[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TOM LANTOS AND HENRY J. HYDE UNITED STATES GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AGAINST 
    HIV/AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS, AND MALARIA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2008

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the Tom Lantos and 
Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership against HIV/AIDS, 
Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.
  The bill, which would reauthorize and expand the President's 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, would provide $48 billion over five 
years for programs to combat these three lethal diseases around the 
world. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.
  President Bush deserves credit for his work on this issue. I have 
long supported this bold initiative that has made the U.S. a leader in 
this critical health and moral issue of our time. By expanding its 
scope, we would reach far more people around the world and save them 
from these terrible diseases.
  While the first five years of the initiative operated on an emergency 
response policy, the bill's new provisions would allow for the 
transition to long-term sustainability programs that can be maintained 
by the host countries. It would increase HIV/AIDS programs focusing on 
women and girls, work to better integrate the tuberculosis and malaria 
programs with the HIV/AIDS programs, double the U.S. contributions to 
the Global Fund, and strengthen language on countering HIV/AIDS for 
victims of sex trafficking.
  Since its inception in 2003, the United States has invested more than 
$19 billion to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria and helped 
provide anti-retroviral drug treatments to approximately 1.5 million 
people with AIDS. It has also supported care for 6.6 million people--
including 2.7 million orphans and vulnerable children--and helped to 
prevent more than 157,000 infant infections.
  Upon passage, over the next five years, the bill would greatly expand 
funding for the initiative, authorizing $39 billion for HIV/AIDS 
programs, $5 billion for malaria programs, and $4 billion for 
tuberculosis programs. By 2013, U.S. support provided through PEPFAR 
could help prevent 12 million new HIV infections, provide medical and 
non medical care for 12 million people (including 5 million orphans), 
and train 140,000 new health care workers.
  I have heard from numerous Central New Jersey residents who are 
concerned about the growing AIDS epidemic. This legislation 
demonstrates the immense compassion Americans hold for the struggles we 
share as a global community. When 6,000 people become infected with HIV 
everyday, we must offer a full commitment to fighting the disease.

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