[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 122 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7065-H7071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 5501, TOM 
 LANTOS AND HENRY J. HYDE UNITED STATES GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AGAINST HIV/
      AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS, AND MALARIA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee 
on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1362 and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 1362

       Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be 
     in order to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 
     5501) to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 
     through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to 
     combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and for other 
     purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and to consider 
     in the House, without intervention of any point of order 
     except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI, a motion 
     offered by the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
     or his designee that the House concur in the Senate 
     amendment. The Senate amendment and the motion shall be 
     considered as read. The motion shall be debatable for one 
     hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
     ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. 
     The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the 
     motion to its adoption without intervening motion.
       Sec. 2.  During consideration of the motion to concur 
     pursuant to this resolution, notwithstanding the operation of 
     the previous question, the Chair may postpone further 
     consideration of the motion to such time as may be designated 
     by the Speaker.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for 
1 hour.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. For the purpose of debate only, Madam 
Speaker, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my colleague, classmate 
and good friend, Representative Diaz-Balart. All time yielded during 
consideration of the rule is for debate only. I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative 
days within which to revise and extend their remarks on House 
Resolution 1362.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1362 
provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 5501, the 
Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against 
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.
  The rule provides 1 hour of general debate on the motion controlled 
by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  Madam Speaker, the Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis 
and Malaria Reauthorization Act is a comprehensive and fiscally 
responsible way to continue and advance America's leadership in the 
global fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
  I might add that the two persons for whom this act is named were 
persons that exemplified and manifested throughout their careers the 
need for the Foreign Affairs Committee to proceed in a comprehensive 
and responsible manner.
  The bill authorizes $48 billion to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and 
malaria for fiscal year 09 through fiscal year 2013, and includes 
guidelines and goals for reducing the burden of these diseases.
  The bill supports culturally competent prevention and treatment 
measures that are based on empirical evidence rather than ideology.
  Additionally, the underlying bill includes provisions that support a 
multi-faceted approach to treating and preventing the three diseases, 
and encourages foreign and domestic health care entities to 
collaborate.
  The bill prevents foreign governments from unjustly profiting from 
U.S. aid and prohibits them from taxing the funds that the bill 
authorizes.
  Lastly, the bill seeks to improve oversight, transparency and 
accountability in assessing the progress of United States global HIV/
AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programs.
  Madam Speaker, the United States has become an important player in 
combating these global epidemics. However, although the underlying bill 
has bipartisan support, some have argued that it is imprudent to invest 
in global health programs while we are experiencing so many problems 
domestically. Nothing, in my opinion, could be further from the truth. 
Investing in global health ultimately leads to communities and 
countries that are more economically, socially and politically stable. 
In this globally connected era, it is imperative that we address health 
and development in foreign countries.
  Malaria was virtually eradicated in most of the West more than 50 
years ago. In fact, the Washington D.C. area was particularly 
vulnerable to this disease. Effectively resolving this health threat 
undoubtedly contributed to the ability of our country and other Western 
countries to thrive and prosper. Therefore, it comes as no surprise 
that the 40 percent of men, women and children who are at risk for 
contracting malaria live in poorer countries, with less access to 
education, preventative health care, and treatment.
  As we consider this important bill, we would be remiss if we did not 
look at it as an opportunity to think about how we can improve our 
response to HIV/AIDS and other debilitating diseases that affect people 
in this country.
  The fight against HIV/AIDS is also a fight against the health, 
economic and educational disparities that continue to exist in 
communities that have been historically underprivileged.
  Nearly three decades after the first national reports on HIV/AIDS, 
the disease has reached every corner of the world and has claimed an 
estimated 25 million lives.

[[Page H7066]]

