House Approves Global AIDS Bill, Measure Sent To President Bush

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Sexual Health / STDs;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 28 Jul 2008 - 5:00 PST

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The House on Thursday voted 303-115 to approve a measure (HR 5501) that would reauthorize the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief at $48 billion through 2013 and sent the bill to President Bush, who is expected to sign it next week, CQ Today reports. The bill passed in the Senate on July 16 (Graham-Silverman, CQ Today, 7/24). The U.S. funds will be directed to curb HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa, Vietnam, Haiti and Guyana (Cowan, Reuters, 7/24).

The measure would modify a requirement that one-third of PEPFAR funds for HIV prevention be spent on abstinence-only education to require a report to Congress if less than half of HIV prevention funds in a particular country are spent on abstinence and fidelity programs (CQ Today, 7/24). Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) applauded the compromise legislation but said it "does not explicitly encourage the close integration of HIV programs with family planning and other reproductive health services" (Reuters, 7/24). According to the AP/Baltimore Sun, a "conscience" provision supported by conservatives is included in the final legislation. The provision gives assurances to religious groups that they will not be forced to participate in programs to which they morally object.

The final bill also increases attention toward women and girls and stresses the prevention of sexual violence. In addition, the final bill aims to reach 80% of HIV-positive pregnant women with services that aim to prevent transmitting the virus to their infants (AP/Baltimore Sun, 7/25). The measure also would remove a policy, in place since 1987, that bars HIV-positive foreigners from entering the U.S. (CQ Today, 7/24).

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