines and investing in production efforts, including the recent announcement that the United States has sent more than 110 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 60 countries. Additionally, Ambassador Tai explained the Biden-Harris Administration’s support for a waiver of intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines.
Finally, the Ambassador stated how this effort fits into the Administration’s comprehensive strategy to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution around the world.
A list of meeting participants is below:
- Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Member, Committee on International Justice and Peace, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
- The Most Reverend Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
- The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Director of Advocacy, Presbyterian Church (USA)
- The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, General Secretary of General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church
- Eric LeCompte, Executive Director, Jubilee USA Network
- The Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson, Ph.D., Canon to the Presiding Bishop, Ministry Beyond the Episcopal Church
- Damon Silvers, Assistant to the President and Special Counsel, The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
- Sandy Sorensen, Washington Office Director, United Church of Christ
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