  Although the scope of HIV/AIDS has changed, the link between 
socioeconomic disparity and those who contract and die from the disease 
remains consistent around the world. In our hemisphere alone, whether 
you're talking about Honduras or Haiti or my home State of Florida, 
people of African, indigenous, and Hispanic ancestry are 
disproportionately contracting and dying from HIV/AIDS.
  Madam Speaker, this issue hits close to home for me, as Florida has 
consistently ranked third in the Nation in the number of reported cases 
of HIV/AIDS. In 2006, blacks accounted for 45 percent of all AIDS cases 
in men and 69 percent in women, which is more than any other racial or 
ethnic group in the State of Florida. Sadly, in that same year, the 
HIV/AIDS case rate among black women was 17 times higher than among 
white women.
  In the absence of a cure, education and increased access to 
medication are the most powerful and cost-effective ways to treat and 
prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS around the world. Yet the resistance of 
antiretroviral drugs and other treatment has not translated into 
accessibility. Less than 25 percent of patients in developing countries 
and 30 percent of patients domestically receive antiretroviral 
treatment. Even more, the consequences of allowing people to remain 
ignorant about HIV/AIDS has proven to be just as deadly as the virus 
itself.
  Consider this: Political leaders of countries particularly stricken 
by HIV/AIDS have told their citizens that HIV/AIDS can be controlled by 
consuming garlic, lemon juice, and beet root. Such a statement sounds 
unquestionably absurd to most. However, around the world, people 
continue to be misinformed about preventing and treating this disease. 
They allow fear to halt open and honest discussions about this disease.
  Personally, I have hosted three town hall meetings in the last year 
and a half in the congressional district that I'm privileged to 
represent. At each of them, activists, specialists, religious leaders 
and the general public have openly discussed and asked questions about 
how to address HIV/AIDS in their community. These fora have been 
educational and meaningful tools in fighting this disease, and more are 
needed.
  I might add that at those fora, Madam Speaker, some courageous young 
women that are HIV/AIDS infected appeared and gave their testimonies, 
compelling in respect to their own issues, and informative as to those 
that were in the audience to hear people who are living with this 
disease actually put forward ideas about the need for greater 
education, information and treatment.
  As a leader in global health and human rights, Madam Speaker, this 
country, all of us, must not allow ignorance, stigmatization, and 
unequal access to medication to continue in this country or abroad. By 
supporting this bill and the underlying bill, we're investing in global 
health, the global economy, and our global community as a whole.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I'd like to thank 
my good friend and fellow co-chairman of the Florida congressional 
delegation, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), for the time, 
and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  During his 2003 State of the Union speech, President Bush outlined a 
bold new plan to confront and combat the scourge of HIV/AIDS, 
tuberculosis and malaria. Congress followed through and passed the U.S. 
Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act, commonly 
known as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), 
authorizing $15 billion in assistance to combat these diseases for 
fiscal years 2004 through 2008. That was the largest commitment ever by 
any Nation for an international health initiative.
  Since its enactment in 2003, the programs created by this landmark 
legislation have made admirable progress in combating these horrible 
diseases.

                              {time}  1045

  So far more than 1.4 million people have received life-preserving 
antiretroviral treatment, over 2.7 million HIV/AIDS-affected orphans 
have received care, and many millions more have received instruction on 
how to protect themselves from infection. Tens of millions of people 
have received malaria and tuberculosis prevention or treatment 
services.
  Even though this program has achieved remarkable successes, there is 
more that we can do. Tuberculosis still kills an estimated 2 million 
people each year and is the leading cause of death for people with 
AIDS; 1 million people die from malaria each year; and AIDS is the 
world's fourth leading cause of death.
  The devastating consequences of these diseases are plaguing sub-
Saharan Africa. Over 22 million people are living with HIV, and 
approximately 1.7 million additional sub-Saharan Africans were infected 
with HIV last year. That represents about 68 percent of the world's HIV 
positive population and 90 percent of all HIV-infected children. Just 
last year the horrible AIDS epidemic claimed the lives of an estimated 
1.6 million people in that region. More than 11 million children have 
been orphaned by AIDS. Many families are losing their income earners. 
Health services are overburdened. Life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa 
is now 47 years. Economic activity and social progress has been 
impeded. We must do all we can to prevent those tragedies.
  The underlying legislation, justly and appropriately named the Tom 
Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/
AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, will 
augment our commitment to fight those horrible diseases with an 
increase of approximately $35 billion in funding over the next 5 years. 
This landmark legislation will help prevent 12 million new HIV 
infections and treat at least 3 million people living with HIV/AIDS. It 
will also provide supporting care for 12 million people infected with 
HIV/AIDS, including 5 million orphans and children.
  Some of my constituents, Madam Speaker, are from Haiti and have 
families and friends in their land of origin. I often hear about the 
disastrous effects that HIV/AIDS is having on that noble country. As of 
2007, Haiti had an HIV rate of almost 4 percent, and according to the 
World Bank, continued increases in HIV prevalence in the Caribbean will 
negatively affect economic growth. Fortunately, since Congress first 
passed PEPFAR, we have invested over $300 million to help Haiti combat 
the AIDS pandemic by building on existing clinic- and community-based 
health resources; expanding a network of satellite connections to the 
Centers of Excellence to permit instant review of difficult cases; 
training staff members of health care facilities that provide prenatal, 
gynecological, and maternity care and prevention of mother-to-child HIV 
transmission; and enhancing the lab network for clinical sites to 
support the diagnosis and treatment of HIV and other associated 
infections. I am pleased that the legislation will also now cover 
several other countries that previously were not part of PEPFAR.
  I believe that when we look upon our work in this Congress, Madam 
Speaker, many years from now, I can think of nothing that we or anyone 
else will be able to point to that is of more importance than this 
admirable effort by the great and generous American people. This 
extraordinary effort proposed by President Bush here in the U.S. House 
of Representatives during his state of the Union address of 2003, the 
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
  I would like to thank Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen 
for their bipartisan work on this important issue. I also wish to thank 
them for naming this landmark program for two ultimately respected 
colleagues of ours who have recently left us, Henry Hyde and Tom 
Lantos. This is truly a fitting tribute for two remarkable human beings 
in public service.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 
minutes to my good friend and fellow Rules Committee member, the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).
  Mr. McGOVERN. I want to thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding 
me the time.

