    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [July 30, 2008]
    [Pages 1066-1069]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing the United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS,
    Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008
    July 30, 2008

        Thank you. Thank you for the kind introduction. [Laughter] And
    welcome to the White House for what has got to be an historic and joyous
    day.
        I am about to sign the United States Global Leadership Against HIV/
    AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, and I'm
    looking forward to it. [Laughter] This act is--it's going to save
    millions of people, and it's--honors the memory of two great leaders,
    Tom Lantos and Henry Hyde. And we're proud members of their families are
    here, and I'm looking forward to you all joining us when we sign the
    bill.
        This bill embodies the extraordinary compassion of the American
    people. We are a compassionate nation, and that's what this bill says
    loud and clear. I want to thank everybody who's helped make this bill
    possible.

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        I particularly want to thank the Members of the House and the Senate
    who have joined us. I know you're anxious to see the bill signed, so I'm
    not going to try to name every single name. But I do want to thank Joe
    Biden and Dick Lugar from the United States Senate. These men worked
    together in an incredibly constructive way to get the bill moving, and I
    want to thank you.
        Howard Berman, chairman of the House
    Foreign Affairs Committee, worked very hard to get this bill going as
    well. And all the other Members, thank you for coming; I'm proud you all
    are here.
        I want to thank Mike Leavitt; John
    Negroponte; Henrietta Fore; Mark Dybul, who
    happens to be the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. He's done such a fine
    job, he ended up on the stage for the bill signing ceremony.
        And the bald-headed guy on the end--[laughter]--not you,
    Biden, but--[laughter]--Rear Admiral
    Tim Ziemer, who is the U.S. Malaria
    Coordinator--thank you for coming.
        Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director--
    appreciate you coming, Peter. Rajat Gupta
    is the chairman of the board of the Global Fund. Glad you're here,
    Rajat. Thank you both for coming. Members of the diplomatic corps, we're
    proud to have you here. Congressional and agency staff who worked so
    hard on this bill, thank you for doing it.
        African Children's Choir, which we'll hear soon, I think you'll find
    them to be as angelic as I did. I too want to thank all the supporters
    of PEPFAR. Thank you for your diligence and your care and your hard
    work.
        Just a few years ago, HIV/AIDS raged out of control. An entire
    continent was caught in the pandemic's merciless grip. In countries like
    Botswana, AIDS had cut the average life expectancy by 15 years. One
    newspaper wrote, ``The AIDS pandemic is destined to rival the Black
    Death of the Middle Ages as a global horror.''
        Well, today, the outlook is really different. HIV/AIDS is still one
    of the world's greatest humanitarian challenges, no question about it,
    but it is a challenge we're meeting. And a lot of it has to do with
    PEPFAR.
        PEPFAR is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single
    disease in human history. It is distinguished from past relief efforts
    by a few key principles. The emergency plan demands specific, measurable
    targets for progress. It puts local partners in the lead, because they
    know the needs of their people best. It enlists new partners from the
    faith community and the private sector.
        And so far the results are striking. When we launched the initiative
    in 2003, only 50,000 people in sub-Sahara Africa were receiving
    antiretroviral treatments. Today, we support treatment for nearly 1.7
    million people in the region and tens of thousands more around the
    world, from Asia to Eastern Europe. PEPFAR has also supported care for
    nearly 7 million people, including millions of orphans and vulnerable
    children. To date, PEPFAR has allowed nearly 200,000 children in Africa
    to be born HIV-free.
        We're also making great strides in the area of prevention, thanks to
    our embrace of the principles of ABC: abstinence; be faithful; and use
    condoms. Guided by this philosophy, people are changing their behavior,
    and as they do, they're helping to turn the tide against HIV in their
    countries.
        These statistics are promising. Yet there is no way to quantify
    PEPFAR's greatest achievement: the spread of hope. Spreading hope is in
    our Nation's security interests, because the only way our enemies can
    recruit people to their dark ideology is to exploit despair. And
    spreading hope is in our moral interests, because we believe that to
    whom much is given, much is required.
        Laura and I saw the hope on our trip to
    Africa. I wish every single America

