The House on July 19 began consideration of the FY2002 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Agencies appropriations bill (H.R. 2506). Consideration of the measure will resume on July 24.
During debate on July 19, the House approved, by voice vote, an amendment by Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) that would earmark $5 million under the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund for mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission research and prevention programs. “Stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS from mother-to-child is one of the most important prevention programs on which we need to focus,” stated Rep. Millender-McDonald.
Subcommittee Chair Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) accepted the amendment, saying that it represented “good public policy.”
Overall, the bill would provide $474 million for global HIV/AIDS programs. Funding for the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund would be increased to $1.4 billion. International family planning programs and the U.S. contribution to the United Nations Population Fund would be level-funded at $425 million and $25 million respectively.