[[Page H7067]]

  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the 
underlying bill.
  Madam Speaker, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global 
Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization 
Act is one of the most important foreign policy and global health bills 
this Congress will pass. We have literally gone from 5 years ago from 
standing helplessly by and watching people die of HIV/AIDS to watching 
people live and take up productive lives in their communities. The 
impact is far-reaching, and it wasn't a miracle. It is the result of 
presidential leadership and broad bipartisan support, and the bill that 
we take up later today, the Senate amendment to H.R. 5501, continues 
and strengthens this legacy. And it merits the support of every single 
Member of this House.
  Madam Speaker, on April 2, when the House first debated H.R. 5501, 
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Berman, Africa and Global Health 
Subcommittee Chairman Payne, Congresswoman Emerson, and I entered into 
a bipartisan colloquy on the importance of food and nutrition for 
successful HIV/AIDS programs. The colloquy also emphasized how funding 
for such initiatives needs to be provided for PEPFAR programs but 
without taking money away from other global food aid and nutrition 
programs and priorities.
  It is my understanding that later today when the House takes up the 
Senate amendment to H.R. 5501, Chairman Berman will enter into the 
Record a Statement of Legislative Intent reiterating the conclusions of 
that April colloquy. I want to thank Chairman Berman for his important 
Statement of Legislative Intent. I also want to express my appreciation 
for his leadership and his commitment to food and nutrition as 
important health initiatives and for his determination to safeguard the 
scarce resources already dedicated to carrying out other U.S. global 
food aid and nutrition programs.
  Again, Madam Speaker, I urge that every single Member support the 
rule and especially the underlying bill.

      Colloquy: Food Security and Nutrition in H.R. 5501--PEPFAR 
                     Reauthorization--April 2, 2008

