Senate committee oks AIDS funding increase

WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved $100 million in additional funding for programs to treat and prevent AIDS in developing countries as part of the supplemental appropriations bill, but this fell far short of the $700 million being sought by AIDS activists.

Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill., were expected to tack on an amendment to the bill boosting funding to $700 million for the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. But they elected to delay bringing up the amendment until the bill goes before the full Senate, which may be as early as Thursday.

"The $100 million included for the fight against AIDS in Africa is very deserving, though I know some members may advocate an even higher level when the bill reaches the floor," said Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, ranking minority member of the committee.

The additional funds for the global fund could be crucial to its existence, Paul Davis of the AIDS activist organization, ACT UP Philadelphia, told United Press International, "The fund is going to go bankrupt by the end of the year without this emergency infusion of cash."

The global fund, run under the auspices of the United Nations, seeks to increase funding to provide equipment, supplies and medications for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to developing countries in regions such as Africa where the disease is the leading cause of death. Ninety-five percent of the 40 million people infected with HIV worldwide live in developing countries and have no access to drugs that can treat AIDS, Davis said.

Malaria kills one million people each year, the majority of which reside in developing countries. Tuberculosis kills approximately 2 million people and the disease is also on the rise in developing countries. Effective treatments exist for both of these diseases.

The supplemental appropriations bill largely contains provisions for strengthening the nation's fight against terrorism. Specter justified the AIDS funding in this context by saying AIDS creates a situation ripe for terrorists.

"The HIV/AIDS pandemic is quickly destroying both the social and economic framework of many countries in the developing world," he said in a previously released statement. "The destruction of this infrastructure can lead to political instability in several African nations and presents a prime target for terrorists as they search for their next base of operations. Increased funding is a national security issue."

The United States had already pledged $300 million for the fund for fiscal year 2002, and since its inception last June, more than 20 countries and several private organizations have contributed nearly $2 billion.

This does not come close to the amount needed, however, Davis told UPI. He noted United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan has called for $7-10 billion annually just for AIDS.

AIDS activists have called for the United States, the largest contributor to the fund by far, to donate $1.3 billion for fiscal year 2003, Davis said. Whether Congress will heed that call will not be known until fall, when the House and the Senate finalize appropriations for next year.