Congress Investigates Ineffectiveness of Abstinence-Only Earmark in Fighting Global AIDS
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) questioned witnesses today at a hearing held by the House Government Reform Committee Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations about recent evidence that U.S. efforts to stop the global spread of AIDS are being undermined by a requirement that one third of prevention funds be spent on abstinence-only programs. In April 2006 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report that found that the abstinence-only earmark is posing challenges to the majority of countries hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic. Lee, who co-authored the 2003 legislation that created the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), recently introduced legislation that would repeal the abstinence-only requirements. The following is her statement (as prepared):
“The issue before us today is a critically important one. Do we neglect evidenced based public health prevention strategies in order to satisfy an arbitrary ideological prevention policy?
“Do we put AIDS funding towards meeting the local needs and priorities of people in Africa, the Caribbean and the developing world, or towards meeting the priorities of politicians in Washington, D.C?
“The answers should be obvious. But the unfortunate truth today is that our global AIDS prevention policy is being driven in large part by the need to fulfill an arbitrary funding earmark that has no basis in science, and that according to the GAO, may be hindering the overall battle against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.
“Let me be clear, as a co-author and a co-sponsor of the original legislation which established PEPFAR in 2003, I believe very strongly in the power and the promise of our global AIDS programs. I very much appreciate the work being done by Ambassador Dybul and his office here in Washington, along with the work of all US personnel and NGO’s in the field who are working on this issue.
“They are doing critical, lifesaving work every day in difficult conditions and their work should be applauded.
“But at the same time I believe very strongly that we should not be tying their hands by requiring them to meet an unproven abstinence-only-until marriage earmark.
“I know our first two panelists will assert, as they must, that the earmark is not burdensome and that US prevention programs still fund a range of activities beyond abstinence as part of the ABC (Abstain, Be faithful, use a Condom) approach.
“But according to GAO, the evidence says otherwise.
“The very fact that the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator allows US country teams to seek an exemption from complying with the earmark indicates that they recognize it is a burden.
“It is time for us to end this earmark once and for all, and I have introduced H.R. 5674, the PATHWAY Act to do just that.
“My bill would also address the growing toll that HIV/AIDS is taking on women and girls throughout the developing world by requiring the President to develop a comprehensive, integrated and culturally appropriate HIV prevention strategy to address the key factors that contribute to gender disparities in the rate of HIV infection.
“Such factors include, for example: empowering women and girls to avoid cross-generational sex and early or child marriage; increasing access to female condoms; addressing gender-based violence, rape and sexual coercion; supporting the development of micro-enterprise initiatives, job training programs, and income generating programs; encouraging the creation and effective enforcement of legal frameworks that guarantee equal rights and protection for women and girls; promoting gender equality and the development of civil society organizations focused on women;
“I want to thank Chairman Shays, Ranking Member Waxman and Ranking Member Kucinich for their co-sponsorship of the PATHWAY Act.
“I hope that today’s hearing can shed further light on how this abstinence-only earmark is actually being implemented in the field, and I look forward to continuing to work with the administration and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to strengthen our HIV/AIDS programs.”
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