[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 28 (Monday, July 21, 2008)]
[Pages 1000-1001]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Senate Passage of Legislation To Reauthorize the 
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

July 16, 2008

    I thank the Senate for the strong, bipartisan vote today to pass 
important, life-saving legislation reauthorizing the President's 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). I appreciate the efforts of 
Majority Leader Reid, Senators Biden and Lugar, and all other Senators 
from both sides of the aisle who came together today to ensure that 
America's generosity in battling HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases 
around the globe will continue in a manner consistent with the program's 
successful founding principles.
    When we launched this program in 2003, about 50,000 people in sub-
Saharan Africa were receiving antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS. 
Today, PEPFAR supports life-saving antiretroviral treatment for more 
than 1.7 million people around the world. PEPFAR has also supported 
treatment and prevention programs that have helped HIV-positive women 
give birth to nearly 200,000 infants who are HIV-free. PEPFAR is the

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largest international health initiative in history to fight a single 
disease.
    Traveling in Africa earlier this year, Laura and I had our most 
recent opportunity to witness the effectiveness of this program. We were 
honored to see the doctors, nurses, and caregivers of all faiths working 
to save the lives of their fellow citizens. And we met the patients, 
including many children, who understand and appreciate America's 
generosity.
    With passage of today's bill, we are one step closer to ensuring 
that this excellent program continues to help those in need. I encourage 
the full Congress to move quickly to send me final legislation that I 
can sign.