
Patients sit outside the Tshupe Hospice for terminally ill AIDS patients in Rustenburg,
South Africa. (AP)
Senate Passes AIDS Relief Bill
30-Second Summary
The $50 billion PEPFAR bill passed through the House in April and had bipartisan support in the Senate, but a group of seven Republican senators blocked a vote on the bill. Though they supported PEPFAR, they objected to the cost and to what the initiatives it would cover.
The main stumbling block was whether the bill should require that 55 percent of the funding go to treatment; the 2003 bill had this clause, but it was not included this time around. There was also controversy about whether the bill committed enough to abstinence-based education and whether it should give funding to an organization that promotes abortion.
The Senate's bill included two significant changes that will still have to be approved by the House. One is that $2 billion of the original $50 billion is to be spent within the U.S. on water and health programs for American Indians. The second lifts a two-decade ban on HIV-positive foreigners entering the country as travelers or immigrants.
“With passage of today's bill we are one step closer to ensuring that this excellent program continues to help those in need,” said Bush. “I encourage the full Congress to move quickly to send me final legislation that I can sign.”
Headline Link: Senate approves PEPFAR bill
The Senate voted 80-16 to approve the bill, which also includes funding for malaria and tuberculosis relief. The House is likely to approve the changes to bill—funding for American Indians and a lift on the ban of HIV-positive foreigners—in the next several days.
Source: Associated Press
Reactions: Bush thanks Senate
President Bush praised the Senate’s decision to pass the bill. “Traveling in
Source: MarketWatch
Background: The PEPFAR initiatives
Source: International Herald Tribune
Source: Los Angeles Times
The bill had widespread support in the Senate, but a group of Republican senators lobbied against several provisions in the bill.
Source: Dallas Voice (AP)
On Tuesday, the Senate voted down several Republican amendments that would have decreased funding, limited the scope of the program, and diverted funds away from an organization that supports abortion in China.
Source: Kaiser Network
Opinion & Analysis: How should PEPFAR money be spent?
Source: The Wall Street Journal (subscription may be required)
Source: The New York Times (free registration may be required)
Source: AllAfrica.com
Source: The Washington Post
Related Topics: HIV immigration ban and funding for American Indians
Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Gordon Smith, R-Ore., introduced the provision ending a ban on HIV-positive visitors that has stood since 1987. “There’s no excuse for a law that stigmatizes a particular disease,” said Kerry.
Source: Associated Press
The Senate also agreed to an amendment directing $2 billion to American Indian reservations. The money will be spent on health care and improving drinking water.
Source: CQ Politics
Reference: PEPFAR
Source: PEPFAR.gov
Source: Library of Congress
Source: PEPFAR Watch

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