Immediate Legislative Action Needed to Pass President’s AIDS Initiative

The world needs your help! Funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR/Emergency Plan) is in need of reauthorization. Legislation has passed the House of Representatives (H.R. 5501) and is pending in the Senate. However, there are efforts underway to stall this initiative. It is imperative that you urge your Senators to pass S. 2731, the Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. This legislation provides integrated prevention, diagnostic and treatment programs to address HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa and other developing countries. In addition, the legislation will help these countries develop systems to provide accurate, reliable and timely clinical laboratory testing for HIV and related diseases.

Passage of S. 2731 is crucial in continuing to combat the ravages of these diseases worldwide. Since its implementation in 2003, PEPFAR has been responsible for 1.4 million men, women and children receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy. Is it not our duty as health care professionals to alleviate suffering and to provide care? This obligation is ever present, be it in one’s backyard or across the globe. These initiatives must be funded in order to continue efforts to expand our fight against the pandemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Download PEPFAR Fact Sheet (PDF)

Ask your senator to move forward on S. 2731. Visit eAdvocacy Center