Breaking News: On a vote of 80 to 16, senators approved three-fold increase in budget to fight the virus.
This afternoon, the Senate finally voted on the so-called PEPFAR reauthorization bill.
The Associated Press reports:
The Senate has approved spending $48 billion over the next five years to treat and prevent the spread of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa and elsewhere around the world.The legislation more than triples the current $15 billion program that has brought lifesaving drugs to some 1.7 million people with HIV/AIDS.
The bill passed by a vote of 80-16. That sets up negotiations with the House on a final compromise. President Bush has been a strong advocate for the global AIDS program.
Also, I received in my email inbox, this news release from the Global AIDS Alliance:
Washington, July 16 -- Today the US Senate passed a crucial bill, backed by President Bush, that reauthorizes the US program on global HIV/AIDS while also authorizing much greater funding for programs to address tuberculosis and malaria."The bill is a tremendous achievement, and I commend Senators Biden and
Lugar, who authored the bill, and Senator Reid whose determination to
bring the bill forward was indispensable," said Dr. Paul Zeitz,
Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance."The amount per year, about $10 billion, is less than 1 percent of this
year's federal budget, and thas is a small price to pay for a program
that will save millions of lives and foster good will around the world,"
said Zeitz.The bill, S. 2731, was approved by the Foreign Relations Committee in
March and was endorsed by both Senators Obama and McCain, but it was
then stalled by several Republican legislators. Today several hostile
amendments were defeated, and the bill was approved 80 to 16. The House
appears ready to approve the Senate version."Myths and disinformation were used by Senators Kyl, Bunning, DeMint and
others to try to undermine this bill, but in the end the truth won out,"
noted Zeitz. "This bill will expand American leadership on global
health and foster hope around the world. Once fully funded, it will not
only help poor countries but serve America's interests as well."The bill lays out a five-year strategy for confronting AIDS, TB and
malaria, while authorizing, though not actually providing, a total
funding level of $48 billion for global health programs. The bill also
lays out a policy framework on such closely related issues as gender,
care for orphaned children, nutrition, and health care worker shortages.
This story will hit the front pages of newspapers tomorrow. Watch for an update soon.
Posted by Tim Morgan on July 16, 2008 6:19PM
Comments
Thank you, Senate and President Bush.
Posted by: alison at July 17, 2008
And what guarantees do we have from the recient govt's. that the money will be spent on AIDS programs and not go to support some dictator and corruption, as has happened to the other millions in foreign aid we have given to African countries? What has been done with the $100 million a yr. we give to Mugabe (Zimbawe)? Why can't the Am. taxpayer make a trade: Our dollars for an equivalent amt. of your natural resources (oil, gold, diamonds), since you haven't done anything with what you've got to establish viable economies.
Will the nine African countries with active, documented slave trades be required to abolish slavery in order to get our money ? If children and young girls are sold into slavery as prostitutes and house servants, that would diminish the effect of AIDS preventative programs, would it not ? Why don't we place conditions on the money Americans give away ? Look at the hisotry of foreign aid to Africa. We are stupid if we don't require some accountability. (No news there.)
Posted by: TeacherUndep at July 18, 2008
Dear CT:
I cannot find more cogent words than the comment by 'TeacherUndep' on 7-18-08. As we understand Christ's teaching again and again..."you received but what accountability did you render?"
Posted by: John Petrakis at July 19, 2008
Must be the astigmatism (or this small, pale blue print): recipient;history
I went to Sunday School and church most of my life, but I never heard this point made relative to Christ's teachings; I finally figured it out for myself and believe I'm right.
Remember when Jesus healed someone ? He did not say straight out, "I'm going to heal you. Let me perform this miracle all by myself, because I can, you know". He said, "Would you be healed ?" In other words, there has to be a certain amt. of faith,willingness, co-operation, determination, and commitment on your part before the healing can take place. We know this to be true in dieting, addiction, success, spiritual conversion,etc.; otherwise, there is constant and/or permanent relapse into the old behavior and condition. One of the aspects I love about Christianity is that it makes sense! (I know, God being perfet, what else could it make ?)
Like a bad parent who does everything for her child and keeps him psychologically dependent and a virtual cripple instead of teaching him to be independent because she tells herself that she loves him (actually, she does it for herself), we give to the extent that we have made African countries dependent on foreign aid. Without their mutual commitment, no matter how much money and other aid we give, we will be doing more harm than good. "Charity begins at home".
Posted by: TeacherIndep at July 21, 2008
Are we talking about the same Christ?
Posted by: alison at July 23, 2008
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