Federal

A resolution recognizing the critical role that PEPFAR has played in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

Source: Congress.gov · 635 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This resolution recognizes the importance of PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) in fighting HIV and AIDS worldwide. The Senate applauds PEPFAR's accomplishments and calls for continued funding to work toward ending HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Who It Affects

This resolution directly affects the Senate. It acknowledges the work of PEPFAR, private organizations like the ONE Campaign and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and people in more than 50 countries who receive HIV and AIDS services.

Key Provisions

• The Senate recognizes PEPFAR's critical role in the global fight against HIV and AIDS (Sec. 1(1)) • The Senate applauds PEPFAR's successes and accomplishments to date (Sec. 1(2)) • The Senate urges continued funding and support for PEPFAR to help achieve the goal of ending HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 (Sec. 1(3))

What Changes

This is a resolution expressing the Senate's position. Resolutions do not create new laws or requirements. They state what the Senate supports or recognizes.

Important Definitions

• PEPFAR: The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief • PrEP: Pre-exposure prophylaxis, medication to prevent HIV infection • DREAMS: Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe program

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 139 Recognizing the critical role that PEPFAR has played in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 30, 2023 Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. COONS, and Mr. VAN HOLLEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the critical role that PEPFAR has played in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Whereas the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘PEPFAR’’), launched 20 years ago by President George W. Bush and sup- ported by every President and Congress since, has proven to be one of the most successful health programs in mod- ern history; Whereas private organizations, including the ONE Campaign and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, like many others, have been indispensable partners in supporting PEPFAR and advancing its causes; Whereas PEPFAR has been a critical tool in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, providing vital resources and support VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:40 Mar 31, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR139.IS SR139 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 139 IS to countries most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and saving more than 25,000,000 lives; Whereas PEPFAR has supported HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs in more than 50 countries and currently provides life-saving antiretroviral treatment to 20,100,000 individuals; Whereas, since 2010, PEPFAR has achieved a 50 percent re- duction in new HIV cases in young women between 15 and 24 years of age and a 65 percent reduction in new HIV cases in young men between 15 and 24 years of age; Whereas PEPFAR has contributed to progress in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, with more than 5,500,000 babies born HIV-free to mothers who have HIV and who received antiretroviral medication through PEPFAR-supported programs; Whereas, as of September 30, 2022, 1,500,000 individuals are receiving antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (re- ferred to in this clause as ‘‘PrEP’’) to prevent HIV infec- tion, and access to PrEP programs must be expanded; Whereas PEPFAR has supported the expansion of HIV/ AIDS services for children, adolescents, and young peo- ple, including for the more than 1,500,000 children re- ceiving HIV treatment through PEPFAR-supported pro- grams; Whereas PEPFAR has dramatically reduced the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS; Whereas PEPFAR prioritizes reaching adolescent girls and young women, who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, through the Deter- mined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe program (commonly known as ‘‘DREAMS’’), which VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:40 Mar 31, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR139.IS SR139 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 139 IS has assisted more than 1,600,000 adolescent girls and young women with HIV prevention services; Whereas PEPFAR has been a key partner in the global COVID–19 response, supporting the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services and strengthening health systems to ensure continuity of care, including by delivering more than 60,000,000 doses of the COVID–19 vaccine in sub- Saharan Africa; and Whereas challenges in combating HIV/AIDS, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, remain and will not be overcome without continued PEPFAR support: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) recognizes the critical role that the Presi- 2 dent’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (referred to 3 in this resolution as ‘‘PEPFAR’’) has played in the 4 global fight against HIV/AIDS; 5 (2) applauds the successes and accomplish- 6 ments of PEPFAR to date; and 7 (3) urges continued funding and support for 8 PEPFAR to help achieve the goal of ending HIV/ 9 AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:40 Mar 31, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR139.IS SR139 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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