    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [November 30, 2007]
    [Pages 1506-1509]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on World AIDS Day in Mount Airy, Maryland
    November 30, 2007

        Tomorrow is World's AIDS Day, and Laura and I
    are honored to commemorate the occasion here at the Calvary United
    Methodist Church. And we're honored to commemorate the day with people
    who have dedicated their lives to save lives.
        I want to start by thanking Ambassador Mark Dybul, who is the Global AIDS Coordinator. His job is to make
    sure that America's great compassion is effective and widespread, that
    the goals we have set are met. And I--Mr. Ambassador, you're doing a
    fine job, and I want to thank you very much for serving.
        I also want to thank Pastor Dennis Yocum,
    the pastor of this church. Dennis, I want to thank you for your
    hospitality; it's not easy to host the President and all those who
    follow the President. I want to thank the members of your church who
    have so graciously made our stay here so comfortable.
        I really want to thank the people standing behind me for not only
    joining Laura and me in discussions but for
    serving as such powerful examples of the human spirit. Behind me are
    folks who understand that the scourge of HIV/AIDS can be mitigated and
    that people's lives can be improved, who have seen hopelessness and have
    seen hope, people who are willing to act on the universal call to love a
    neighbor. People here come from, obviously, different backgrounds and
    different denominations, yet they share this timeless calling to heal
    the sick and comfort the lonely. And their stories are incredibly
    inspirational and touching.

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        I appreciate the fact that they live out their faith, just like
    hundreds of thousands of other people do who are involved with the HIV/
    AIDS crisis. And in so living out their faith, they better our world.
        World AIDS Day is both a day of sadness and a day of hope. We
    remember with sadness all those lost to AIDS. We mourn their lives cut
    short, their dreams of future denied, and we ask for God's blessing on
    the loved ones they have left behind. We also mark this day with hope
    for the improving prospects of those living with the virus, for the
    unprecedented number of infections being prevented, and for new progress
    toward eradicating this disease. Above all, we rededicate ourselves to a
    great purpose: We will turn the tide against HIV/AIDS once and for all.
        According to the most recent estimates by the United Nations, more
    than 33 million people around the world live with HIV. They are mothers;
    they are fathers, brothers and sisters, friends and teachers. And each
    day, some 5,700 lose their life.
        When Americans witness this suffering, they feel a duty to respond.
    Some are motivated by conscience and a conviction that America should
    use its great influence to be a force for good. Many others are driven
    by faith, by the call to love your neighbor as yourself, even when that
    neighbor may live on the other side of the world. This spirit of
    brotherhood and generosity has long defined our country. And over the
    past 6 years, we have rallied that spirit in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
        Here at home, we've taken new measures to increase HIV/AIDS testing
    and expand treatment and improve care. We've worked with health care
    providers to make voluntary HIV screening a routine part of medical
    care, so all Americans can know their status. We've worked with Congress
    to renew the Ryan White Care Act, which helps HIV/AIDS patients receive
    lifesaving drugs.
        Overseas, the scope of this challenge is much longer--much larger,
    and this Nation is responding. In 2003, I proposed the Emergency Plan
    for AIDS Relief, a 5-year, $15 billion initiative to expand prevention,
    treatment, and care in the most heavily affected countries. Congress
    approved the plan with bipartisan support. And I want our fellow
    citizens to think about what this means. Every year, American taxpayers
    send billions of their hard-earned dollars overseas to save the lives of
    people they have never met.
        In return for this extraordinary generosity, Americans expect
    results, so the emergency plan includes specific, measurable targets for
    progress. It demands honesty and accountability for all those involved.
    It puts local partners in the lead because they know the needs of their
    people best. With this strategy, we have pioneered a new model for
    public health. And so far, the results have been striking.
        Five years ago, only 50,000 people with AIDS in sub-Sahara Africa
    were receiving antiretroviral drugs. Today, thanks to the emergency plan
    and to the generosity of the American taxpayer, that number is nearly
    1.4 million. Think about that. Over a 5-year period of time, the number
    of people in sub-Sahara Africa has increased from 50,000 people to 1.4
    million thanks to the American taxpayer. Around the world, another 6.7
    million people with HIV/AIDS have received compassionate care, including
    2.7 million orphans and vulnerable children. Tens of millions have
    received prevention messages based on the proven principles of ABC,
    which is ``Abstinence, Be faithful, and use Condoms.''
        The money that you have spent is being spent wisely and saving
    lives. Some call this a remarkable success. I call it a good start. So
    we have worked with the private sector and G-8 nations to increase their
    commitments. This May, I proposed to double our Nation's initial pledge
    to $30 billion over the next 5 years. These American funds will help us
    support treatment for nearly 2.5 million people, prevent more than 12
    million new infections, and support care for

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    12 million people, including more than 5 million orphans and vulnerable
    children. Now the time has come for the United States Congress to act
    again. I'm confident they will, and I call on the Congress to show
    America's leadership by reauthorizing the emergency plan and doubling
    our commitment to this urgent cause.
        One reason for the effectiveness of our efforts is the leading role
    of faith-based organizations. Last summer, volunteers from this church
    traveled to Namibia to serve at a home for AIDS orphans. Think about
    that. People from this part of Maryland took it upon themselves to
    travel to a faraway land to help orphans, to say we love you, to inspire
    through their compassion. With me today is a fellow named Chris
    Dominick from the McLean Bible Church. He
    briefed Laura and me and the others on the
    training that he had received in order to go to Zambia tomorrow. Faith-
    based groups like these are the foot soldiers in the armies of
    compassion. They are changing behavior by changing hearts, and they are
    helping to defeat this epidemic one soul at a time.
        This morning I also met a woman a--named Martha Chilufya--was afraid you left. [Laughter] Eight years
    ago, she established Mututa Memorial Center in Zambia to honor her
    husband, who had died of AIDS. Today, the center partners with the
    emergency plan and faith-based caregivers to serve more than 150
    patients. Martha hosted Laura and Jenna on their recent trip to Africa. And they listened to a
    choir of orphans who had received loving care at the center. The
    children sang these inspiring words: ``God, you are really there . . .
    when I pray, when I cry, when I am ill, you are there.''
        Stories like these bring pride to our country, and they should bring
    something more. When we support nations seeking to replace chaos and
    despair with progress and hope, we reduce the appeal of extremism. When
    we replace despair with progress, when we replace hopelessness with
    hope, we add to the security of our Nation. As well, we make friends who
    will always remember that America stood with them in their hour of need.
        The new relationships that America has forged in Africa are a high
    priority for our Nation. I'm pleased to announce that Laura and I will travel to sub-Sahara Africa early next year.
    I look forward to seeing the results of America's generosity and to
    assure our friends that they have a steady partner in the United States
    of America.
        The Scriptures tell us: ``I have set before you life and death . . .
    therefore, choose life.'' All who wage the battle against AIDS have made
    the choice for life. Because of their compassion and courage, millions
    who once saw the disease as a death sentence now look to the future with
    hope. This World AIDS Day is a day of importance because it's a day we
    resolve to continue the work of healing and redemption. It's a day to
    strive for the day when the scourge of AIDS is a part of history.
        Laura and I are honored to be here with you
    all. May God bless your work; may God bless those who suffer from HIV/
    AIDS; may God continue to bless our country. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:43 a.m. at Calvary United Methodist
    Church. In his remarks, he referred to Martha Chilufya, director, Mututa
    Memorial Center, Lusaka, Zambia. The World AIDS Day proclamation of
    November 29 is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.

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