Recognizing Nobel Laureates
On December 11, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved, en bloc, by voice vote, a resolution (S. Res. 595) recognizing Nobel Laureates Kailash Stayarthi and Malala Yousafzai for their efforts to ensure the right of all children to an education.
Sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), the measure contains several findings, noting that “Malala Yousafzai has promoted education for girls in Pakistan since she was 11 years old and is an advocate for worldwide access to education” and that the Taliban attempted to assassinate her for her efforts to encourage more girls to attend school.
World AIDS Day
The committee also approved, en bloc, by voice vote, a resolution (S. Res. 597) commemorating and supporting the goals of World AIDS Day.
Sponsored by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), the measure contains several findings, noting that “the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was launched in 2002 and, as of November 2013, supported programs in more than 140 countries that provided antiretroviral therapy to 6.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS and antiretrovirals to 2.1 million pregnant women to prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS to their babies.”
The measure also recognizes the role of President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS globally: “In 2012, PEPFAR supported the provision of antiretroviral drugs to 750,000 pregnant women living with HIV to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child during birth.”
