[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 13, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6226-S6227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST (for himself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Helms, Mr. Leahy, Mr. 
        Durbin, and Mr. Chafee):
  S. 1032. A bill to expand assistance to countries seriously affected 
by HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis; to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I have spoken several times over the last 
few months on what many consider to be the most pressing moral, 
humanitarian and public health crisis of modern times, the worldwide 
epidemic of HIV/AIDS. I have previously gone into great detail about 
the impact of the disease on families, communities, economies, and 
regional stability.
  Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the enormity of insolvable problems. 
We become inured to the tragedy, and look for problems we can more 
easily solve. But we must not turn away from the world-wide devastation 
of HIV/AIDS. Just consider this: right now, 36 million people are 
infected with HIV/AIDS a fatal infectious disease, mostly in developing 
countries. That number is more than the total combined populations of 
Virginia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Maryland, Kentucky, Connecticut, 
New Mexico, Vermont and Nebraska. As of today, AIDS have orphaned 13 
million children, more than the entire population of Illinois.
  Compounding this burden, over 8 million people acquire tuberculosis 
each year, and 500 million more get malaria, both diseases that 
disproportionately affect the poorest countries. Frequently forgotten, 
malaria still kills a child every 40 seconds. Remember the horrific 
links between HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. If you have AIDS you are much 
more likely to contract TB, and TB has become the greatest killer of 
those with AIDS. Similarly, if a person with HIV/AIDS contracts 
malaria, that person is more likely to die. And infectious diseases 
such as these cause 25 percent of all the deaths in the world today. 
But as Americans, we have many reasons to be proud of our response to 
the challenges.
  The U.S. has been a leader in the global battles against AIDS, 
malaria and TB. This year, we are spending over $460 million on 
international AIDS assistance alone, not including research. This is 
approximately half of all the funds being spent on HIV/AIDS from all 
sources worldwide. In addition, we spend over $250 million on 
international TB and malaria programs. But we, and the rest of the 
world, must do more. The U.N. estimates that for basic HIV/AIDS 
prevention, treatment and care programs in Africa alone, over $3 
billion will be required, and at least $5 billion needed if specific 
anti-AIDS drugs are more widely used.
  In Abuja, Nigeria, on April 26, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan 
called for a global ``war chest'' to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. 
Few thought that his call would so quickly be answered.
  On May 11, just 2 weeks later, Senator Leahy and I joined Secretary 
General Kofi Annan and Nigerian President Obasanjo as President Bush 
announced his intent to contribute $200 million as seed money for a new 
global fund designed to provide grants for prevention, infrastructure 
development, care and treatment for AIDS, malaria and TB. And this is 
to be over and above our already substantial bilateral commitments.
  Uniquely, it will be financed jointly by governments and the private 
sector, and will focus on integrated approaches to turning back, and 
eventually conquering these scourges. While emphasizing prevention, 
this new initiative will also seek to develop health infrastructures so 
necessary to deliver services. Importantly, it will also support 
science-based care and treatment programs, including provision of 
drugs, and support for those, such as orphans, who are affected by 
disease, not just infected by it.
  And because of recent action by the pharmaceutical companies to slash 
prices of AIDS drugs in Africa, for the first time in history, the 
drugs that revolutionized AIDS care and treatment in the U.S. can 
become part of a comprehensive prevention and care strategy in many 
more countries. This global fund is a new idea, it isn't a U.S. fund, 
or a U.N. fund, or a World Bank fund. However, it builds on last year's 
landmark work and legislation spearheaded by Congressman Jim Leach, 
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and Senator John Kerry to establish a 
multilateral funding mechanism for HIV/AIDS.
  A key component of the Global Fund will be the full participation of 
the private sector, including business, NGOs, foundations and 
individual citizens. The problem is so large that governments cannot do 
the work alone. Non-governmental organizations, both faith-based and 
secular will be critical in the delivery of prevention and care 
services and to quickly converting good intentions into practical 
programs on the ground. And use of the funds will be closely monitored 
to ensure that good public health and

[[Page S6227]]

science drive the programs and intellectual property rights are 
protected.
  The legislation Senators Kerry, Helms, Leahy, Durbin, and I are 
introducing today authorizes $200 million for fiscal year 2002, and 
$500 million for fiscal year 2003 to be appropriated for payment to the 
global trust fund. It will not substitute for, or reduce, resource 
levels otherwise appropriated for our excellent bilateral and 
multilateral HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB programs. This will be money well 
spent, it will save lives, and just as important, it will provide hope 
to the millions of people around the world who can do so much if given 
the prospect of a healthy future for themselves and their children.
  Since the President was the first to announce our participation in 
the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases, others have 
stepped up. France announced an initial contribution of $128 million, 
the United Kingdom has promised $106 million, and Japan is considering 
a significant commitment in the near future. Of particular interest, 
Winterthur- Credit Swisse has just announced a $1 million contribution, 
and others in the global business community are expected to follow. 
Other companies and foundations are considering financial or in-kind 
contributions.
  Kofi Annan himself has offered $100,000 of his own money for the 
fund. I have also been told by U.N. Staff in New York that they have 
received many calls from private citizens asking how they can 
contribute. One gentleman from Virginia wants to send a check for $600. 
I have been assured that he and others like him will not have long to 
wait. A tax-exempt account for donations and toll-free number for 
information are being created as I speak. I understand that 
negotiations are underway with United Way to see if it can use its vast 
outreach to encourage donations. This is terrific news.
  Every American, and others throughout the world, should join this 
fight against the diseases that have too long threatened our children, 
destroyed families, and undermined economic development of dozens of 
nations. This is not just government's fight. It is all of our 
responsibility to conquer HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB and consign them to 
the waste-bin of history.
  Last week I had the opportunity of meeting with a remarkable woman 
from Atlanta who contracted HIV/AIDS at age 16. Denise Stokes has 
struggled with the virus for 15 years. She described what it was like 
spending time in hospital intensive care units and what it was like to 
not have access to available drugs. She prayed that some day there 
would be a cure and watched, from the depth of her illness, as 
policymakers seemed unable to grapple with the public health and 
personal tragedy that was AIDS. She is now sharing her experiences with 
churches, college students, community and professional organizations--
challenging us to follow her example--to embrace our moral obligation 
to reach out beyond our selves, our communities and beyond our own 
country borders to fully battle the infectious diseases that are 
destroying so many lives on our planet. Denise Stokes' message is one 
of rising to a challenge, and bringing hope to the sick and their loved 
ones. All America must rise to this historic challenge and join in 
sending a message of hope.
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