[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 31 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2725-S2726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORZINE:
  S. 2203. A bill to provide assistance to combat HIV/AIDS in India, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
make India eligible for assistance under the Emergency Plan for AIDS 
Relief.

[[Page S2726]]

  India is facing a critical moment. An estimated 4.58 million people 
are infected with the HIV virus in India and HIV/AIDS has been reported 
in almost all the states and union territories of the country. The 
epidemic is spreading rapidly from urban to rural areas and from high-
risk groups to the general population. Given India's size and the 
mobility of its population, there is a serious threat of catastrophe.
  India's political leaders, public health officials, non-governmental 
organizations, and medical and scientific communities have taken 
important steps to combat HIV/AIDS. India, the world's largest 
democracy, has skilled governmental and civil society actors who are 
committed to a new awareness of the AIDS crisis and strategic 
approaches to combating the disease. But significant gaps remain in the 
Indian health care system's ability to address the full scope of the 
crisis. These gaps require immediate and sustained U.S. engagement and 
contribution of resources.
  We must continue to expand the list of eligible countries in 
recognition of the global nature of this pandemic. We must also 
accelerate assistance to African and Caribbean countries already 
included as focus countries. Finally, we must increase overall funding 
to combat HIV/AIDS. India is but one example of the enormity of the 
HIV/AIDS epidemic. But it is also an example of the opportunities for 
America to reach out and find partners in combating this scourge. It is 
not true that programs to fight AIDS cannot absorb more resources. 
There is critical and urgent work to be done and committed 
professionals ready to do it. They just need our help.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2203

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Government of India has estimated that 4,580,000 
     people in India are infected with the human immunodeficiency 
     virus (``HIV'') and cases of individuals with the acquired 
     immune deficiency syndrome (``AIDS'') have been reported in 
     almost all the states and union territories of India.
       (2) The effort to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic in India 
     has reached a critical point, as the epidemic is spreading 
     rapidly from urban to rural areas and from high-risk groups 
     to the general population.
       (3) Political leaders, public health officials, non-
     governmental organizations, and medical and scientific 
     communities in India have taken important steps to combat HIV 
     and AIDS in that country, but assistance from the United 
     States is urgently needed to enhance such efforts.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the addition of India as a country for which the 
     Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat 
     HIV/AIDS Globally has responsibilities under section 
     1(f)(2)(B)(ii)(VII) of the State Department Basic Authorities 
     Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(f)(2)(B)(ii)(VII)) should not 
     decrease the amount of funding the Coordinator makes 
     available for assistance to any other such country;
       (2) the United States should continue to increase the 
     number of countries eligible to receive assistance from the 
     United States to combat HIV and AIDS; and
       (3) the United States should increase the total amount of 
     assistance available to combat HIV and AIDS.

     SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO COMBAT HIV/AIDS IN INDIA.

       Section 1(f)(2)(B)(ii)(VII) of the State Department Basic 
     Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(f)(2)(B)(ii)(VII)) 
     is further amended by inserting ``India,'' after ``Haiti,''.
                                 ______