Senate GOP Continues To Block Bill To Reauthorize Global HIV/AIDS Bill Despite Bush's Support

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 01 Jul 2008 - 8:00 PST

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Several Senate Republicans on Friday blocked efforts to bring a bill (S 2731) to the Senate floor that would reauthorize funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief despite President Bush's support for the measures, CQ Today reports. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the White House made a "number of calls" to Republicans who were blocking the measure, but it was "obviously not enough" (Graham-Silverman, CQ Today, 6/27).

The legislation would remove a provision included in the original mandate for PEPFAR that requires one-third of HIV prevention funding to be spent on abstinence-only programs. It includes new language that would require "balanced funding" for prevention programs to ensure that programs focus on abstinence and monogamy and are "implemented and funded in a meaningful way." Under the measure, countries that spend less than 50% of funding for the prevention of the sexual transmission of HIV on abstinence and fidelity programs would be required to explain the decision to Congress (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/4).

Reid on Friday attempted to add an amendment to the bill to address concerns of several Republicans, including Sen. Tom Coburn (Okla.), who have been blocking the bill. The agreement includes a requirement that more than half of PEPFAR funding be used for treatment and care, according to CQ Today. Reid also sought to limit time for debate and amendments to the bill. However, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) objected, although he said the negotiations on the measure are making good progress. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) also expressed concerns over the bill's $50 billion cost over five years.

Reid said he would attempt to bring the measures to a floor vote after the Senate returns from its July 4 recess but was not optimistic about an agreement, CQ Today reports. "We're going to finish this bill sometime during the next work period, or certainly give that a real try," Reid said (CQ Today, 6/27).

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