OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2004

Date: June 18, 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Food Processing and Sales


ASSISTANCE FOR ORPHANS AND OTHER VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ACT OF 2004 -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 18, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
OF MINNESOTA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2004

Ms. MCCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Assistance for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act. I want to thank the author, Ms. LEE, for her hard work and leadership in advocating for orphans for vulnerable children affected by the AIDS crisis.

Today, there are more than 110 million orphans throughout the world. Communities heavily affected by AIDS are being robbed of a generation of adults in their most productive years, leaving behind children to be raised by relatives, left on their own in households headed by children, or even worse-living in the streets.

The scope and complexity of the challenges facing children affected by HIV/AIDS cannot be overstated. Children often must take over adult work responsibilities and provide care for sick parents or family members, forcing them to drop out of school and social activities. Children are forced to find any work necessary to support themselves and often their younger siblings.

We have a responsibility today to make a firm commitment to ensure that the funding we promised last year, in the Global HIV/AIDS bill, goes to improve the safety, health, and survival of these children. This important legislation will establish a new office of Orphans and other Vulnerable Children within USAID to adopt a comprehensive approach for assistance and coordinate that assistance provided to orphans and vulnerable children. By passing this legislation today and maintaining our promise for HIV/AIDS funding in the appropriations bill we are preparing to consider this year, we can provide hope and opportunity to the villages and communities where these AIDS orphans live, we can play an important role in educating and investing in future generations to fight this dangerous and deadly disease, and we can preserve the history of their culture for future generations.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

arrow_upward