Senator Clinton Hails Approval by Key Senate Committee of Legislation to Fight Global Disease

Press Release

Senator Clinton Hails Approval by Key Senate Committee of Legislation to Fight Global Disease

Legislation Includes Clinton Proposals on AIDS and $50 billion for Programs Around the World

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today hailed the approval by a key Senate committee of legislation that would provide $50 billion for global AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs. Proposals from two bills introduced by Senator Clinton - the PEPFAR Accountability and Transparency Act, and the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth (PATHWAY) Act - were incorporated into the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, which has now been approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"I am pleased that several of the important proposals that I have long championed to better combat the global scourge of HIV/AIDS have been included in this legislation and approved by the Committee," Senator Clinton said. "The funding and proposals contained in this legislation will make a real difference in our efforts around the world to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, fight tuberculosis, and reduce and eradicate malaria. I look forward to this bill becoming law."

The bill passed by the Foreign Relations Committee contains language from Senator Clinton's PEPFAR Accountability and Transparency Act, which would improve program monitoring, evaluation and operations research, helping to better target U.S. funds to activities that prevent new infections, and improve HIV-related care and delivery. Among the provisions included was the requirement of a 'Best Practices' report, to easily share information about cost-effective interventions that can be replicated in settings around the world.

Elements of the PATHWAY Act, introduced by Representative Barbara Lee in the House and Senator Clinton in the Senate, were also included in the final legislation. The bill calls for ensuring that specific plans and targets are included to address the specific vulnerabilities of women and girls, including efforts to address gender-based violence, improve legal empowerment, and expand access of women and girls to microfinance, educational, and other opportunities.

Like Senator Clinton's PATHWAY Act, the final legislation also removes the requirement that one third of prevention funding under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief be spent on abstinence-until-marriage programs.

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