U.S. Senate forgoes agreement on AIDS, TB, and malaria bill until after G8 summit

World Vision commends the U.S. Senate for approving increases for hunger and developmental assistance for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 in the Supplemental Appropriations Act, including $850 million in the first year to address the global food crisis.

This increase in international aid comes as U.S. officials prepare to meet next week in Japan with other leaders from the Group of Eight nations, with an agenda including development in Africa and achieving the Millennium Development Goals set at the 2005 summit. World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian organization that has worked more than 55 years in impoverished nations, calls on G8 leaders to keep their promises to eradicate extreme poverty, reduce child mortality and hunger, and combat AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

The effort to combat the HIV and AIDS pandemic should be a pressing issue at the summit. Unfortunately, last week the U.S. Senate forfeited a key opportunity to demonstrate continued American leadership in the global fight against AIDS by postponing an agreement to reauthorize the Global AIDS, TB, and Malaria Bill.

"It is very disappointing that Congress has not yet finalized the next five-year bill to fight AIDS, TB and malaria internationally. It should have been done before the July 2008 summit in Japan," said Robert Zachritz, director of advocacy and government relations for World Vision in the U.S. "However, it is encouraging that the Supplemental Appropriations bill will provide significant resources in the next two fiscal years to address the global food crisis with both long- and short-term measures."

The recently passed Supplemental Appropriations Act will aid people struggling amid the global food crisis by allocating funds for both emergency disaster assistance and long-term agriculture programs, including cash for purchasing food commodities in developing countries. These appropriations will provide a tangible example of U.S. commitment to international development and the eradication of hunger and poverty at next week's summit.

The U.S. and other G8 countries must set a powerful example and honor their commitments to end extreme poverty and stop the devastation caused by poor health and AIDS in the developing world, World Vision said in a policy briefing released recently.

Poor health claimed the lives of 9.7 million children under the age of five in 2006. Most of these deaths were attributed to preventable and treatable causes that children receiving adequate health care would survive.

American taxpayers are increasingly concerned about poverty issues. The ONE Campaign, InterAction and the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign, organizations of which World Vision is a member, are calling on the federal government for policies that will provide better international aid and help children get the care and treatment they need.

Those who wish to help can send a letter to their leaders urging them to take action by going to www.G8action.org.

"World Vision is calling on all G8 leaders to keep their promises to fight global poverty," urged Zachritz. "The time is now for action and not just words."