The inability of Congress to renew the primary U.S. program for combating AIDS across the world sends a discouraging message about America’s commitment to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was excluded from the government funding legislation, resulting in certain parts of the program expiring on September 30. PEPFAR, which has been reauthorized on a bipartisan basis three times before, is currently entangled in a GOP-led revolt over abortion politics.
PEPFAR, established by then-President George W. Bush in 2003, is the key global health initiative in the U.S.’s fight against HIV. If not reauthorized, advocates caution that HIV support efforts will be curtailed and global control of the virus will be compromised.
Although some portions of PEPFAR are permanently funded, failure to reauthorize poses a risk of transforming a success story in global health, having saved 25 million lives, into yet another hyper-partisan example of U.S. politics.
“In the short term, PEPFAR will continue providing lifesaving prevention, care, and treatment services in collaboration with PEPFAR-supported countries,” Miller explained during a press briefing. “However, the fact that Congress did not reauthorize the program sends a message to partners around the world, especially in Africa, that we are backing down from our leadership in ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat.”
Miller stated that the administration “firmly supports a clean PEPFAR reauthorization for five years.”
Some congressional Republicans and conservative advocacy groups allege that a portion of PEPFAR’s $7 billion annual budget is directed towards abortion providers. The Biden administration, along with external experts and the program’s operators, refute these claims, emphasizing that U.S. law prohibits the use of foreign assistance for abortion.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), chairman of the House global health subcommittee overseeing PEPFAR, accused the Biden administration of “hijacking” the program to empower pro-abortion groups during his remarks on the House floor last week.
“We ask that PEPFAR remain true to its original mission and respect our norms, traditions, and values,” Smith declared.
Specifically, Smith referenced the Biden administration’s repeal of the Mexico City policy, which previously prohibited U.S. aid from going to organizations that use any funding from any source to perform abortion, provide abortion referrals, or share abortion-related information.
In an attempt to keep PEPFAR alive, Smith and House Republicans added a one-year reauthorization to the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill, which narrowly passed the House on Thursday night. The bill incorporates stringent anti-abortion language, but its chances of passing the Senate are slim.
Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the Senate’s new chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has expressed his desire for a five-year reauthorization and is confident that Senate Republicans will join him.
“I believe it’s crucial to send a signal to the international community that we remain committed,” stated Cardin during a briefing with reporters last week. “It won’t be any easier to pass a bill next year. So no, I want a five-year bill.”
“PEPFAR is one of America’s remarkable programs that has truly made a difference, and it presents us with the opportunity to eliminate HIV/AIDS. I anticipate maintaining bipartisan support for it. Ultimately, I am optimistic that we will achieve a five-year reauthorization,” Cardin concluded.
Contributed by Laura Kelly
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