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2008 Speeches
Congress Passes the Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
House of Representatives
July 24, 2008
Mr. Speaker:
This is an especially proud day for me to serve in the U.S.House of Representatives and to cast my vote in strong support of H.R. 5501,
the Tom Lantos
& Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.
Today, the Peoples House will say eloquently and unequivocally
that America intends to exert its moral leadership in the world; that all Americans stand
united in fighting this global pandemic.
As we have done in other times of great trial, we set aside
our differences today and declare that America stands with commitment,
compassion and conviction against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The Senate already has passed this legislation and the
President has announced that he will sign the legislation, which is one of his
top priorities. And I credit him for that.
This legislation will provide the resources and policies
necessary to take the fight against HIV/AIDS to the next level. An increase in funding to $48 billion over
five years will provide the resources to sustain the fight on so many fronts in
so many countries especially hard hit by the pandemic.
I am proud to note that the legislation includes key provisions
that I authored along with Rep. Granger to strengthen the prevention of mother
to child transmission of HIV. Every day
more than 1,000 children around the world are born infected with HIV.
Our provisions included in this legislation will provide
training and education, integrate services into maternal health care and ensure
that women and children have access to early screening and life saving drug
therapies.
We know that providing a short regimen of anti retroviral
drugs to the mother and newborn reduces transmission by 50 percent. And now we
will have the means to do it.
H.R. 5501 also includes my provisions to establish two five
year targets to protect the next generation.
The first goal is that 16 percent of those receiving treatment under
PEPFAR be children, which is significantly higher than the children receiving
treatment under current PEPFAR programs.
The second goal is that 80 percent of pregnant women in the
most affected countries receive HIV counseling and testing and where necessary,
antiretroviral treatment to prevent mother to child transmission. We know how to stop transmission and, over time, we can achieve
the goal of a generation born free of HIV/AIDS.
This legislation finally ends the unspoken fear and
discrimination in our own country by eliminating the travel restriction that
has stopped scientists and others infected with HIV/AIDS from crossing our
borders to attend a medical or educational conference, or to visit family or
friends.
This legislation addresses the fatal connection between HIV
and TB, which itself has claimed 1.7 million lives directly or through
HIV-associated TB. I am proud that the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle is a leader in the fight against TB as it is in reversing other global medical crises. My community rightly swells with
pride over the local leadership and resources being devoted to fighting on behalf
of all humanity.
We have come a long way in a short period of time. H.R. 5501 will build on the systems and
success we have had so far by integrating additional services and providing the
vital funding needed to train health care professionals and community
workers.
Trained medical personnel, on the ground in country, are the
front line in this fight and this legislation gives us the ability to send in
reinforcements to help fight a war against this disease.
There is so much to say about what this day means. Above all, it means we are going to save
lives. We are going to provide global leadership and real hope. The day will come when medical science will
discover a vaccine that will end this scourge once and for all. Until then, let us stand together as one
nation and one world, united in one common goal in the fight against
HIV/AIDS.
I cast my vote for passage on behalf of every person in Seattle, in Africa, China,
India
and elsewhere who lives with or is threatened by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I urge my colleagues to support this
legislation.
Thank you.
Click here to learn more about H.R. 5501
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