[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E845-E846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WORLD AIDS ORPHANS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 2008

  Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in Congress 
as well as the entire international community in recognizing World AIDS 
Orphans Day. This is a critically important day because we are reminded 
of our collective responsibility to address the needs of the world's 
most vulnerable population--millions of orphans and vulnerable children 
who need desperately need our support, care, attention and resources.
  According to the U.S. Agency for International Development, highly 
vulnerable children include those who receive inadequate adult support 
because of abandonment, economic distress, or chronic illness; have 
HIV/AIDS or are suspected of having HIV; are directly affected by armed 
conflict; live outside of family care; or in some other way have 
suffered from a collapse of traditional social safety nets in their 
communities. Disease, conflict, violence, natural disaster, and severe 
economic strife leave millions of the world's youngest people orphaned 
or otherwise vulnerable. Globally, an estimated 132 million children in 
the developing world have lost one or both parents, while an 
additional, larger number of children are highly vulnerable, facing 
serious risks to their survival and wellbeing. According to UNAIDS, by 
2010, 20-25 million children could be orphaned by HIV/AIDS alone.
  These children face a number of challenges, including finding money 
for school fees, food, clothing, and access to basic healthcare. Their 
desperate plight makes them more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, 
ultimately making them more susceptible to contracting HIV. To that 
end, Congress along with the international community and non-
governmental organizations must be prepared to assist those communities 
where these orphans live and receive most of their assistance. Today 
less than 10 percent of orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) receive 
any kind of international support--the majority of the support they 
receive comes from their own communities. I support the sentiments of 
such organizations as Global Action for Children and other leading 
NGO's who believe that an effective response to the challenges facing 
these children must be to strengthen the capacity of families and 
communities to continue to provide care, protection, and assistance to 
them in, at a minimum, meeting their basic needs.
  According to UNAIDS, an $800 million U.S. investment in 2009 is 
needed to provide universal HIV treatment, care, support and prevention 
services by 2015 to 19 million orphans and vulnerable children. Under 
the United States leadership against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and 
Malaria Act of 2003, 10 percent of all resources devoted to HIV/AIDS 
have been designated for programs to meet the needs of orphans and 
vulnerable children. While the U.S. contribution over the past several 
years has been significant, it will only be successful if we continue 
to provide the necessary assistance and renew our commitment to pass 
the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) reauthorization 
bill.
  It is clear that Congress must do its part to meet America's 
international commitment to

[[Page E846]]

assist orphans and vulnerable children. In that vein, I urge all of my 
colleagues to recognize World AIDS Orphans Day and join me in 
supporting swift passage of PEPFAR so that we can continue to meet the 
needs of millions of children around the world who desperately need our 
help.

                          ____________________