WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat of the Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee, today introduced a measure in the House of Representatives supporting the funding level for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in the Senate Foreign Operations bill, which is $300 million higher than funds provided in House-passed legislation.

“The Senate’s increased AIDS funding level sends a clear message: Congress believes that we can and must do more to fulfill our commitment on AIDS,” said Lowey. “I urge the Republican conference leaders to stand up for what’s right and maintain this bipartisan agreement to increase AIDS funds in the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.”

Lowey introduced a motion to instruct conferees to maintain the higher Senate AIDS funding level in the final Foreign Operations Appropriations conference report. The Senate reached a bipartisan agreement to add $289 million to its version of the bill last week.

Last year, Congress passed legislation authorizing $15 billion over 5 years to fight the global AIDS crisis. President Bush and his Administration touted this bill and a $3 billion commitment for fiscal year 2004. Yet, the Administration’s budget request included only $2 billion for AIDS in the Foreign Operations and Labor-HHS-Education spending bills combined.

Lowey led efforts during the summer House Appropriations Committee mark-up of the Foreign Operations bill to increase AIDS funds to the full $3 billion promised for FY04. Just days before her amendment failed a full committee vote, the President touted the $3 billion commitment in Africa, even insinuating that Congress was to blame for the $1 billion shortfall. The Administration circulated a letter opposing the Lowey amendment during Committee consideration of the bill and even resorted to threatening to veto the bill if AIDS funding was increased during floor consideration in July.

Lowey’s motion, which will be considered by the House this week, would provide $1,726,000,000 for AIDS, the amount included in the Senate bill. With the funds provided in the Labor HHS bill, this would bring the total amount provided for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria in FY2004 to $2.4 billion.

“We have all talked the talk. Now, it’s time to walk the walk. Let’s move one step closer to keeping our commitment to the millions of AIDS victims who are counting on us to help end their nightmare and save future generations from this tragic illness. I urge my colleagues to support this effort to increase AIDS funding,” Lowey said.