[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 58 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 139--RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT PEPFAR HAS 
              PLAYED IN THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Van Hollen) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 139

       Whereas the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 
     (referred to in this preamble as ``PEPFAR''), launched 20 
     years ago by President George W. Bush and supported by every 
     President and Congress since, has proven to be one of the 
     most successful health programs in modern history;
       Whereas private organizations, including the ONE Campaign 
     and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, like many others, have 
     been indispensable partners in supporting PEPFAR and 
     advancing its causes;
       Whereas PEPFAR has been a critical tool in the global fight 
     against HIV/AIDS, providing vital resources and support to 
     countries most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and saving 
     more than 25,000,000 lives;
       Whereas PEPFAR has supported HIV/AIDS prevention, 
     treatment, and care programs in more than 50 countries and 
     currently provides life-saving antiretroviral treatment to 
     20,100,000 individuals;
       Whereas, since 2010, PEPFAR has achieved a 50 percent 
     reduction in new HIV cases in young women between 15 and 24 
     years of age and a 65 percent reduction in new HIV cases in 
     young men between 15 and 24 years of age;
       Whereas PEPFAR has contributed to progress in reducing 
     mother-to-child transmission of HIV, with more than 5,500,000 
     babies born HIV-free to mothers who have HIV and who received 
     antiretroviral medication through PEPFAR-supported programs;
       Whereas, as of September 30, 2022, 1,500,000 individuals 
     are receiving antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis 
     (referred to in this clause as ``PrEP'') to prevent HIV 
     infection, and access to PrEP programs must be expanded;
       Whereas PEPFAR has supported the expansion of HIV/AIDS 
     services for children, adolescents, and young people, 
     including for the more than 1,500,000 children receiving HIV 
     treatment through PEPFAR-supported programs;
       Whereas PEPFAR has dramatically reduced the stigma and 
     discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS;
       Whereas PEPFAR prioritizes reaching adolescent girls and 
     young women, who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS 
     in sub-Saharan Africa, through the Determined, Resilient, 
     Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe program (commonly 
     known as ``DREAMS''), which has assisted more than 1,600,000 
     adolescent girls and young women with HIV prevention 
     services;
       Whereas PEPFAR has been a key partner in the global COVID-
     19 response, supporting the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS 
     services and strengthening health systems to ensure 
     continuity of care, including by delivering more than 
     60,000,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in sub-Saharan 
     Africa; and
       Whereas challenges in combating HIV/AIDS, particularly in 
     sub-Saharan Africa, remain and will not be overcome without 
     continued PEPFAR support: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the critical role that the President's 
     Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (referred to in this 
     resolution as ``PEPFAR'') has played in the global fight 
     against HIV/AIDS;
       (2) applauds the successes and accomplishments of PEPFAR to 
     date; and
       (3) urges continued funding and support for PEPFAR to help 
     achieve the goal of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat 
     by 2030.

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