On June 27, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee gave voice vote approval to a bill (as-yet-unnumbered) that would authorize HIV/AIDS-related activities worldwide. The measure was originally approved as part of a larger foreign aid reauthorization package (S. 2382) in March (see The Source, 5/24/00). However, that bill was referred to the Senate Banking Committee where it has been stalled due to concerns over provisions dealing with international lending institutions. As a result, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jesse Helms (R-NC) has decided to move the foreign aid reauthorization package as stand-alone bills.
The measure approved on June 27 would authorize over $500 million for HIV/AIDS activities. The bill would authorize $50 million for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, $10 million for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, $100 million for an HIV/AIDS trust fund at the World Bank, $50 million for an orphan trust fund at the World Bank, and $300 million for HIV/AIDS prevention programs at USAID. Under the bill, not less than 65 percent of USAID’s HIV/AIDS funding must be allocated to nongovernmental organizations, not less than 20 percent must be spent on programs to support and educate orphans, and not less than 8.3 percent must be allocated for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission.
The bill also would direct the President to negotiate with other foreign governments on the establishment of an international vaccine purchase fund. Contributions to the fund would be used to purchase vaccines for malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and other infectious diseases. Additionally, the measure would authorize $60 million for tuberculosis prevention, treatment, control, and elimination efforts.