       Berman: I yield three minutes to the gentleman from 
     Massachusetts, Mr. McGovern, for purposes of a colloquy.
       McGovern: I thank the Chairman and for time for the 
     gentlelady from Missouri and I to enter into a colloquy with 
     the Chairman on the importance of integrating food and 
     nutrition programs with the prevention, care, and treatment 
     of HIV/AIDS affected individuals, families, and communities.
       McGovern: As the Chairman is aware, last year I traveled to 
     Africa and had the opportunity to see first-hand many of our 
     programs related to food security. In Ethiopia and Kenya, I 
     visited HIV/AIDS programs to look at how food and nutrition 
     were included. At that time, I heard from local communities, 
     NGO partners, and our embassy staff how restrictive guidance 
     for global HIV/AIDS assistance often hindered their ability 
     to design and carry out effective food and nutrition programs 
     targeted at HIV/AIDS affected individuals, families, and 
     communities. The lack of resources available for food and 
     nutrition programs within global HIV/AIDS assistance and from 
     other sources also posed a significant barrier.
       I very much appreciate and support the work of the 
     Committee in ensuring H.R. 5501 addresses these concerns 
     throughout the bill, and especially in the section entitled 
     ``Food Security and Nutrition Support.'' The bill recognizes 
     that strengthening the linkages and enhancing coordination 
     among HIV/AIDS programs and other vital development programs, 
     like food and nutrition programs, will significantly increase 
     our effectiveness in the fight against HIV/AIDS while we 
     advance other essential U.S. development priorities. I remain 
     concerned, however, that the bill is less clear on where or 
     how such funding will be provided for these purposes. It is 
     not clear on how much funding will come from the Global HIV/
     AIDS program, versus other sources of funding. I am concerned 
     that without adequate resources through the global HIV/AIDS 
     program or necessary increases for current food and nutrition 
     services through programs like Food for Peace, USAID will be 
     faced with the possibility of having to divert funding from 
     programs that address long-term chronic hunger and food 
     insecurity to meet the enhanced mandates of H.R. 5501.
       I know the Chairman will agree that we want to avoid the 
     scenario of robbing Peter to pay Paul, so that we do not end 
     up short-changing other communities suffering from hunger, 
     malnutrition and food insecurity. I yield to the gentlelady 
     from Missouri in this regard.
       Emerson: Mr. Chairman, I am also concerned that the 
     situation will become even worse because the cost of food, 
     commodities, and transportation is skyrocketing. Just last 
     month, on February 12th, USAID's Office of Food for Peace 
     announced that the cost of wheat and other food the United 
     States donates to poor countries jumped 41% in the first half 
     of Fiscal Year 2008. According to USAID, this means $120 
     million in food assistance will not be available for people 
     who are malnourished or food insecure.
       I would ask the Chairman to work on strengthening the 
     language in the bill as it moves through the legislative 
     process and into conference negotiations to clarify how the 
     necessary level of funding for food security and nutrition 
     will be provided, especially in light of rising food 
     and transportation costs, so that funds will not be 
     diverted from U.S. programs addressing chronic hunger and 
     emergency operations. I would yield back to the gentleman 
     from Massachusetts.
       McGovern: I yield back to the Chairman to express his 
     views.
       Berman: I yield one minute to the gentleman from New 
     Jersey, Mr. Payne to express his views on this matter.
       Payne: Mr. Chairman, as you know, the provision on food and 
     nutrition security in the bill currently under consideration 
     is drawn directly from a bill that I introduced in December, 
     H.R. 4914, the Global HIV/AIDS Food Security, and Nutrition 
     Support Act of 2007. I introduced the bill after chairing a 
     hearing in the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health to 
     determine whether the Global HIV/AIDS program was adequately 
     addressing the nutritional needs of its beneficiaries.
       The hearing corroborated what I have heard in the field 
     during numerous visits to Africa over the past five years: 
     PEPFAR is falling short in this critical area. I share the 
     concerns of the gentleman from Massachusetts and the gentle 
     lady from Missouri about the increasing cost of food aid. 
     Just last week the World Food Program had to issue an appeal 
     for an additional $500 million to offset the increased cost 
     of food and fuel. Without the extra funds, 73 million people 
     who rely on WFP for their daily sustenance may have their 
     rations cut. This is a truly alarming situation, and it is 
     not my intent for the provisions in this bill to exacerbate 
     it. The language under consideration very clearly states that 
     these activities are to be funded from amounts authorized 
     under section 401 of the bill. I used this language 
     deliberately, as I strongly believe that the food assistance 
     and nutritional support we are providing under the Global 
     HIV/AIDS program must be on top of the food aid we are 
     already providing.
       Payne: I thank the Chairman and yield back to him.
       Berman: I yield myself one minute. I thank my colleagues 
     for raising these important concerns. H.R. 5501 provides 
     clear and specific instructions to the USAID Administrator 
     and the Global AIDS Coordinator to address the food and 
     nutrition needs of individuals with HIV/AIDS and other 
     affected individuals, including orphans and vulnerable 
     children; and to fully integrate food and nutrition support 
     in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs carried 
     out under this Act.
       I would like to emphasize that the Committee and I, 
     personally, share our colleagues' concerns about the negative 
     effect rising costs are having on our long-term and emergency 
     food aid programs. This is a matter that has our most serious 
     attention because it affects a wide array of our food aid and 
     development programs, including the effectiveness and success 
     of our Global HIV/AIDS programs.
       I want to reassure my colleagues that I will be working 
     over the coming weeks to strengthen and clarify in the bill 
     that food security and nutrition programs, especially those 
     referred to as wraparound services, are not to be funded with 
     monies diverted from other standing commitments to address 
     food insecurity elsewhere in the world or in these countries. 
     I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Massachusetts.
       McGovern: I thank the Chairman for that assurance. I know 
     many Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, stand 
     ready to support him in these efforts. I yield back.

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend, the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin).
  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the 
underlying bill, H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry Hyde HIV/AIDS, 
Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act. I would like to thank 
the chairman and ranking member for their work on this important 
legislation authorizing $50 billion to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and 
malaria overseas. I also support a provision added by the Senate to 
authorize $2 billion to fund essential programs and infrastructure 
development for Native American tribes, sovereign nations within our 
own borders.
  The United States has a special government-to-government relationship 
to the federally recognized American Indian tribes, as established in 
the U.S.

[[Page H7068]]

