[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 22 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E223-E225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 2000

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
address an issue that is receiving much needed attention by the 
international community and the U.S. government. That issue is global 
health.
  In August of 1999, my constituents were shocked to learn that an 
outbreak of West Nile-Like Encephalitis had surfaced for the first time 
in the Western hemisphere in the heart of my district in Queens and the 
Bronx.
  This outbreak was a wake up call for every American. It illustrates 
that the global community has truly become the local community. As 
demonstrated by West Nile-Like Encephalitis, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, 
a disease respects no borders. An outbreak in Africa, Europe, Asia or 
South America can travel to U.S. shores within days.
  No longer can diseases occurring in far off lands be ignored. They 
pose a direct threat to the national security of our great country and 
must be addressed by the U.S. government, this Congress and the 
international community as a whole. Diseases can not be seized by 
Customs and they do not apply at the U.S. Embassy for a visa. The only 
way to stop them is to target them at the source.
  To address this growing danger, I have been joined by 22 of my 
colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to increase the U.S. 
commitment to global health by one billion dollars over Fiscal Year 
2000 appropriated levels. With these additional funds, our commitment 
to global health will be authorized at 2.19 billion dollars.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the cosponsors of the Global 
Health Act of 2000, Representatives Connie Morella, Nancy Pelosi, Amo 
Houghton, Nita Lowey, Jim

[[Page E224]]

Greenwood, Bernie Sanders, Charlie Rangel, Carrie Meek, Louise McIntosh 
Slaughter, Bobby Rush, Maurice Hinchey, William Delahunt, Tony Hall, 
Carolyn Maloney, Rosa DeLauro, Sherrod Brown, Lynn Woolsey, Barney 
Frank, Robert Wexler, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Jim McGovern, and Jim 
McDermott. These cosponsors represent a broad cross section of the 
House; Democrats and Republicans, members of the Women's Caucus, the 
Progressive Caucus, the Black Caucus, Appropriators and Authorizers, 
who have recognized the need and importance of an increased commitment 
to global health. I ask that a copy of the Global Health Act be printed 
in Record following my remarks.
  The cosponsors of the Global Health Act have realized that an 
investment in global health today will benefit the health of our own 
citizens and be highly cost effective. They realize, Mr. Speaker, that 
its pay now, or pay dearly later.
  We are joined in this effort by over 100 national organizations 
committed to global health, such as the Global Health Council, Save the 
Children, the Salvation Army World Services and the Global AIDS Action 
Network, and the list is growing every day.
  Mr. Speaker, I have included a broad list of health organizations, 
faith based groups and development NGO's that support this legislation 
and ask that it be entered into the record.
  Mr. Speaker, you may ask, what does the Global Health Act do?
  The Global Health Act provides an additional $475 million to prevent, 
control and combat infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. It 
authorizes an additional $325 million in critical funding to help child 
and family survival through nutrition and health advice for pregnant 
women and mothers, along with programs for child survival and infant 
care, such as immunizations.
  Finally, the GHA includes key funding provisions to increase the U.S. 
commitment to international family planning by authorizing an 
additional $200 million for programs such as contraceptive use, spacing 
of children and proper care and nutrition during pregnancy.
  According to a 1993 World Bank report, a basic health care package 
can be delivered to developing nations at a low cost of $13-$15 per 
person annually. This figure includes all immunizations, curative 
health care for children and adults, particularly cures for infectious 
diseases, reproductive health needs, education and treatment of 
