[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23519-23520]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  ASSISTANCE FOR ORPHANS AND OTHER VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN DEVELOPING 
                               COUNTRIES

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1409, which was received from 
the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1409) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961 to provide assistance for orphans and other vulnerable 
     children in developing countries, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise to comment on H.R. 1409, a companion 
bill to S. 350, the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable 
Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005, which I introduced 
earlier this year. Prior to its passage, I want to address a concern 
that the administration has raised about the bill.
  I want to clarify that this legislation is in no way intended to 
undercut the existing authority of the Global AIDS Coordinator over all 
U.S. Government resources and programs relating to international HIV/
AIDS. The Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator has made tremendous 
progress in bringing together U.S. Government resources in addressing 
orphans and vulnerable children as part of the President's Emergency 
Plan for AIDS Relief. In accordance with section 102 of Public Law 108-
25, the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act 
of 2003, the Global AIDS Coordinator has primary responsibility for 
programming and directing funds for all international HIV/AIDS 
activities carried out by the U.S. Government.
  This legislation is not intended to create new or separate 
authorities in programming or funding under the emergency plan 
regarding orphans and vulnerable children and HIV/AIDS programs, but 
rather provides for an advisory position to ensure that the best 
approaches to addressing the needs of this population are employed in 
our foreign HIV/AIDS programs. I would expect that the position created 
by this new legislation would work within the processes developed by 
the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator to ensure that planning and 
implementation of any orphans and vulnerable children programs relating 
to international HIV/AIDS are consistent with the goals of the 
emergency plan. In fact, it is possible that this position may indeed 
be within the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, at the discretion 
of the Secretary of State, because of the close relationship of HIV/
AIDS and its effect on orphans and vulnerable children.
  The AIDS orphan crisis in sub-Saharan Africa has implications for 
political stability, development, and human

[[Page 23520]]

welfare that extend far beyond the region, affecting governments and 
people worldwide. Every 14 seconds another child is orphaned by AIDS. 
Turning the tide on this crisis will require a coordinated, 
comprehensive, and swift response. I am hopeful that Senators will join 
me in backing this important legislation.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 1409) was read the third time and passed.

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