Constitution. The $750 million for tribal law enforcement and public 
safety would provide funding for detention facilities, police officers, 
tribal courts, and other crucial services.
  In June of 2007, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a 
hearing on the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota entitled ``The 
Needs and Challenges of Tribal Law Enforcement on Indian 
Reservations.'' At the hearing tribal leaders shared examples of police 
departments stretched too thin. They spoke of how a lack of law 
enforcement personnel negatively impacts victims of crime and 
undermines the sense of security across their communities. The funding 
in today's bill will empower tribes to improve the law enforcement and 
judicial systems on their reservations.
  Additionally, I support the $250 million for the Indian Health 
Service included in the bill. The Indian Health Service is the Federal 
health care provider for approximately 1.5 million American Indians and 
Alaskan Natives. Across the country tribal leaders agree that health 
care is one of their top concerns. American Indians in my region of the 
country die from cancer at a rate approximately 40 percent greater than 
the general United States population. American Indians are over two 
times more likely than non-Indians to be diagnosed with diabetes. The 
$250 million in the bill is one important step towards addressing the 
great needs for health care across Indian country.
  And, finally, Native American reservations are often located in 
remote rural areas where the basic water and sewer infrastructure many 
of us take for granted is not well developed. The $1 billion helps 
address the need for safe, clean, reliable sources of water.
  Again I thank the chairman and ranking member for their work on the 
bill. I look forward to supporting this bill that addresses the needs 
of populations both overseas and on Native American reservations.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I continue to 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would like to compliment 
the speaker, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, for pointing out the needs that 
Native Americans have. It is extremely important, the issues that she 
spoke to. And at another point in time, I am hopeful that we will 
address the diabetes question with greater strength in this body's 
involvement.
  At this time, Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to 
my good friend from the Virgin Islands, Dr. Donna Christensen, who has 
been involved in not just this particular issue but all of our health 
care issues in a fashion that few Members are involved in this body.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in full support of the rule and the bill to 
adopt the Senate version of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United 
States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria 
Reauthorization Act of 2008, which will reauthorize, expand, and 
strengthen the PEPFAR program.
  First, I want to thank and applaud Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her 
steadfast leadership. We would not be here today were it not for her 
hard work. And also our colleague Congressman Luis Fortuno for his 
successful efforts to include all Caribbean countries for the first 
time. I am proud to have been a part of that effort. And let me also 
thank the Honorable John Maginley, the Health Minister of Antigua and 
Barbuda, who played a pivotal role in our efforts here as well.
  This is very important because the Caribbean is second in prevalence 
to sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, last year in the Caribbean, there were 
230,000 adults and children infected with HIV, a prevalence rate of 1 
to over 3 percent, depending on the nation, and there were 11,000 
deaths. Without support from PEPFAR, the Caribbean will continue to 
experience noted and detrimental economic, public health, and 
sociopolitical repercussions that this bill will help to thwart.
  I have had the opportunity to see the work of PEPFAR firsthand. With 
this bill we will be able to do so much more: prevent 12 million new 
cases, treat and support millions of newly infected individuals, and 
expand the health care workforce that we need. So today I rise in 
strong support of this rule and the bill and for this program that 
saves countless lives and a program that, with the strengthened focus 
and increased funding, let the millions of innocent human beings with 
HIV around the globe know that they will be able to live healthier and 
more productive lives. This bill represents our country at its best.
  I am proud to support the rule and the bill and urge my colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle to support this resolution and play a key role 
in ensuring that we do our part to bring this world one step closer 
towards beating the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, at this time I am very 
pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters), my good friend who on yesterday and days 
previous led the fight on having us get relief in this country in 
foreclosure and cities having an opportunity to participate in a 
meaningful way in trying to help those in the need area of affordable 
housing.
  Ms. WATERS. I truly thank the gentleman from Florida for the time.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly support the rule for H.R. 5501, the Tom 
Lantos and Henry Hyde Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, 
and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. This bill authorizes $48 
billion over the next 5 years for the prevention and treatment of HIV/
AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
  Madam Speaker and Members, on June 27 stars of the screen, stage, and 
studio paid tribute to former South African leader Nelson Mandela.

                              {time}  1100

  Hollywood star Will Smith hosted a birthday celebration concert 
honoring Mr. Mandela who turned 90, along with nearly 50,000 cheering 
fans, in London's Hyde Park.
  The event was organized to support Mandela's HIV/AIDS charity 46664, 
named for the number assigned him as a onetime political prisoner, and 
comes 20 years after another London concert on his behalf while he was 
still behind bars for his stand against apartheid.
  ``Twenty years ago, London hosted a historic concert which called for 
our freedom,'' a frail-looking Mr. Mandela told a waving crowd. ``Your 
voices carried across the water and inspired us in our prison cells far 
away,'' he said. ``As we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that our 
work is far from complete. Where there is poverty and sickness, 
especially including AIDS, where human beings are being oppressed, 
there is more work to be done.''
  Indeed there is more work to be done. I was in South Africa a short 
while ago, and everywhere I went in South Africa, people told me about 
the terrible problems they have trying to fill professional positions. 
The shortage of educated professionals is a result of the fact that so 
many South African professionals have died of AIDS or are too sick to 
work.
  The involvement of doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals 
is critical to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. That is why I'm pleased 
that this bill includes provisions to strengthen the health care 
infrastructure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman from California 
has expired.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentlelady 30 additional 
seconds.
  Ms. WATERS. This bill will strengthen the health care infrastructure 
in countries like South Africa and train at least 140,000 new health 
care professionals and workers for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and 
care. The bill also includes prevention funds to stop the spread of HIV 
and treatment funds to allow infected individuals to live productive 
lives and continue to serve their communities.
  This is an important bill. I thank again all of our leaders for the 
work that they have done to bring this bill before us.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, it's my pleasure 
to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Weller).
  Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on this rule 
and rise in strong support for the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United 
States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria 
Reauthorization Act, legislation that I note

