March 17, 2005
“I’m proud to offer this bill as a first step to provide a more effective US response to the global crisis facing orphans and vulnerable children,” said Lee. “The spread of AIDS has only added to the urgent necessity to provide care for the world’s most vulnerable populations, and I look forward to working on a bipartisan basis with my colleagues in the House and Senate to pass this bill and help these children.”
According to a joint report by UNAID, UNICEF and USAIDS released in July, 2004, a child is orphaned by AIDS every 14 seconds. 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 bill establishes the position of Special Advisor for Assistance to Vulnerable Populations within the United States Agency for International Development (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.
A similar bill was introduced in the Senate in February by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), Chairman of the Senate International Relations Committee. Last year, the House passed Lee’s bill, but a similar measure in the Senate did not reach a vote.
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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Barbara Lee Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help AIDS Orphans Worldwide
(Washington, DC) – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced the Assistance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005, a bill designed to provide a comprehensive US response to the continuing global problem of orphaned and vulnerable children. Lee is joined in introducing the bill by Representatives Henry Hyde (R-IL), Tom Lantos (D-CA), the Chair and Ranking Member of the House International Relations Committee and Jim Leach (R-IA), Chair of the Asia Subcommittee.“I’m proud to offer this bill as a first step to provide a more effective US response to the global crisis facing orphans and vulnerable children,” said Lee. “The spread of AIDS has only added to the urgent necessity to provide care for the world’s most vulnerable populations, and I look forward to working on a bipartisan basis with my colleagues in the House and Senate to pass this bill and help these children.”
According to a joint report by UNAID, UNICEF and USAIDS released in July, 2004, a child is orphaned by AIDS every 14 seconds. 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 bill establishes the position of Special Advisor for Assistance to Vulnerable Populations within the United States Agency for International Development (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.
A similar bill was introduced in the Senate in February by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), Chairman of the Senate International Relations Committee. Last year, the House passed Lee’s bill, but a similar measure in the Senate did not reach a vote.
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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