sexually transmitted diseases. In other words, basic health services 
can be provided to the 2 billion people currently living in poverty at 
a cost $30 billion each year.
  In this context, an investment of an additional $1 billion of global 
health by the United States--the world's richest nation--is a sound 
investment. The United States can serve as a catalyst to increase the 
commitment of other donor nations, foundations, and corporations to 
increase their contributions to further global health.
  Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, this funding is urgently needed.
  Over 10 million children under the age of five die each year in 
developing nations from preventable causes.
  More than 150 million married women in developing nations still want 
to space or limit childbearing, but do not have access to modern 
contraceptives.
  Nearly 600,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy 
and childbirth, and another 18 million women suffer pregnancy-related 
health programs that can be permanently disabling.
  Thirteen million people die annually from infectious diseases, most 
of which are preventable or curable.
  HIV/AIDS has become the world's leading infectious disease threat 
with over 16,000 new infections daily of which 7,000 of these are young 
people between the ages 10-24.
  The 21st century faces an estimated 33.5 million people around the 
world who are infected with HIV/AIDS. The spread of HIV/AIDS can be 
prevented with an urgent and necessary investment. We must stand at the 
forefront of tackling this disease, in order to secure the health and 
prosperity of our future generations.
  Currently, India is the epicenter for HIV/AIDS as it leads the world 
in newly infected people. Last year, the continent of Africa 
experienced the death of over 2 million people, which is equivalent of 
four funerals per minute.
  We can and must do better.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that the President, in his Fiscal 
Year 2001 budget request, has asked for additional funding for family 
planning and HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, child survival's funding remained 
level, and maternal health had no request at all.
  I am encouraged, however, by the Administration's statements on the 
U.S., commitment to global health. In his State of the Union address, 
the President called for a concerted international action to combat 
infectious diseases in developing countries. Vice President Gore 
recently told the UN Security Council that the Administration's FY 2001 
budget will include a proposed $50 million contribution to the vaccine 
purchase fund of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. 
This week, appearing before the UN Economic and Social Council, 
Ambassador Holbrooke, along with other members of the Security Council, 
reported on the increased security concerns of HIV/AIDS and other 
infectious diseases.
  Mr. Speaker, the time to turn these words into actions is now and I 
believe the Global Health Act provides the means.
  Although other legislative proposals target specific diseases and 
seek to create new programs to help promote global health, the Global 
Health Act of 2000 represents a comprehensive, balanced approach that 
builds upon proven, existing programs.
  For example, the Global Health Act of 2000 would provide a total of 
$500 million for the prevention, care, and treatment of HIV/AIDS in FY 
2001 through existing programs. This legislation uniquely addresses the 
issue of health infrastructure--allowing for vaccines, drugs, and 
medical devices to be delivered to those who need them most.
  Additionally, the legislation emphasizes the interconnectedness of 
global health by calling for increased funding for child survival, 
woman's health and nutrition, reducing unintended pregnancies, and 
combating the spread of other infectious diseases. It also calls for 
increased coordination between the different government agencies 
administering health programs.
  With the resources provided under the Global Health Act and the 
assistance of other nations, we can make a profound difference in the 
health and well-being of millions of the world's poorest citizens and 
protect our own national security as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.

