Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Marks 15 Years of PEPFAR
Washington, D.C. – This May, Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) marked the 15th Anniversary of the signing of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
“As an original author of PEPFAR, I am incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made in the last 15 years to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. PEPFAR has saved millions of lives around the world and helped those with the disease live with dignity and security,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “But while the goal of an AIDS-free generation is within our grasp, we cannot afford to grow complacent in this fight. The United States must double down on our commitment to fighting this disease and empowering those living with HIV/AIDS. Our work will not be finished until we eradicate this disease from every corner of the Earth.”
“PEPFAR has improved and saved the lives of millions with HIV/AIDS. One of my best achievements in Congress was my work to establish this important program, which was a bipartisan effort that demonstrates that transformative ideas are truly nonpartisan,” said Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “Over the last 15 years, PEPFAR has gotten us steps closer to controlling HIV by 2020 and to achieving an AIDS-free generation.”
In 2003, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen worked with President George W. Bush to establish PEPFAR. Today, PEPFAR reaches over 14 million people around the world.
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