SMITH TO OFFER AMENDMENT TO INCREASE
INTERNATIONAL AIDS FUNDING
Makes Additional $200 Million Available to Neediest Countries
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator Gordon Smith today joined Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) in crafting an amendment to the 2002 budget that will increase funding for international AIDS/HIV efforts by $200 million. The regions that will benefit from the funds include not only sub-Saharan Africa but countries in South and Near East Asia and the former Soviet Union that are currently being overwhelmed by the epidemic.
"These funds are a crucial part of our country's attempts to battle disease and alleviate widespread pain and suffering for some of the world's most impoverished regions" said Smith. "The international AIDS crisis is also impacts U.S. national security and economic interests. By increasing these funds, we not only help those suffering from HIV/AIDS, we also foster political stability and economic development."
In addition to providing additional funds for this year's budget, the amendment also increases AIDS/HIV funding by $500,000,000 in 2003 and for each year thereafter until funding levels total $1 billion dollars annually. Last year, Senator Smith authored similar legislation that provided funding for International HIV/AIDS efforts in Africa.
