*EPF218 05/13/2003
Text: Congressional Task Force on HIV/AIDS Is Formed
(Panel gives lawmakers forum to address global AIDS crisis) (580)

Members of the U.S. Congress are expressing their concerns about the global AIDS crisis by forming a special task force to examine the issue and possible responses. Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, announced the launch of the bi-partisan panel May 8.

Durbin said in a press release that the task force, currently with 32 members, will work to educate other lawmakers on disease issues and communicate with counterparts in other nations to join a common effort to meet the many challenges presented by the pandemic.

Following is the text of the Durbin press release:

(begin text)

UNITED STATES SENATOR DICK DURBIN OF ILLINOIS
PRESS RELEASE
May 8, 2003

Durbin Launches Congressional Global AIDS Emergency Task Force
Global Fund Executive Director Dr. Richard Feachem Joins Members of Congress for Today's Kick-Off Meeting

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today launched a new bi-partisan, bi-cameral Global AIDS Emergency Task Force to provide an effective forum for Members of Congress to respond to the global AIDS crisis and help shape and strengthen U.S. AIDS initiatives on an international level. The Task Force, presently 32 members strong, is a growing coalition of Members of Congress who share concerns about HIV/AIDS and its deadly spread across the globe.

"Today's reality is a world in which geographic borders pose no barrier to disease," Durbin said. "As AIDS accelerates its deadly pace around the world, we too must step up our response to this global pandemic or risk harm to the economic prosperity and security of our own nation. President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has defined a starting point in the global fight against AIDS, and it is my hope that this new Task Force will be an effective forum to build on and further shape that commitment."

Dr. Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, was the featured speaker at today's inaugural task force meeting. Yesterday, a new report from the General Accounting Office (GAO) praised the Global Fund for its "noteworthy progress in establishing central governance and other supporting structures" and warned that a lack of sufficient resources is threatening the Fund's ability to approve and finance additional grants.

Durbin said that the primary goals of the Global AIDS Emergency Task Force are to educate members on global AIDS and the most effective responses, develop a Congressional strategy to maximize our nation's impact on this epidemic, and link with parliamentarians around the world to join in the common effort to meet this challenge. With AIDS authorizing legislation on the floor in both Houses this month, Durbin said the Task Force would play an integral role in addressing central issues of debate.

"Senator Durbin's extraordinary leadership in galvanizing the U.S. response to the global AIDS crisis is evident once again with the launch of the bipartisan Global AIDS Emergency Task Force," said Dr. Paul S. Zeitz, Executive Director, Global AIDS Alliance. "With Durbin's leadership, we are confident that Congress will finally step up to its responsibility and provide the necessary funding to stop the global AIDS crisis."

The Task Force is led by Durbin and Gordon Smith (R-OR) in the Senate and Representatives Amo Houghton (R-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), and James Leach (R-IA) in the House.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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