"Republicans are squandering two decades of bipartisan success in the fight against AIDS and undermining one of our most effective tools of soft power in a shameful bid to appease extremists interest groups, and I cannot fathom why,” said Chair Cardin.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, marked the day after World AIDS Day by calling attention to the urgent need for Congress to reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has yet to secure a clean, multi-year renewal.
“PEPFAR is more than a program – it’s a pillar of hope. For decades, it has delivered lifesaving care to millions worldwide, trained healthcare workers, and brought us to the brink of ending HIV/AIDS. But with each day that Congress fails to authorize its five-year renewal, that hope dims, putting the lives of vulnerable children, mothers, and communities at even greater risk.
"Republicans are squandering two decades of bipartisan success in the fight against AIDS and undermining one of our most effective tools of soft power in a shameful bid to appease extremists interest groups, and I cannot fathom why. PEPFAR has always stood apart from politics, proving America’s strength lies in its common values. Walking away now undermines progress, destabilizes programs like Safe Birth Healthy Babies that prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, and weakens U.S. global health leadership, leaving partners doubting U.S. leadership and commitment to saving lives.
“The stakes couldn’t be clearer. In the wake of World AIDS Day, this moment calls for decisive action, not delay. Congress must pass a clean, five-year reauthorization of PEPFAR to fulfill America’s leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS and uphold its commitment to a future free from this devastating epidemic.”
###