Congressman Loebsack's PEPFAR Follow-up

PEPFAR: The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed PEPFAR Reauthorization on February 27th. The bill’s official title is the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act (H.R. 5501). It reauthorizes PEPFAR for five years reauthorization and provides $50 billion for the program over that time. The Administration had called for $30 billion. HR 5501’s goal is to move beyond the “emergency” phase of implementation under PEPFAR by making the programs sustainable over the long term. It increases programming related to women and girls; strengthens health systems within the countries; authorizes food, nutrition, education, and health care programs; and increases U.S. contributions to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It eliminates the requirement that one third of funds go to abstinence only programs and instead requires a “balanced” prevention program in all countries where the program operates, including every element of the Abstinence, “Be Faithful,” and Condoms (ABC) approach toward HIV transmission prevention.