PEPFAR Stewardship And Oversight Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1545, The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Stewardship and Oversight Act (PEPFAR). Eleven years ago, as the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I initiated PEPFAR talks with President George Bush to discuss the necessity of an international response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. President Bush helped make a $15 billion commitment to worldwide AIDS relief.

Not only has PEPFAR driven down the cost of commodities, it has seen real success targeting each country's specific epidemic by coordinating resources within numerous AIDS responses.

PEPFAR is a vital emergency response and it has been able to transition to long-term sustainability through country ownership. This bill not only strengthens all that PEPFAR has achieved, it extends critical oversight and authority in order to continue its success.

While PEPFAR has been a major accomplishment, we must continue to support its efforts. The U.S. investment in the Global Fund is key to the success of PEPFAR.

Our contributions have not only secured resources but also helped to increase coverage of health services and saved millions of lives. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 1545 and continue to support this critical program.

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