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AIDS Action Commends Senate Passage of PEPFAR Reauthorization
WASHINGTON, July 16, 2008
-- AIDS Action applauds the Senate
for overwhelming, bipartisan passage of the Lantos/Hyde U.S. Global
Leadership
Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act (S
2731), which
reauthorizes the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The
organization particularly commends the lifting of the statutory
requirement
that bars travel and immigration to the U.S.
by HIV positive
non-citizens. Also noteworthy are the mention and recognition
of HIV
prevention, care and treatment needs of men who have sex with men (MSM)
and the
removal of the directive requiring that 33% of prevention funds be
spent on
“abstinence-only until marriage” programs.
“PEPFAR has had
significant success in saving lives and
preventing new cases of HIV infection,” said Ronald Johnson, Deputy
Executive Director of AIDS Action.
“Continuation
of PEPFAR ensures expansion and
sustainability of the greatest global heath initiative in history,” he
added. “The lifting
of the travel and
immigration bar removes the blemish on the United States
leadership on HIV and
AIDS. We are especially pleased that this discriminatory law
has finally
been repealed.”
AIDS Action urges prompt
and timely final passage of the
legislation and urges the President to sign the Lantos/Hyde bill.
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AIDS Action
Council is the longest-serving national HIV/AIDS
advocacy organization. It serves as a
national voice for its members—community-based organizations, local
health
departments and clinics, treatment and prevention service providers,
and health
educators by advocating for effective legislative and social policies
and
programs for HIV prevention, treatment, and care. |
