Legislative Update

The Senate Just Completed Action on Two Global HIV/AIDS Amendments

Released by: Global Health Council (www.globalhealth.org)

Contact: Ken Kelly, Grassroots Manager, Global Health Council, 1701 K Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006

Tel: 202.833.5900 Fax: 202.833.0075

June 10, 2002 -  An amendment sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) calling for an additional increase of $500 million for global HIV/AIDS was defeated. A similar amendment sponsored by Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) increasing HIV/AIDS funding by $100 million was approved. Currently, the Senate approved version of the Emergency Supplemental Bill now includes a total of $200 million for global HIV/AIDS programs.  However, there are three important caveats to this funding:

·       The funds must be used for programs that address mother-to-child transmission.

·       The President has the discretion to determine how and where this additional $100 million will be allocated - It will be his decision as to whether it is directed to the Global Fund, or other bilateral programs.

·       If the funds are not directed to the Global Fund, the amendment states that private sources must provide a match before the federal Agency can expend these funds. 

The House bill also includes a total of $200 million for global HIV/AIDS.