[[Page H7069]]

is named after two very distinguished and respected leaders who served 
our Nation, as well as this Congress, so well.
  And I want to commend the current leadership of Foreign Affairs 
Committee, the bipartisan leadership of Chairman Berman and the ranking 
member, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for their leadership in moving this 
legislation to the floor in a bipartisan way. I also note that no 
President in history has done more for addressing the global AIDS 
crisis than our current President, President Bush.
  Almost 33 million citizens of this planet today suffer from the 
consequences of HIV/AIDS. We have a moral responsibility to demonstrate 
leadership in addressing this crisis, which not only is a health issue, 
but it's a security issue for this globe.
  We often think of Africa when we talk about global AIDS, but of the 
33 million, there are also many living in our own hemisphere in Latin 
America and the Caribbean who suffer from HIV/AIDS as well.
  In Latin America today, there are over 1.6 million people living with 
HIV/AIDS. That is up from 1.3 million in 2001. And we have lost 58,000 
citizens of Latin America who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. In the 
Caribbean, 230,000 adults and children are currently known to be 
infected with HIV/AIDS. That is up from 190,000 in 2001. In the 
Caribbean, 11,000 citizens of the Caribbean have lost their lives. In 
Haiti alone, a large recipient of aid as a result of this initiative, 
almost 4 percent of the population of Haiti is infected with HIV/AIDS. 
Think about that, 190,000 people. Since 2004, thanks to this 
initiative, the number of people receiving care and support has grown 
from 30,000 to 125,000, and an anticipated 150,000 people will be 
reached this year because of this initiative in Haiti. Haiti has 
received almost $85 million from this program in the past year to 
address this crisis which affects many in the Caribbean.
  This AIDS initiative has allowed us to reach almost every person in 
Haiti struggling with HIV/AIDS. And the continued support is necessary 
to make sure we reach every person struggling with HIV/AIDS throughout 
the world. That is why this legislation today is so very important.
  Elsewhere in Latin America, let me give you another example in 
Bolivia. Bolivia is now able to use data to combat HIV/AIDS thanks to 
this legislation. In fact, real-time data is helping Bolivian health 
officials carry out more HIV/AIDS prevention education, including HIV 
counseling and testing services. And thanks to the Joint United Nations 
Program on HIV/AIDS, prevalence rates in Bolivia's general population 
has remained at one-tenth of 1 percent, which is a remarkable success 
compared to some of its neighbors.
  This is good legislation. It is bipartisan legislation. I commend 
President Bush for his leadership. I commend the leadership of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee for their leadership making this a bipartisan 
initiative. I urge an ``aye'' vote on final adoption and passage of 
this important legislation today.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I would inquire of the gentleman from 
Florida if he has any remaining speakers.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I am the last speaker.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I'm the last speaker for this side, Madam 
Speaker, and I'll reserve my time until the gentleman from Florida has 
closed for his side and has yielded back his time.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, again I thank my 
good friend, Mr. Hastings, for having yielded me the time and all of 
those who have participated in this important debate with regard to the 
critically important legislation that is being brought to the floor 
today.
  Madam Speaker, as Americans throughout the country are taking their 
summer family vacations, they're continually shocked by the record 
prices of gasoline. Part of the reason that we're seeing increases 
continuously in the price of gasoline is because we have become more 
and more dependent on oil, on foreign oil, while we avoid developing 
domestic energy sources.
  One important source of domestic energy is the Arctic National 
Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. However, efforts to develop just a tiny 
portion of that section of ANWR have been fought and blocked to the 
detriment of America's energy independence, even though the people of 
Alaska are overwhelmingly in favor of searching for energy in ANWR, 
both of their Senators and their Representative, in representation of 
really a societal consensus in that State. With the price of gasoline 
at $4 a gallon, we should be looking to do all we can to lower the 
price of gasoline. And that includes domestic exploration when the 
people of a State wish to search for it.
  Today I will be asking each of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the 
previous question to the rule. If the previous question is defeated, I 
will amend the rule to make it in order for the House to consider an 
amendment that would have the effect of lowering the national average 
price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel by 
increasing the domestic supply of oil by permitting the extraction of 
oil in that section of Alaska, in the Arctic National Refuge, as the 
people of that State, their Senators and their Representative, wish to 
do.
  I remind Members that defeating the previous question will not stop 
debate on this important underlying legislation. It simply would allow 
debate on an amendment to permit the Congress to consider another very 
important issue.
  Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the 
amendment and extraneous materials immediately prior to the vote on the 
previous question.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. By voting ``no'' on the previous 
question, Members can take a stand against the high fuel prices and our 
reliance on foreign energy sources.
  I ask for a ``no'' vote on the previous question.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, this is a good rule for a 
critically important bill. The sooner that the House approves this 
rule, the sooner the U.S. can continue to save and improve millions of 
lives around the world and here at home.
  The Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 
Reauthorization Act has received overwhelming support across the 
political spectrum because it balances fiscal responsibility, oversight 
and comprehensive health care programs.
  I commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting a 
bill that uses scientifically proven strategies, international 
cooperation and cultural competence to combat some of the most 
devastating diseases in recent history.
  We executed an aggressive response to the tuberculosis and malaria 
epidemics in this country because we understood that it would allow us 
to be a stronger and better Nation. Although we have made tremendous 
progress in our country, the battle is far from over.
  As the richest nation in the world, we now have the privilege of 
helping other countries on their road to development. We must use the 
knowledge that we gain from these partnerships to address the 
disparities that continue to deprive countless men, women and children 
in this country and abroad of a healthy and productive life.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule that 
brings the underlying bill to the House.
  Madam Speaker, before I close, I want to address this request of my 
good friend and colleague from Florida about energy. What he is saying 
is, and the people on his side of the aisle, is immediately upon the 
adoption of this resolution, the House shall, without intervention of 
any point of order, consider in the House the bill, H.R. 6107, to 
direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement a 
competitive oil and gas leasing program that will result in an 
environmentally sound program for the exploration, development, and 
production of the oil and gas resources of the Coastal Plain of Alaska, 
and for other purposes.
  Now this bill that we're here on, Madam Speaker, is named after two 
of the most distinguished persons that have ever served in this body. 
My colleague from Florida and all of us that are here knew both of 
these men and

