The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 30, 2007

Fact Sheet: President Bush Announces Five-Year, $30 Billion HIV/AIDS Plan
Continues American Commitment To Leading The Fight Against AIDS

     Fact sheet President Bush Announces Five-Year, $30 Billion HIV/AIDS Plan
     Fact sheet In Focus: HIV/AIDS

Today, President George W. Bush Announced His Desire To Double America’s Commitment to Fight Global HIV/AIDS. He Will Work With Congress To Reauthorize The United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, And Malaria Act Of 2003, Which Established The President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The President also announced his intention to double the initial $15 billion commitment, already the largest international health initiative dedicated to a specific disease. Assuming Congress meets the President’s request for Fiscal Year 2008, and with the new $30 billion proposal, the American people have committed $48.3 billion across 10 years to fight HIV/AIDS.

The New Plan Emphasizes Continuation And Expansion

Continuation – HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and care are life-long needs, and the American people will continue to support those served during PEPFAR’s first 5 years.

Expansion –PEPFAR will further expand efforts to strengthen health systems, and to leverage programs that address malaria, tuberculosis, child and maternal health, clean water, food and nutrition, education and other needs. The Plan will emphasize transitioning from an emergency to a sustainable response for treatment, prevention and care.

President Bush Reiterated His Call For Developed And Developing Countries – In Particular Middle-Income Countries Where Projections Suggest Many New Infections Will Occur -- To Increase Their Contributions To Fighting AIDS. HIV/AIDS is a global crisis that requires a global response. The U.S. currently provides as many resources for global HIV/AIDS as all other developed country governments combined for global HIV/AIDS. But only together can we turn the tide against the global epidemic.

Background On Today’s Presidential Action

President Bush announced PEPFAR in his 2003 State of the Union Address and signed the initial 5-year, $15 billion authorizing legislation that was approved with strong bipartisan support. Authorization for PEPFAR expires at the end of Fiscal Year 2008. Reauthorization is needed this year to secure America’s preeminent leadership role, to assure the world and our partners of our commitment so rapid scale-up continues, and to provide time to implement novel aspects of the new Plan.

Building on PEPFAR’s Success

*Current focus countries: Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.

*Mrs. Bush will travel to Senegal, Mozambique, Zambia and Mali on June 25-29, 2007. Mozambique and Zambia are PEPFAR focus countries, and Mrs. Bush’s visit underscores the U.S. commitment to Africa and will highlight the advances being made in HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment.

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