Bipartisanship Trumps Liberal Agenda in PEPFAR Reauthorization

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee passed by voice vote the reauthorization of PEPFAR, the U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization of 2008.

Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council, released the following statement:

"I applaud the House Foreign Affairs Committee for passing an HIV/AIDS bill free of troubling provisions contained in earlier drafts. Previous drafts would have funded international abortion groups, undermined abstinence and faithfulness programs, removed an anti-sex trafficking provision, harmed faith-based groups and would have done nothing to require transparency in the Global Fund. This bill is a marked improvement and is aimed at protecting life, not destroying it.

"While not perfect, this bill continues the principles of the bipartisan PEPFAR program passed five years ago. I especially applaud Rep. Chris Smith for his tireless work to ensure that PEPFAR does not create new family planning programs to fund international abortion groups. The White House is also to be congratulated for involving themselves early in the process and holding the line on key provisions, such as continued funding for abstinence prevention programs, maintaining the anti-sex trafficking pledge, requiring more transparency in the Global Fund, and ensuring that faith-based organizations are not discriminated against in HIV/AIDS grants.

"Most importantly, those people in the countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS should know that we will continue to work hard to ensure the United States continues to support them, rather than redirect funds away from their plight. FRC will monitor this bill as it continues through the legislative process."

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Source: Family Research Council

CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Maria Donovan of the Family Research Council,
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Web Site: http://www.frc.org/

2008-02-27 18:05:37 0300124 PRNEWSWIRE