For Immediate Release
July 24, 2008 |
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Levin Statement in Support U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act |
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(Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) made the following floor statement in support of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act.
Madame Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act.
Five years ago, Congress passed the first U.S. Leadership Act aimed at combating HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria worldwide. Since that time, U.S. assistance has enabled 33 million HIV counseling and testing sessions, provided antiretroviral treatment to 1.45 million people, and prevented 157,000 infants from contracting HIV through mother-to-child infection. In addition to combating HIV/AIDS, the U.S. Leadership Act has contributed to the treatment of millions of people with TB, and to the distribution of millions of bed nets to prevent the spread of malaria.
But there is so much more work to be done. There are currently about 39 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, more than the population of California. Each year, 2 million people die from tuberculosis. Every 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria, a fully preventable disease.
From both a moral and self-interested perspective, we simply cannot afford to let the epidemics of HIV, TB and malaria grow. Our long-term prosperity and security are inextricably linked to our commitment to help build stronger economies and reduce poverty around the world. Promoting public health is a critical component of this effort. Disease cripples not only individuals, but economies as well, preventing parents from supporting their families, and leaving children orphaned with no financial security, limited opportunities for education, and narrow prospects for future contributions.
We must also recognize that in a global society, we ourselves are not immune to these diseases. Malaria was rampant in the parts of the United States as little as 60 years ago. The World Health Organization estimates that worldwide, more than one third of the world’s population is infected with the tuberculosis bacteria. Poorly supervised or incomplete treatment of tuberculosis can be more harmful than no treatment at all, allowing the bacteria to develop resistance to drugs and increasing the hazards of contracting the bacteria for the whole planet. In an ever more integrated world, we cannot wall ourselves off from the reach of these diseases.
This bill reflects our commitment to contribute to the treatment, prevention, and ultimate elimination of these diseases worldwide. It ensures a balanced approach to the prevention of HIV/AIDS that includes abstinence, faithfulness, and condom promotion as the three-tiered strategy to prevent HIV infection. The bill also includes key provisions that recognize the inherent link between disease treatment and support of basic needs, such as food, shelter, and economic opportunity.
I urge my colleagues to vote for this important legislation.
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