Congresswoman Lee Applauds Renewed Commitment to the Global Fund
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke on the House Floor in support of H.RES. 517, a resolution supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, which later passed the House on a bipartisan voice vote.
“This important resolution reaffirms our commitment to ending AIDS and calls on our government to maintain its historic contribution to the Global Fund. As one of the original authors of the Global Fund, PEPFAR and as co-chair of the HIV/AIDS Caucus, I am pleased that we are moving forward with this bill.
“This legislation has one of the greatest impacts on lives of people around the world. Since 2002, the Global Fund and PEPFAR have saved 32 million lives. What’s more, the Global Fund has cut the number of AIDS-related deaths in HALF since 2005, and helped to reduce TB deaths by 37%.
“Our country’s strong support of this program, coupled with new scientific advances, has helped us turn the tide on achieving an AIDS-free generation. Just this year during the Sixth Replenishment Fund Conference – the U.S. maintained its strong commitment to a $1.56 billion a year contribution.
“This Sunday was also World AIDS Day and in my capacity as U.S. Congressional Representative to the UN, I led a CBC delegation with high-level meetings on HIV. It is clear that HIV/AIDS-free generation is possible, but only with the continued commitment of the US to the Global Fund.
“I am glad that we have reaffirmed our commitment to the Global Fund and its 6th replenishment from earlier this year. The bipartisanship and the bilateral commitment to this program cannot be understated.”
Congresswoman Lee’s floor speech can be viewed here.
Background: Congresswoman Lee was inspired by her predecessor, Congressman Ron Dellums, to establish the framework for the Global Fund. She worked closely with Republican Congressman Jim Leach to get H.Res.3519, the Global AIDS and Tuberculosis Relief Act of 2000, through the Banking Committee, which was eventually signed by President Bill Clinton in 2000. The legislation was later championed at the United Nations by Secretary General Kofi Annan.
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