[[Page H7070]]

knew their seriousness when they came to this floor about matters. We 
commemorate their memory with this bill. But what we do is we denigrate 
their memory by bringing up political hyperbole, political 
grandstanding, exhausting political hyperbole and bumper stickerism. 
Enough of this.
  Everybody knows that we have put forward, on the side that I am 
privileged to represent as Democrats, numerous measures dealing with 
these matters. We all know that there are 68 million acres off the 
shore that are leased already to oil companies. Footnote. Has anybody 
asked any of these oil companies whether or not they want to drill in 
these areas? And in ANWR there are 23 million acres that are available.
  How dare we come here with this pitiful excuse for a previous 
question and say to the American people that on a matter of this 
consequence, on a matter of dealing with malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/
AIDS that we would come here and denigrate the name of the two persons 
that we commemorate with such a foolish proposition. It makes 
absolutely no sense.
  Now we will hear, obviously from now until the time that we're out of 
session, from my Republican colleagues about energy. And I have said to 
them repeatedly and over and over and over again, that all the 
hyperbole, switchgrass, deed exhaustion, coal, shale, offshore, ANWR, 
all of those things, geothermal, I can name them. All of us in here can 
name them. Many of those are things in the future. All of us know that 
we have a crisis in this country. Every man and woman in the House of 
Representatives and in the United States would like to solve that 
crisis. We know that speculators are involved in this. We put forward 
energy legislation. Nancy Pelosi led with energy legislation. Markey 
and Dingell have been on the floor repeatedly with energy legislation. 
We are here about AIDS, and someone would dare come here and talk about 
energy. That's crazy.
  Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Tom Lantos 
and Henry J. Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis 
and Malaria Reauthorization Act.
  Five years ago, Congress passed the first U.S. Leadership Act aimed 
at combating HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria worldwide. Since that time, U.S. 
assistance has enabled 33 million HIV counseling and testing sessions, 
provided antiretroviral treatment to 1.45 million people, and prevented 
157,000 infants from contracting HIV through mother-to-child infection. 
In addition to combating HIV/AIDS, the U.S. Leadership Act has 
contributed to the treatment of millions of people with TB, and to the 
distribution of millions of bed nets to prevent the spread of malaria.
  But there is so much more work to be done. There are currently about 
39 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, more than the 
population of California. Each year, 2 million people die from 
tuberculosis. Every 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria, a fully 
preventable disease.
  From both a moral and self-interested perspective, we simply cannot 
afford to let the epidemics of HIV, TB, and malaria grow. Our long-term 
prosperity and security are inextricably linked to our commitment to 
help build stronger economies and reduce poverty around the world. 
Promoting public health is a critical component of this effort. Disease 
cripples not only individuals, but economies as well, preventing 
parents from supporting their families, and leaving children orphaned 
with no financial security, limited opportunities for education, and 
narrow prospects for future contributions.
  We must also recognize that in a global society, we ourselves are not 
immune to these diseases. Malaria was rampant in parts of the United 
States as little as 60 years ago. The World Health Organization 
estimates that worldwide, more than one third of the world's population 
is infected with the tuberculosis bacteria. Poorly supervised or 
incomplete treatment of tuberculosis can be more harmful than no 
treatment at all, allowing the bacteria to develop resistance to drugs 
and increasing the hazards of contracting the bacteria for the whole 
planet. In an ever more integrated world, we cannot wall ourselves off 
from the reach of these diseases.
  This bill reflects our commitment to contribute to the treatment, 
prevention, and ultimate elimination of these diseases worldwide. It 
ensures a balanced approach to the prevention of HIV/AIDS that includes 
abstinence, faithfulness, and condom promotion as the three-tiered 
strategy to prevent HIV infection. The bill also includes key 
provisions that recognize the inherent link between disease treatment 
and support of basic needs, such as food, shelter, and economic 
opportunity.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for this important legislation.
  The material previously referred to by Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of 
Florida is as follows:

Amendment to H. Res. 1362 Offered by Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida

       At the end of the resolution, add the following:
       Sec. 3. Immediately upon the adoption of this resolution 
     the House shall, without intervention of any point of order, 
     consider in the House the bill (H.R. 6107) to direct the 
     Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement a 
     competitive oil and gas leasing program that will result in 
     an environmentally sound program for the exploration, 
     development, and production of the oil and gas resources of 
     the Coastal Plain of Alaska, and for other purposes. All 
     points of order against the bill are waived. The bill shall 
     be considered as read. The previous question shall be 
     considered as ordered on the bill and any amendment thereto 
     to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one 
     hour of debate on the bill equally divided and controlled by 
     the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Natural 
     Resources, and (2) an amendment in the nature of a substitute 
     if offered by Representative Rahall of West Virginia or his 
     designee, which shall be considered as read and shall be 
     separately debatable for 40 minutes equally divided and 
     controlled by the proponent and an opponent; and (3) one 
     motion to recommit with or without instructions.
                                  ____

       (The information contained herein was provided by 
     Democratic Minority on multiple occasions throughout the 
     109th Congress.)

        The Vote on the Previous Question: What It Really Means 

       This vote, the vote on whether to order the previous 
     question on a special rule, is not merely a procedural vote. 
     A vote against ordering the previous question is a vote 
     against the Democratic majority agenda and a vote to allow 
     the opposition, at least for the moment, to offer an 
     alternative plan. It is a vote about what the House should be 
     debating.
       Mr. Clarence Cannon's Precedents of the House of 
     Representatives, (VI, 308-311) describes the vote on the 
     previous question on the rule as ``a motion to direct or 
     control the consideration of the subject before the House 
     being made by the Member in charge.'' To defeat the previous 
     question is to give the opposition a chance to decide the 
     subject before the House. Cannon cites the Speaker's ruling 
     of January 13, 1920, to the effect that ``the refusal of the 
     House to sustain the demand for the previous question passes 
     the control of the resolution to the opposition'' in order to 
     offer an amendment. On March 15, 1909, a member of the 
     majority party offered a rule resolution. The House defeated 
     the previous question and a member of the opposition rose to 
     a parliamentary inquiry, asking who was entitled to 
     recognition. Speaker Joseph G. Cannon (R-Illinois) said: 
     ``The previous question having been refused, the gentleman 
     from New York, Mr. Fitzgerald, who had asked the gentleman to 
     yield to him for an amendment, is entitled to the first 
     recognition.''
       Because the vote today may look bad for the Democratic 
     majority they will say ``the vote on the previous question is 
     simply a vote on whether to proceed to an immediate vote on 
     adopting the resolution . . . [and] has no substantive 
     legislative or policy implications whatsoever.'' But that is 
     not what they have always said. Listen to the definition of 
     the previous question used in the Floor Procedures Manual 
     published by the Rules Committee in the 109th Congress, (page 
     56). Here's how the Rules Committee described the rule using 
     information form Congressional Quarterly's ``American 
     Congressional Dictionary'': ``If the previous question is 
     defeated, control of debate shifts to the leading opposition 
     member (usually the minority Floor Manager) who then manages 
     an hour of debate and may offer a germane amendment to the 
     pending business.''
       Deschler's Procedure in the U.S. House of Representatives, 
     the subchapter titled ``Amending Special Rules'' states: ``a 
     refusal to order the previous question on such a rule [a 
     special rule reported from the Committee on Rules] opens the 
     resolution to amendment and further debate.'' (Chapter 21, 
     section 21.2) Section 21.3 continues: Upon rejection of the 
     motion for the previous question on a resolution reported 
     from the Committee on Rules, control shifts to the Member 
     leading the opposition to the previous question, who may 
     offer a proper amendment or motion and who controls the time 
     for debate thereon.''
       Clearly, the vote on the previous question on a rule does 
     have substantive policy implications. It is one of the only 
     available tools for those who oppose the Democratic 
     majority's agenda and allows those with alternative views the 
     opportunity to offer an alternative plan.

  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the 
previous question on the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on ordering the previous 
question.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.

[[Page H7071]]

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, on that I demand 
the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

                          ____________________