                                H.R. --

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Global Health Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) More than 10,000,000 children under 5 years of age die 
     each year in developing nations from preventable causes, and 
     more than \1/2\ of these deaths are due to 5 conditions; 
     pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, and measles.
       (2) Despite progress in making family planning services 
     available, more than 150,000,000 married women in developing 
     nations will still want to space or limit child bearing, but 
     do not have access to modern contraceptives.
       (3) According to the World Health Organization, nearly 
     600,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy 
     and childbirth, and another 18,000,000 women suffer 
     pregnancy-related health problems that can be permanently 
     disabling.
       (4) According to the World Health Organization, 13,000,000 
     people die annually from infectious diseases, most of which 
     are preventable or curable, and 6 diseases account for 90 
     percent of these deaths; pneumonia, diarrhea diseases, 
     measles, tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.
       (5) HIV/AIDS has become the world's leading infectious 
     disease threat, with 34,000,000 people infected worldwide, 
     and more than 16,000 new infectious daily, of which 7,000 
     cases occur in people between the ages of 10 and 24.

     SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE GLOBAL HEALTH.

       (a) Emphasis on Disease Surveillance and Prevention and 
     Response to Disease Outbreaks.-- Section 104(c) of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151b(c)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Congress recognizes the growing threat that 
     infectious diseases and other global health problems pose to 
     Americans and people everywhere. Accordingly, activities 
     supported under this subsection shall include activities to 
     improve the capacity of developing nations to conduct disease 
     surveillance and prevention programs and to respond promptly 
     and effectively to disease outbreaks.''.
       (b) Increase in FY 2001 USAID Assistance.--
       (1) Authorization of appropriations.-- To carry out the 
     purposes of section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2151b) for fiscal year 2001, there is authorized 
     to be appropriated, in addition to funds otherwise available 
     for such purposes, the following amounts for the following 
     purposes:
       (A) The amount equal to the aggregate of amounts made 
     available for fiscal year 2000 to carry out that section with 
     respect to the health and survival of children, the health 
     and nutrition of pregnant women and mothers, voluntary family 
     planning, combating HIV/AIDS, and the prevention and control 
     of infectious diseases other than HIV/AIDS, to be used for 
     such purposes of fiscal year 2001.
       (B) $1,000,000,000, to be available in accordance with 
     paragraph (2).
       (2) Allocation of Funds.-- Of the amount authorized to be 
     appropriated in paragraph (1)(B)--
       (A) $225,000,000 should be available for the health and 
     survival of children;
       (B) $100,000,00 should be available for the health and 
     nutrition of pregnant women and mothers;

[[Page E225]]

       (C) $200,000,000 should be available for voluntary family 
     planning;
       (D) $275,000,000 should be available for combating HIV/
     AIDS; and
       (E) $200,000,000 should be available for the prevention and 
     control of infectious diseases other than HIV/AIDS.
       (3) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant 
     to paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until 
     expended.
       (c) Coordination Among Federal Departments and Agencies.-- 
     It is the sense of Congress that the President, acting 
     through the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, should coordinate with the Centers 
     for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes 
     of Health, the Department of State, the Department of Health 
     and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and other 
     appropriate Federal departments and agencies to ensure that 
     United States funds made available for the purposes described 
     in paragraph (1) are utilized effectively.


