For Immediate Release:	May 5, 2003
For More Information:	Naina Dhingra, Advocates for Youth, 617.799.406 (country code 01134)
Sponsor Organization:	The Student Global AIDS Campaign
"Condoms have, must, and will continue play an integral role in a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention” Rene Shen of Harvard College
Washington, DC- The Student Global AIDS Campaign applauds the bi-partisan passage of the Hyde-Lantos-Lee bill global AIDS bill in the House of Representatives today that authorizes $3 billion for global AIDS this year including $1 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. While the bill authorizes more money for the Fund than the President requested, the students are concerned at a number of amendments that passed in the bill that reflect ideology over science. The first amendment, known as the “conscience clause,” was sponsored by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and would allow groups that actively oppose and denigrate condoms to receive U.S. HIV/AIDS funding. “Faith-based groups play a critical role in HIV/AIDS treatment and care -- no one disputes that. But condoms have, must, and will continue play an integral role in a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention,” said Rene Shen of Harvard College. In a further attempt to promote a conservative, ideological agenda, Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) introduced an amendment that designates one third of all U.S. bilateral prevention funds for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. The amendment passed 220-197. Isolating funding to a single prevention method undermines the ABC [Abstinence, Be Faithful, and Condoms] model, a comprehensive prevention strategy which has been embraced by a wide variety of supporters, including President Bush. “It is shameful to think that Rep. Pitts believes he knows better than UNAIDS, the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Medical Association, and countless other experts who have endorsed the ABC model, based on evidence that it works,” said Naina Dhingra of the George Washington University. With the passage of the House bill, all eyes are turned to the Senate, which has been troubled by internal battles on current AIDS legislation and has cancelled three mark-ups. The Student Global AIDS Campaign urges the Senate to act more responsibly by following a science-based approach to prevention instead of religious dogma. “Every day that the Senate delays concerted congressional action on global AIDS, another 8,500 people die from AIDS,” stated Shira Rosenburg of Williams College. The Student Global AIDS Campaign is the largest student organization dedicated to combating the global AIDS pandemic through informed advocacy and has chapters at 250 colleges and universities in the U.S.