Statement of Senator Durbin on President's Request for More Funds to Combat Global Aids

Press Release

Statement of Senator Durbin on President's Request for More Funds to Combat Global Aids

United States Senator Dick Durbin gave the following statement regarding the President's request, today, for $30 billion over 5 years to combat global AIDS through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other programs.

"I am encouraged that the President remains committed to his pledge to fight the spread of AIDS across the globe. The increase in funding that President Bush has requested will go a long way in combating this disease, especially in the 15 countries involved in PEPFAR. I look forward to working with the Senate to provide these funds. There is, however, more that must be done.

In just five years, over $7 billion has been distributed to 136 countries through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Global Fund expands our ability to directly combat these devastating, yet treatable and preventable diseases. To date, every dollar committed by the United States to this program has been matched and doubled by contributions from other donors. Sadly, the Administration's budget proposal this year cuts the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund from $742 million to a proposed $300 million. That must change.

Today, along with 28 other members of the Senate, I am sending a bipartisan letter to the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations, asking for $1.3 billion to fund the Global Fund program in FY08. I urge the President to work with all of us to support an increase in US contributions to this program.

Today there are nearly 40 million people throughout the world living with AIDS. Every year, 3 million die and 5 million more will become infected with HIV. It is through programs like PEPFAR and the Global Fund that we are beginning to see a reversal of the terrible devastation caused by AIDS."

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