President’s Initiative Will Combat AIDS around the Globe (Sen. Mike Enzi)

I applaud President Bush’s new initiative to combat HIV/AIDS across the globe.  His plan will provide the resources needed to prevent the spread of the disease, treat those who have it, and assist children and families affected by HIV/AIDS.

In the last several years, we have made great strides in treating HIV/AIDS, but there is still much to do.  By continuing our fight against HIV/AIDS across the globe, we can build on successful programs to fight back against this horrific disease.

Our global AIDS programs have been enormously successful in promoting prevention of HIV/AIDS through education and testing, providing life-saving treatment for those who have the disease, and assisting children and families whose loved ones are infected.  I look forward to working with President Bush and with my colleagues to expand upon this success.

President Bush today asked Congress to double its commitment to the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and provide $30 billion over five years to fight global HIV/AIDS after the current program expires in 2008.  The administration projects that this increase would provide life-saving treatment to approximately 2.5 million people.

With these additional resources, we can ensure that more individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS have access to the medicines and technology that can effectively halt the evolution of HIV and help them live normal lives.  We can invest in education programs to help individuals and communities understand how to prevent the spread of the disease, and we can assist children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.