Senator Boxer: Funding Needed to Fight Disease Worldwide   

Wednesday, February 7, 2007  

I recently joined many of my fellow Senators in writing to the Senate Committee on Appropriations regarding our nation’s commitment to the global fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and I want to let you know about our efforts.

Because Congress did not pass several appropriation bills last year, including the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, many programs will likely be funded at the same levels as last year through continuing resolutions.  For programs that fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, this level funding could produce drastic results.  In part, it would eliminate extensions of new and effective anti-retroviral treatments for AIDS patients and limit programs to prevent and treat malaria and tuberculosis.

The Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator has estimated that if level funding is provided under a year-long continuing resolution, 110,000 to 175,000 people will die, including countless children.  In our letter, we requested that funding be provided to prevent this crisis and get treatment to the people who need it.  You can count on me to continue my work in this area.

Sincerely,