House Foreign Affairs Committee Approves Global AIDS Program Bill

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 29 Feb 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday approved a bill (HR 5501) to reauthorize the U.S. global HIV/AIDS program, CQ Today reports. The bill would authorize $50 billion for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief over the next five years -- more than triple the $15 billion authorized for the first five years (Graham-Silverman, CQ Today, 2/27).

The new bill reflects a compromise reached late Tuesday between House leaders from both parties and the White House. It removes a provision included in PEPFAR's original mandate that requires one-third of HIV prevention funding be spent on abstinence-only education. New language requires "balanced funding" for prevention programs that ensure that abstinence and faithfulness teachings "are implemented and funded in a meaningful way." Under the committee-approved bill, countries that spend less than 50% of funding for the prevention of the sexual transmission of HIV on abstinence and fidelity programs will be required to explain the decision to Congress, the Washington Post reports (Brown, Washington Post, 2/28).

The bill retains the so-called "anti-prostitution" pledge, CQ Today reports (CQ Today, 2/27). In addition, the compromise bill would allow funding for HIV testing and education in family planning clinics. PEPFAR money cannot be used for contraception or abortion. In the final negotiations, language was dropped that would have authorized the use of PEPFAR funds for contraceptive services in programs where HIV-positive women are receiving treatment (Kivlan, CongressDaily, 2/28). The compromise bill also would fund loans to women whose husbands have died of the disease or who have been ostracized for being HIV-positive.

The bill is expected to reach the House floor for a vote within two weeks, the Post reports (Washington Post, 2/28).

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According to CQ Today, both Republicans and Democrats seemed to be satisfied with the compromise bill. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said that although "in the end" Democrats "had to compromise on several items," she is "pleased to support" the compromise bill (CQ Today, 2/27). Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) added that many lawmakers agreed that not reaching a compromise "would do irreparable damage to what is arguably the most successful U.S. foreign assistance program of the last half century" (AP/International Herald Tribune, 2/27).

However, some public health and family planning groups that had "pushed for broader changes expressed disappointment that the Democratic majority did not fight harder," CQ Today reports (CQ Today, 2/27).

Paul Zeitz, director of the Global AIDS Alliance, said the "historic" compromise "will save millions of lives," adding, "With bipartisan support, Congress is beginning to fix aspects of [PEPFAR] that were clearly not working" (Washington Post, 2/28).

White House spokesperson Dana Perino said the White House "applaud[ed]" the bill's quick approval and "hope[s] the House and Senate will soon follow suit and send it onto the president for signature" (CQ Today, 2/27). Perino added that the White House believes the president's earlier request of $30 billion for the program is the "right amount of money that could be effectively used" by PEPFAR focus countries. "We don't think it's smart to send additional American taxpayer dollars that will sit there and not be used, or be used ineffectively," Perino said (AP/International Herald Tribune, 2/27).

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