Congresswoman Barbara Lee Commemorates World AIDS Day: Encourages Congress to Remain Committed to Vaccine, Cure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2013
Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), founding co-chair of the bi-partisan, bi-cameral Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus and long recognized as a Congressional leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, released the following statement today regarding World AIDS Day:
“The theme of this year's World AIDS Day, "Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Results for an AIDS-free Generation" could not be more timely. It reminds us that we as the United States join countries around the world in this fight against HIV/AIDS and in creating an AIDS-free generation.
"In the United States Congress, few issues have transcended partisan gridlock like the fight against AIDS. While many issues are stalled in the current legislative environment, in the last two weeks alone, we have passed two AIDS bills into law, the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act and the HOPE Act (HIV Organ Policy Equity Act). This is a true testament to how important our advances are, as well as how important this issue is.
"This year, as we mark the 10th anniversary of our global AIDS program, PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), and prepare to host the 4th replenishment conference in the United States for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, now is the time to redouble our efforts to support a strong $5 billion pledge for the Global Fund and new program targets for PEPFAR.
"The ultimate goal of the end of AIDS, an AIDS-free generation, is achievable, if we remain committed to funding treatment and prevention programs, provide comprehensive sexual education to young people around the world, and continue to make AIDS funding a priority in Congress while searching for a cure and vaccine."
###
Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and Twitter at @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov.
Congresswoman Lee has been a leader in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. She co-authored legislation signed into law creating the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in 2000, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2003, the PEPFAR Reauthorization Act in 2008, and in 2005 legislation addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS. She has also been a leader in the effort to establish a National AIDS Strategy, and is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services & Education with jurisdiction over all domestic HIV/AIDS funding. She is the only United States representative on United Nations Development Programme’s Global Commission on HIV and the Law and was the original sponsor of legislation that lead to the repeal of the Immigration and Travel ban that barred the entry of HIV positive individuals. The repeal allowed the International AIDS conference to take place in July 2012 in Washington, D.C., which was held in the U.S. after 20 years. Congresswoman Lee serves as a Representative from the United States to the 68th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.