Bush Says He Will Be 'Honored' To Sign Global AIDS Bill

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 29 Jul 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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President Bush on Saturday during his weekly radio address said that he will be "honored" to sign a bill (HR 5501) to reauthorize the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief at $48 billion through 2013 into law this week, the AP/Google.com reports (Riechmann, AP/Google.com, 7/27). "We will expand access to lifesaving antiretroviral drugs," Bush said, adding, "We will help prevent millions of new HIV infections from occurring. And we will also bolster our efforts to help developing nations combat other devastating diseases like malaria and tuberculosis" (Blake, The Hill, 7/26).

According to the AP/Google.com, the measure was approved in Congress after months of compromise (AP/Google.com, 7/26). The bill modifies 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. The measure also includes a "conscience" provision, supported by conservatives, that 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 to women and girls and stresses the prevention of sexual violence. The program aims to reach 80% of HIV-positive pregnant women with services to prevent transmitting the virus to their infants. The measure also would remove a policy, in place since 1987, that bars HIV-positive foreigners from entering the U.S. The U.S. funds will be directed to curb HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa, Vietnam, Haiti and Guyana (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/25).

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