May 27, 2003

President Bush Signs Global AIDS Legislation

(Washington, DC) Today at the State Department, President Bush signed into law the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003, which he had originally 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 Pernessa Seele, CEO of The Balm In Gilead; Dr. Linda Frank, executive director of the National AETCs; John Brown, executive director of Desert AIDS Project; Charles Henry, director of the Los Angeles County Health Department-Office of AIDS Programs and Policy; Millicent Gorham, executive director of the National Black Nurses Association, and Letitia Gomez, of the AIDS Action Foundation Board of Directors.

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.

AIDS Action Foundation strives to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by working for public policies that promote prevention against new infections, provide care for people already living with HIV/AIDS, and support the search for a cure. AIDS Action is the national voice of all people living with HIV, representing community based organizations across the country.