*EPF403 05/01/2003
House of Representatives Passes HIV/AIDS Legislation
(Legislation would provide $15,000 million in aid over five years) (670)

By Charlene Porter
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The House of Representatives has answered President Bush's call to act with "speed and seriousness" to relieve the global HIV/AIDS crisis with its vote May 1 to approve a 5-year, $15,000 million package of aid to nations devastated by the viral disease. The legislation passed by a vote of 375-41, and still must be considered by the U.S. Senate.

The U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act is in considerable accord with the plan first put forward by Bush in his January State of the Union message, in which he advocated emergency relief for 14 nations especially hard-hit by HIV/AIDS. The legislation authorizes programs targeted to treatment, prevention and care of people living with HIV/AIDS. It aims to reach 2 million people with anti-retroviral treatment, prevent 7 million new infections, and provide assistance to 10 million HIV-infected individuals and children orphaned by the disease.

The version before the House May 1 emerged from the House International Relations Committee in early April under the bipartisan co-sponsorship of chairman Henry Hyde, a Republican, and Democratic Representative Tom Lantos. That bill endorsed what's come to be known as the ABC model for HIV/AIDS prevention. That stands for abstinence, being faithful, and consistent condom use, a strategy that is viewed as being responsible for Uganda's success in containing the spread of the disease.

The House amended the bill when it reached the floor to assure that fully one third of the funds are set aside for programs that promote the philosophy of sexual abstinence until marriage. The change arose from conservative lawmakers concerned that an over-emphasis on condom distribution would appear to be an official U.S. endorsement of sexual promiscuity.

Another premise of the bill gives special recognition to women's heightened vulnerability to the disease, which is spreading, it says, "in part because many societies do not provide poor women and young girls with the social, legal, and cultural protections against high risk activities that expose them to HIV/AIDS."

Amendments introduced May 1 attempted to address this concern. One amendment requires that HIV/AIDS education programs include curriculum targeting men and boys to emphasize gender equality and respect for women and girls. A second amendment attached to the bill would require that programs providing assistance to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS also emphasize the importance of establishing inheritance rights of women, especially in Africa.

This amendment arises from reported cases of women losing their husbands to AIDS and then losing the family land and home because of inheritance laws that extend little protection to women. Such practices are considered by many activists to further worsen the destabilization that the epidemic brings to communities and families already suffering from the burden of illness and the loss of a loved ones.

The bill also emphasizes the need for U.S. assistance to improve health care infrastructure in affected nations, to encourage vaccine and microbicide research, and to promote the participation of the private sector in a broad-based social effort to combat the disease.

Following the House action, the White House issued a statement from the president:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
May 1, 2003

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

The fight against AIDS is a moral imperative our great nation must confront decisively and boldly.

I applaud the House of Representatives for acting quickly to pass historic legislation that is consistent with the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief that I announced earlier this year. Today's action is an important step toward providing critically needed treatment and care for millions of people suffering from AIDS, and proven prevention programs for millions more who are at risk.

Time is of the essence, and I urge the Senate to act quickly so that we can turn the tide against this disease and give the hope of life to millions of people in the world's most afflicted countries.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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