Following is a fact sheet issued December 1, 2001, by The White House:

Office of the Press Secretary
The White House
December 1, 2001

Fact Sheet: World AIDS Day Observance

• The President declared December 1 World AIDS Day to reaffirm the United States' commitment to combating HIV/AIDS at home and abroad.

• The White House will join the observance of World AIDS Day by dimming the lights at the North Portico on Saturday, December 1 at 7:00 PM [EST] for 5 minutes.

Background on World AIDS Day

• The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that nearly 40 million people are now living with HIV/AIDS. Worldwide, more than 22 million people have died from AIDS.

• In 1992, President George H.W. Bush began the tradition of dimming the White House lights as a symbol to link communities throughout the U.S. in a unified observance of World AIDS Day.

• Throughout the United States, a range of organizations, local and state governments have planned events to demonstrate the shared commitment to the fight against the AIDS pandemic. This commemoration is a tribute to those who have died from HIV/AIDS, as well as those who are currently living with HIV/AIDS.

The President's Commitment to Fighting HIV/AIDS

• The President's budget for international HIV/AIDS programs rose to $841 million in Fiscal Year 2002 [beginning October 1, 2001]:

• Increases support for bilateral international HIV/AIDS assistance by $42 million for Fiscal Year 2002 to $487 million annually
• a 9 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2001 and a 96 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2000.

• Increases international HIV/AIDS research by $21 million for Fiscal Year 2002, bringing total funding for global HIV/AIDS research within the National Institutes of Health to $154 million.

• Earlier this year, President Bush also announced the United States' support for a new Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. This international public-private partnership will provide grants for prevention, treatment, and care. The President announced that the United States will back this international effort by providing $200 million for FY 2002. Congress also appropriated an additional $100 million for the Global Fund in the FY 2001 Emergency Supplemental. Additionally, the Administration continues to work with the G-8 and private foundations, corporations, faith-based groups, and other organizations to generate additional support for this global effort.

• The President's budget increases government-wide HIV/AIDS funding by $250 million for FY 2002, bringing total funding to $13.1 billion. Within this level, the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) research funding for HIV/AIDS increased by $258 million bringing NIH HIV/AIDS total funding to $2.5 billion.

• In April, President Bush expanded the mandate of the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) to better facilitate domestic and international policy efforts on HIV/AIDS. ONAP is supporting a new high-level task force
• co-chaired by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and including the White House Domestic Policy Advisor and the National Security Advisor
• to coordinate the Administration's proactive activities and responses to all aspects of the domestic and international HIV/AIDS crisis.

end fact sheet