               Global Health Act Supporters as of 2-29-00

     1. Abt Associates, Inc., Bethesda, MD
     2. Advocates for Youth, Washington, DC
     3. AIDS Treatment News, San Francisco, CA
     4. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, Washington, DC
     5. Alan Guttmacher Institute, Washington, DC
     6. Alliance Lanka, Sri Lanka
     7. American Association for World Health, Washington, DC
     8. American Association of Dental Schools, Washington, DC
     9. American Association of University Women, Washington, DC
     10. American International Health Alliance, Washington, DC
     11. American Medical Women's Association, Washington, DC
     12. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC
     13. American Public Health Laboratories, Washington, DC
     14. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 
           Washington, DC
     15. Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, 
           Singapore
     16. Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, San Francisco, 
           CA
     17. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and 
           Epidemiology, Washington, DC
     18. Association of Academic Health Centers, Washington, DC
     19. Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, 
           Washington, DC
     20. Association of Schools of Public Health, Washington, DC
     21. AVSC International, New York, NY
     22. Catholics for Free Choice, Washington, DC
     23. Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), Takoma 
           Park, MD
     24. Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, New York, NY
     25. Centre for Development and Population Activities, 
           Washington, DC
     26. Child Health and Development Centre, Uganda
     27. Childreach, US Member of PLAN International, Warwick, RI
     28. CIDA-AIDS Project, Ghana
     29. Community Working Group on Health--Training and Research 
           Support Centre, Zimbabwe
     30. Concern America, Santa Ana, CA
     31. CONRAD Program, Arlington, VA
     32. Department of Pediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of 
           Medicine, University of Natal, South Africa
     33. Dutch AIDS Coordination Bureau, The Netherlands
     34. Eighteenth International AIDS Conference, Durban, South 
           Africa
     35. Esperanca, Phoenix, AZ
     36. Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, NC
     37. Female Health Company, Chicago, IL
     38. Female Health Foundation, Chicago, IL
     39. Fighting Drug Abuse in Kenya
     40. Foundation for Compassionate America Samaritans, 
           Cincinnati, OH
     41. Francois-Xavier Bagnoud US Foundation, New York, NY
     42. Freedom from Hunger, Davis, CA
     43. Global AIDS Action Network, Washington, DC
     44. Global Alliance for Africa, Chicago, IL
     45. Global Health Connection, Columbus, OH
     46. Global Health Council Washington, DC
     47. Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, The 
           Netherlands
     48. Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, 
           Chicago, IL
     49. Helen Keller Worldwide, New York, NY
     50. Human Rights Campaign, Washington, DC
     51. Humanitas Foundation, Chicago, IL
     52. Institucion Internacional Para la Salud y el Desarrollo 
           (ISDAE), Spain
     53. Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Cuernavaca, Mexico
     54. International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, 
           Chicago, IL
     55. International Center for Research on Women, Washington, 
           DC
     56. International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS 
           (ICW), United Kingdom
     57. International Council of AIDS Service Organizations 
           (ICASO)
     58. International Eye Foundation, Bethesda, MD
     59. International Women's Health Coalition, New York, NY
     60. John Snow, Inc., Boston, MA
     61. Just Like Me Program, Orlando, FL
     62. Loma Linda University, School of Public Health, Loma 
           Linda, CA
     63. Management Sciences for Health, Boston, MA
     64. Medical Service Corporation International, Arlington, VA
     65. Migrant Clinicians Network, Austin, TX
     66. Minnesota International Health Volunteers, Minneapolis, 
           MN
     67. Multidisciplinary African Women's Health Network (MAWHN), 
           Ghana
     68. National Abortion and Reproductive Rights League, 
           Washington, DC
     69. National AIDS Fund, Washington, DC
     70. National Center for Health Education, New York, NY
     71. National Family Planning and Reproductive Health 
           Association, Washington, DC
     72. National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender 
           Organization, Washington, DC
     73. National Minority AIDS Council, Washington, DC
     74. Pacific Institute for Women's Health, Los Angeles, CA
     75. Pathfinder International, Watertown, MA
     76. Pearl S. Buck International, Perkasie, PA
     77. Physicians for Social responsibility, Washington, DC
     78. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Washington, DC
     79. Population Action International, Washington, DC
     80. Population Institute, Washington, DC
     81. Positive Life in Delhi, India
     82. Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, Seattle, WA
     83. Project Concern International, San Diego, CA
     84. Project HOPE, Millwood, VA
     85. Project Inform, San Francisco, CA
     86. Project Troubador, Salisbury, CT
     87. Salvation Army World Services, Arlington, VA
     88. SatelLife, Watertown, MA
     89. Save the Children Federation, Westport, CT
     90. Shrada Dhanvantari Charitable Hospital, India
     91. Southern Colorado AIDS Project, Colorado Springs, CO
     92. Strategies for Hope, United Kingdom
     93. Sub-Saharan Relief Fund, Washington, DC
     94. Swiss Red Cross, Ghana
     95. Thailand Business Coalition on AIDS
     96. The Microbicides Alliance, Arlington, VA
     97. The Seraphim foundation, Arlington, VA
     98. Uganda Youth Anti-AIDS Association
     99. The United Methodist Church--General Board of Church and 
           Society, Washington, DC
     100. University of Michigan Population Fellows Program, Ann 
           Arbor, MI
     101. U.S. Committee for UNFPA, New York, NY
     102. U.S. Fund for UNICEF, New York, NY
     103. VISIONS Worldwide, Boston, MA
     104. Women's Health Institute, Boston, MA
     105. World Neighbors, Oklahoma City, OK
     106. Zero Population Growth, Washington, DC

                        House of Representatives

       March 1, 2000.
       Pursuant to Clause 4 of the rule XXII of the rules of the 
     House of Representatives, the following sponsors are hereby 
     added to the Global Health Act of 2000.
         Constance A. Morella, Nancy Pelosi, Amo Houghton, Nita M. 
           Lowey, James C. Greenwood, Bernard Sanders, Charles B. 
           Rangel, Carrie P. Meek, Louise McIntosh Slaughter, 
           Bobby L. Rush, Maurice D. Hinchey, William D. Delahunt, 
           Tony P. Hall, Carolyn B. Maloney, Rosa L. DeLauro, 
           Sherrod Brown, Lynn C. Woolsey, Borney Frank, Robert 
           Wexler, Sheila Jackson Lee, Jim McDermott, and James P. 
           McGovern