108th Congress

United States Leadership Against Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003

P.L. 108-25 (S. 250, H.R. 1298)

Impact of Public Law

P.L. 108-25, the United States Leadership Against Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria Act of 2003, requires the creation of a U.S. strategy to expand vital programs and improve coordination among U.S. agencies, foreign governments, and international organizations. Although the Act does not include provisions for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by name, a number of research-related provisions are included. Among its research-related provisions, the Act:

• Requires the President to establish a comprehensive, integrated 5-year strategy to combat global HIV/AIDS, including specific objectives, multisectoral approaches, and strategies; assign priorities for relevant executive branch agencies; improve coordination and reduce duplication among such agencies; provide that HIV/AIDS risk reduction must be a part of all prevention strategies; promote abstinence; encourage monogamy and faithfulness; promote the effective use of condoms; eradicate prostitution, the sex trade, and sexual abuse and exploitation of women and children; project the general levels of resources needed to achieve the stated goals; expand public-private partnerships; and intensify activities to support the development of vaccines and therapeutics against HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria
• Requires the President to submit a report to Congress within 270 days of enactment that outlines the integrated 5-year strategy
• Establishes an HIV/AIDS Response Coordinator position within the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, who will have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all U.S. international activities to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The coordinator is authorized to transfer and allocate funds to relevant executive branch agencies, provide grants and contracts to nongovernmental organizations, ensure coordination and avoid duplication among executive branch agencies, and resolve policy, program, and funding disputes among these Federal agencies. The coordinator must establish an interagency technical review panel to periodically review all proposals to the Global Fund, with membership comprising qualified medical and development specialists who are officers or employees of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
• Provides such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for voluntary contributions to international vaccine funds, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, and in support of the development of a malaria vaccine
• Requires the President to submit a report to Congress containing information on the status of research on successful treatment protocols for individuals in the developing world and activities related to the prevention of mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission.

Legislative History

As a followup to the demonstrated interest of the 107th Congress in the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, TB, and malaria, Members of the 108th Congress continue to promote governmental activities aimed at addressing these diseases in developing nations. The impact of these diseases on the health and economic stability of affected countries serves as a reminder that industrialized countries must assist their global neighbors. Three Senate bills and one House bill of interest to NIH were introduced in the 107th Congress. Although the HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria bills of the 107th Congress did not receive final action, there was bipartisan support for such legislation and agreement that it must be enacted early in the 108th Congress.

S. 250, the Global CARE Act, was introduced on January 30, 2003, by Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. No further action occurred on this legislation.

H.R. 1298 was introduced on March 17, 2003, by Representatives Henry J. Hyde (R-IL) and Tom Lantos (D-CA) to fund international HIV/AIDS relief efforts. H.R. 1298 was referred to the House Committee on International Relations on April 1. The bill was considered and ordered to be amended on April 2. On April 7, the bill was amended by the House Committee on International Relations, the Committee report was filed, and the measure was placed on the Union Calendar. H.R. 1298 was considered in the House, amended, and passed on May 1. Following receipt of the measure in the Senate on May 1, H.R. 1298 as amended by the Senate was passed on May 15 and returned to the House on May 19. The House agreed to the Senate-amended H.R. 1298 on May 21. The measure was signed by the President as P.L. 108-25 on May 27.