Demonstrating strong bipartisan support, the House approved, by voice vote, a bill (H.R. 3519) aimed at combating the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Sponsored by House Banking and Financial Services Committee Chair Jim Leach (R-IA) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), the measure would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into negotiations with the World Bank to establish a trust fund to address the global HIV/AIDS crisis. “At the dawn of the 21st century, the world confronts one of the most serious and urgent public health challenges in the history of mankind,” stated Rep. Leach, adding: “Out of a sense of self-preservation for mankind itself, if not simply humanitarian concern for those affected, this disease must be eradicated whatever the cost.”
In addition to authorizing a U.S. contribution of $100 million a year for FY2001 through 2005, other governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations would be permitted to make contributions. The trust fund would make grants, rather than loans, to countries to address HIV/AIDS. Priority would be given to countries with the highest HIV-infection rates, countries at risk for high HIV-infection rates, and countries that have or agree to implement a national HIV/AIDS program. Activities supported by the trust fund would include prevention, education, treatment and care services, and research and development activities.
H.R. 3519 also would direct the United States Executive Director at the World Bank to encourage the World Bank to work with sub-Saharan African countries to ensure that their HIV/AIDS programs would facilitate the distribution of affordable drugs. The bill would create an advisory board to oversee the trust fund and would require the World Bank to report to Congress annually on the implementation of the trust fund.
Noting the devastation many sub-Saharan countries face, Rep. Lee stated, “This is not only a humanitarian crisis, it is an emerging economic catastrophe. Teachers are disappearing from classrooms. Skilled workers are vanishing from production plants….Left unaddressed, AIDS will wipe out Africa.”
While speaking in support of the bill, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) noted the decrease in authorized funding for the bill. As approved by the House Banking and Financial Services Committee, on March 15, H.R. 3519 would have authorized a U.S. contribution of $200 million for five years (see The Source, 3/17/00, p. 1).
However, the bill was amended prior to floor consideration, authorizing $100 million each year, the same amount included in the original version of the bill. “Given the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, this reduction in funding is dangerously unwise,” Rep. Waters stated.
Rep. John LaFalce (D-NY), ranking Democrat on the House Banking and Financial Services Committee, responded saying, “We know our contribution will be leveraged many fold by additional contributions from such an open community of donors. A figure of at least $1 billion per annum is possible.”
The President has indicated his full support for H.R. 3519. A similar measure (S. 2033), sponsored by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), has not been considered by the Senate; however, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee included a similar version of the World Bank trust fund in a bill (S. 2382) to reauthorize foreign aid programs (see The Source, 3/24/00, p. 1).
