June 07, 2002
I am therefore greatly shocked that Senator Frist drastically reduced the level of funding for global AIDS, TB and malaria programs in his amendment to the FY02 Supplemental Appropriations bill. His initial amendment would have provided $500 million, but the final language instead capped spending at $200 million. A large portion of the $500 million in the original amendment would have gone to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). I am appalled that this real opportunity to significantly increase the United States contribution to combating these diseases was squandered.
It is rumored that Dr. Frist was pressured by President Bush to decrease the amount of his amendment in exchange for a promise to potentially increase funding for efforts to decrease mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS by $100 million a year for five years. Reducing mother to child transmission is an integral part of defeating global HIV/AIDS, but funding for these efforts should not come at the expense of an overall U.S. contribution to the GFATM. We are also hearing unfortunate news that the increase in funding will not take effect until 2004.
Over the past several months, Senator Frist and Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) have made promises to Members of Congress, HIV/AIDS activists, and the global community to increase the U.S. contribution to fight these diseases. It is unfortunate that they did not follow through on their initial proposal to increase the U.S. contribution to $500 million.
I only hope that as we move through this year's appropriations season, that all Members of Congress will stand firm behind our legislative efforts rather then use the suffering and deaths of millions of people worldwide when it suits them publicly.
Congress must provide at least $1 billion this year to the GFATM. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, world leaders and many others have called for at least $10 billion dollars a year to effectively combat global HIV/AIDS. The United States is the wealthiest country in the world and we can, and must, do better.
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Statement of Congresswoman Barbara Lee Global AIDS Amendments in the FY02 Supplemental Appropriations Bill
I have worked with Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) on global HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria legislation in the past, and I know that he cares very deeply about this issue and understands that these diseases represent not only the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time, but also a regional and national security crisis as well.I am therefore greatly shocked that Senator Frist drastically reduced the level of funding for global AIDS, TB and malaria programs in his amendment to the FY02 Supplemental Appropriations bill. His initial amendment would have provided $500 million, but the final language instead capped spending at $200 million. A large portion of the $500 million in the original amendment would have gone to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). I am appalled that this real opportunity to significantly increase the United States contribution to combating these diseases was squandered.
It is rumored that Dr. Frist was pressured by President Bush to decrease the amount of his amendment in exchange for a promise to potentially increase funding for efforts to decrease mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS by $100 million a year for five years. Reducing mother to child transmission is an integral part of defeating global HIV/AIDS, but funding for these efforts should not come at the expense of an overall U.S. contribution to the GFATM. We are also hearing unfortunate news that the increase in funding will not take effect until 2004.
Over the past several months, Senator Frist and Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) have made promises to Members of Congress, HIV/AIDS activists, and the global community to increase the U.S. contribution to fight these diseases. It is unfortunate that they did not follow through on their initial proposal to increase the U.S. contribution to $500 million.
I only hope that as we move through this year's appropriations season, that all Members of Congress will stand firm behind our legislative efforts rather then use the suffering and deaths of millions of people worldwide when it suits them publicly.
Congress must provide at least $1 billion this year to the GFATM. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, world leaders and many others have called for at least $10 billion dollars a year to effectively combat global HIV/AIDS. The United States is the wealthiest country in the world and we can, and must, do better.
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