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    [American]* could have seen the tens of thousands of people who lined
    the streets during our visit, and they were cheering and waving American
    flags in gratitude to the generosity of the American people. It's
    important for our fellow citizens to understand that PEPFAR is saving
    lives, that PEPFAR is showing the good heart of our Nation, that PEPFAR
    earns us respect and thanks around the world.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        *White House correction.
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        We must remain vigilant in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As President
    Kikwete of Tanzania told me, he said--
    and told the people of his country: ``If this program is discontinued or
    disrupted, there would be so many people who lose hope. My passionate
    appeal is for PEPFAR to continue.''
        Well, happily, the United States Congress heard this appeal. With
    this bill, America will continue PEPFAR for another 5 years. This
    legislation will dramatically increase our financial commitment to the
    fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases. It will preserve the
    principles that have made PEPFAR a success. It will help us build on
    PEPFAR's strengths.
        The bill maintains our insistence on results and allows us to set
    new and clear goals. With this funding, we will support treatment for at
    least 3 million people. We will prevent 12 million new HIV infections
    worldwide. We will support care for 12 million people affected by HIV/
    AIDS, including 5 million orphans and vulnerable children.
        This bill demonstrates our sustained commitment to strong bilateral
    partnerships. Under PEPFAR, leaders of our host countries come up with a
    strategy, a strategy aimed at--of defeating HIV with a program that
    works. They pledge to carry out the strategy with honesty. They agree to
    strong accountability measures. And once they do, the United States
    provides the money, the technology, and the expertise to make the
    strategy a success.
        The bill will help bolster multilateral efforts to combat the
    disease and makes sure America's contributions are used even more
    effectively. Today, the United States is the largest contributor to the
    Global Fund to Fight AIDS and Tuberculosis and Malaria. The bill
    maintains our commitment to this program. It will bring greater
    transparency and accountability to the fund's vital work. The bill also
    demonstrates that the United States is keeping its promises to fight
    HIV/AIDS. And today America calls on other nations, particularly the G-
    8, to honor the commitments they have made as well.
        The bill will expand the health care systems PEPFAR has put in
    place. Since PEPFAR began, we've helped build clinics and train health
    care workers in Africa and beyond. With this bill, we're committing to
    train at least 140,000 new health care workers to provide HIV prevention
    and treatment and care. The men and women will continue to help Africa
    curb HIV epidemics, along with many other health care challenges that
    face--that the continent faces.
        This bill will help us combat the diseases that complicate HIV/AIDS.
    It commits $4 billion to fight tuberculosis, which is the leading killer
    of Africans living with HIV. The bill also pledges an additional $5
    billion to our malaria initiative. Through this initiative, we've
    provided malaria treatment and prevention services to more than 25
    million people. We've dramatically reduced malaria in many parts of
    Africa. The additional funds in this bill will help us save even more
    lives.
        This bill will help us reduce HIV's deadly stigma, which is one of
    the greatest obstacles to defeating the epidemic. As more people get
    treatment, we will show the world that it is possible for people to live
    positively with HIV while making important contributions to their
    communities. Through this bill, the United States will also partner with
    governments around the world to ensure that reducing the stigma

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    of HIV becomes a vital part of their countries' efforts to combat the
    pandemic.
        With this legislation, America is showing its tremendous regard for
    the dignity and worth of every human being. This afternoon I want to
    speak directly to those around the world who have or think they may have
    HIV. A positive diagnosis does not have to be a reason for shame. So
    don't let shame keep you from getting tested or treated. Your life is
    treasured by the people who love you. It is precious in the eyes of God.
    It matters to the people of the United States.
        Defeating HIV/AIDS once and for all will require an unprecedented
    investment over generations. But it is an investment that yields the
    best possible return: save lives. One of these lives belongs to Agnes
    Nyamayarwo. Agnes lost her husband and son
    to AIDS and is HIV-positive herself. Yet with the support from PEPFAR,
    Agnes has turned her grief into action. She has traveled the world
    educating others about this disease. I want to thank you for coming,
    Agnes. Thank you for coming all the way from Uganda. I appreciate you
    being here.
        Mohamed Kalyesubula is with us--not
    yet, Mohamed. [Laughter] Hold your applause. [Laughter] Stay right
    there. No, you stay--[laughter]. By the time Mohamed was diagnosed, he
    had been bedridden for an entire year with HIV/AIDS. His immune system
    was almost wiped out. Yet antiretroviral treatment he received at a
    clinic supported by PEPFAR has helped his health improve. He now
    supports six children with money he earns at the clinic caring for
    others with HIV. I met him my first trip to Africa shortly after his
    diagnosis. He told me he had a dream, which was to come to the White
    House. [Laughter] Here you are, brother. Welcome.
        Agnes and Mohamed are proof of what many in Africa call the Lazarus
    effect: Communities once given up for dead are brought back to life.
    Today we pray that God will comfort those who suffer and mourn. We pray
    that He will guide those who carry out this initiative's lifesaving
    work. And we ask for His blessings on each of you here today and the
    United States of America.
        And now it is my pleasure to sign the United States Global
    Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria Reauthorization Act
    of 2008. And I do so in the memory of Henry Hyde and Tom Lantos.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:57 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of
    Tanzania. H.R. 5501, approved July 30, was assigned Public Law No. 110-
    293. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also
    included the remarks of the First Lady.