November 16, 2005
“Today, every 14 seconds another child is orphaned by AIDS. With parents dying at an alarming rate, children are left without food, shelter, education, or protection. The global orphan crisis is a profound humanitarian disaster that will be felt for decades to come,” said Lee. “This bill will better focus our foreign assistance programs to address the special needs of orphans and vulnerable children, who are oftentimes a significant afterthought in our international programs, and we must ensure that vision is funded with at least $340 million this year.”
According to a joint report by UNAIDS, UNICEF and USAID released in July, 2004, there are more than 143 million children living in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean who were identified as orphans having lost one or both of their parents. The rapid growth of the HIV/AIDS virus in Africa and throughout the developing world has dramatically impacted the number of children who are newly becoming orphans. With parents dying at an alarming rate, children are left without food, shelter, education, or protection.
The Assistance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005 establishes the position of Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children within the USAID to better coordinate and provide assistance in support of basic care; treatment for HIV-infected children; psychosocial support; school food programs; educational opportunities through the elimination of school fees; and inheritance rights for orphans and vulnerable children.
Lee’s bill had 130 co-sponsors in the House and support from more than 30 non-governmental organizations working on HIV/AIDS and international aid issues. The Senate version of the bill was introduced by Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Lee’s bill passed the House on October 18th, was approved unanimously by the Senate on October 24th, and signed into Law by the President on November 8th (Public Law 109-95).
The Administration will now need to appoint a Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children who will work to coordinate US foreign assistance on OVC’s, devise a government wide strategy, monitor US assistance, and put together an annual report to Congress.
Congresswoman Lee will now focus on securing adequate appropriations for our US foreign assistance programs for OVC’s, with at least $340 million this year, and will seek to exercise rigorous oversight over assistance programs through her seat on the International Relations Committee.
“The unfortunate reality is that much of our foreign policy is based on a stop gap mentality,” said Lee. “This bill is an important first step, not only towards addressing the growing crisis facing orphans and vulnerable children, but towards a more proactive foreign policy aimed at addressing the root causes of these problems.”
As the most senior Democratic Woman on the House International Relations Committee, Lee has traveled to Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe and witnessed the desperation that orphan and vulnerable children are facing. In 1999, she took part in a Presidential Mission to sub-Saharan Africa focused specifically on children orphaned by AIDS.
Lee’s accomplishments in promoting effective, bipartisan measures to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and bring treatment to the infected have earned her recognition both at home and abroad as a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Lee was a leader in the bipartisan effort to designate $15 billion for the prevention, care, and treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. She authored the bill to establish the framework for the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS and sponsored legislation that allows impoverished countries to purchase generic, cheaper HIV/AIDS drugs.
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Angelina Jolie Joins Barbara Lee to Celebrate Passage of Bill to Protect Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Call for Full Funding
(Washington, DC) – Academy award winning actress Angelina Jolie joined Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) at a press conference on Capitol Hill today to celebrate the passage of a bill authored by Lee designed to provide a comprehensive US response to the continuing global problem of orphaned and vulnerable children and to call for the measure to be fully funded.“Today, every 14 seconds another child is orphaned by AIDS. With parents dying at an alarming rate, children are left without food, shelter, education, or protection. The global orphan crisis is a profound humanitarian disaster that will be felt for decades to come,” said Lee. “This bill will better focus our foreign assistance programs to address the special needs of orphans and vulnerable children, who are oftentimes a significant afterthought in our international programs, and we must ensure that vision is funded with at least $340 million this year.”
According to a joint report by UNAIDS, UNICEF and USAID released in July, 2004, there are more than 143 million children living in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean who were identified as orphans having lost one or both of their parents. The rapid growth of the HIV/AIDS virus in Africa and throughout the developing world has dramatically impacted the number of children who are newly becoming orphans. With parents dying at an alarming rate, children are left without food, shelter, education, or protection.
The Assistance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005 establishes the position of Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children within the USAID to better coordinate and provide assistance in support of basic care; treatment for HIV-infected children; psychosocial support; school food programs; educational opportunities through the elimination of school fees; and inheritance rights for orphans and vulnerable children.
Lee’s bill had 130 co-sponsors in the House and support from more than 30 non-governmental organizations working on HIV/AIDS and international aid issues. The Senate version of the bill was introduced by Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Lee’s bill passed the House on October 18th, was approved unanimously by the Senate on October 24th, and signed into Law by the President on November 8th (Public Law 109-95).
The Administration will now need to appoint a Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children who will work to coordinate US foreign assistance on OVC’s, devise a government wide strategy, monitor US assistance, and put together an annual report to Congress.
Congresswoman Lee will now focus on securing adequate appropriations for our US foreign assistance programs for OVC’s, with at least $340 million this year, and will seek to exercise rigorous oversight over assistance programs through her seat on the International Relations Committee.
“The unfortunate reality is that much of our foreign policy is based on a stop gap mentality,” said Lee. “This bill is an important first step, not only towards addressing the growing crisis facing orphans and vulnerable children, but towards a more proactive foreign policy aimed at addressing the root causes of these problems.”
As the most senior Democratic Woman on the House International Relations Committee, Lee has traveled to Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe and witnessed the desperation that orphan and vulnerable children are facing. In 1999, she took part in a Presidential Mission to sub-Saharan Africa focused specifically on children orphaned by AIDS.
Lee’s accomplishments in promoting effective, bipartisan measures to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and bring treatment to the infected have earned her recognition both at home and abroad as a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Lee was a leader in the bipartisan effort to designate $15 billion for the prevention, care, and treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. She authored the bill to establish the framework for the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS and sponsored legislation that allows impoverished countries to purchase generic, cheaper HIV/AIDS drugs.