|
At the State Department on Tuesday, May 27, President Bush
signed into law the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria Act of 2003—an initiative he proposed just four
months ago in his State of the Union Address. The landmark
legislation, which will support efforts “to turn the tide
against HIV/AIDS” in 14 countries—twelve in Africa and two
in the Caribbean—is a groundbreaking bill for several reasons.
First, the size of the commitment is unprecedented. As the
president noted in his speech, “the legislation’s promise
of $15 billion is “the largest, single up front commitment
in history for an international public health initiative
involving a specific disease.” Another unprecedented dimension
of the bill is its unanimous support from both chambers
of the U.S. Congress. Finally, the bill endorses an innovative
concept that heretofore has never been considered: the exchange
of debt relief for nations in exchange for their contributions
to health care at home.
“It’s
good to see the U.S. accept responsibility for the [global]
epidemic,” Ronald Johnson, associate director of the Gay
Men’s Health Crisis and board chair for AIDS Action noted
after the signing. However, he added, “I certainly hope
that it is viewed in the context of a start—not only for
the U.S., but for other developed countries.”
“President Bush worked tirelessly to see that this bill
passed through Congress and arrived on his desk for signing
before he left for the G-8 conference, where he could use
it to leverage support from other wealthy nations. This
is just the kind of leadership that the HIV/AIDS response
needs,” AIDS Action Executive Director Dr. Marsha Martin,
who was also in attendance, stated.
In
a meeting prior to the signing, President Bush thanked AIDS
Action for its work in helping to ensure the legislation’s
passage. The president went on to acknowledge the hard work
ahead, but pointed out optimistically that the work will
be done by many, not few.
|
|
AIDS Action was also represented by John Brown, executive
director of Desert AIDS Project; Dr. Linda Frank, executive
director of the National AETCs; Letitia Gomez, of the AIDS
Action Foundation Board of Directors; Millicent Gorham,
executive director of the National Black Nurses Association,
Charles Henry, director of the Los Angeles County Health
Department-Office of AIDS Programs and Policy; and Pernessa
Seele, CEO of The Balm In Gilead.
John
Brown indicated enthusiasm for the new legislation which,
he said, will save many lives. He credits the success of
its passage, in part, to a shift in HIV/AIDS advocacy. “On
an advocacy level, we have learned an important lesson [from
this legislation]: HIV/AIDS advocacy works best when it’s
bipartisan. He continued by suggesting that advocates recognize
the differing priorities of Republicans and Democrats and
craft messages that resonate with each party.
Letitia
Gomez said that she is happy “to see the U.S. is responding
in a formal way to global AIDS.” But, she cautioned, “There
is still a need to be vigilant in our own backyards.”
AIDS
Action is committed to working alongside the Bush administration
and our national leadership in both chambers of Congress
to secure requisite funding for the president’s initiative,
whose strategies are outlined in this new law. In addition,
AIDS Action will continue to stress the equally important—yet,
heretofore unmet— prevention, care, treatment, and housing
needs of people in the United States who are living with
HIV/AIDS. Until it’s over.
History
of HR 1298
|
