Global HIV/AIDS Bill Passes Senate - Democratic Underground

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Global HIV/AIDS Bill Passes Senate

http://biden.senate.gov/press/press_releases/release/?id=C92DE619-B9CB-4FB0-833A-1200DDBA9248

Biden/Lugar Legislation Authorizes $48 Billion for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB

July 16, 2008

Washington, DC – By a vote of 80-16, the United States Senate passed legislation today sponsored by Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) and Ranking Member Richard G. Lugar (R-IN) to authorize $48 billion for global HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis programs for the next five fiscal years. This legislation, entitled the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, is a landmark step in the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases.

“In 2003, we launched the largest public health program the world had ever seen and it had a dramatic impact, saving millions of lives,” said Senator Biden. “We’ve made tremendous strides, but our work is not nearly finished. Two million people died last year of HIV/AIDS. Over two and a half million people died of malaria and TB. That’s over 10,000 people killed per day – per day – because of these diseases. These are mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers – whole families have been devastated, whole communities have been affected. It is our moral obligation to lead this global fight against these diseases. We’ve been negotiating this legislation for many months and it is a product of bipartisan compromise and commitment to saving lives worldwide. I would also like to thank the President. His decision to launch this initiative was bold and unexpected and I believe historians may regard it as his finest hour. We will be proud to send this legislation to his desk.”

“We should understand that our investments in disease prevention programs have yielded enormous foreign policy benefits during the last five years. PEPFAR has helped to prevent instability and societal collapse in a number of at-risk countries; it has stimulated contributions from other wealthy nations to fight AIDS; it has facilitated deep partnerships with a new generation of African leaders; and it has improved attitudes toward the United States in Africa and other regions,” Senator Lugar said.

Senator Biden and Lugar’s legislation (S. 2731/H.R. 5501) specifically:

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Authorizes $48 billion for global HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis programs for the next five fiscal years;

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Sets ambitious targets for saving millions of lives through treatment, care, and prevention and the training of health care workers;

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Provides for a flexible approach to helping countries combat their local epidemics;

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Strengthens efforts to address the special vulnerabilities of girls and women to HIV/AIDS, prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to children and expand access to treatment for children;

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Substantially increases U.S. assistance to prevent and treat malaria through insecticide treated bednets, indoor residual spraying, access to anti-malarial drugs and other tools;

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Expands efforts to combat tuberculosis including the growing problem of drug resistant strains of TB; and

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Repeals the visa ban for those with HIV/AIDS.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00182

NAYs ---16
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bunning (R-KY)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Sessions (R-AL)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

Not Voting - 4
Kennedy (D-MA)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)
Warner (R-VA)