[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 85 (Friday, June 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ASSISTANCE FOR ORPHANS AND OTHER VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN DEVELOPING 
                         COUNTRIES ACT OF 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 2004

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
Assistance for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries 
Act. I want to thank the author, Ms. Lee, for her hard work and 
leadership in advocating for orphans for vulnerable children affected 
by the AIDS crisis.
  Today, there are more than 110 million orphans throughout the world. 
Communities heavily affected by AIDS are being robbed of a generation 
of adults in their most productive years, leaving behind children to be 
raised by relatives, left on their own in households headed by 
children, or even worse--living in the streets.
  The scope and complexity of the challenges facing children affected 
by HIV/AIDS cannot be overstated. Children often must take over adult 
work responsibilities and provide care for sick parents or family 
members, forcing them to drop out of school and social activities. 
Children are forced to find any work necessary to support themselves 
and often their younger siblings.
  We have a responsibility today to make a firm commitment to ensure 
that the funding we promised last year, in the Global HIV/AIDS bill, 
goes to improve the safety, health, and survival of these children. 
This important legislation will establish a new office of Orphans and 
other Vulnerable Children within USAID to adopt a comprehensive 
approach for assistance and coordinate that assistance provided to 
orphans and vulnerable children. By passing this legislation today and 
maintaining our promise for HIV/AIDS funding in the appropriations bill 
we are preparing to consider this year, we can provide hope and 
opportunity to the villages and communities where these AIDS orphans 
live, we can play an important role in educating and investing in 
future generations to fight this dangerous and deadly disease, and we 
can preserve the history of their culture for future generations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

                          ____________________