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Global Fight Against HIV/AIDS

To see video of Congresswoman Lee speaking on this issue, please click here.


“AIDS is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time.  It is literally killing millions of people and crippling economies.  The impact of HIV/AIDS on African Americans in the United States is extremely alarming. While the number of new diagnoses for virtually every segment of the population is declining, it is rapidly increasing for African Americans.   Many developing nations are also being ravaged by HIV/AIDS.  According to the United Nations Joint Commission on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), over 33 million people are living with AIDS worldwide, and estimates indicate that 25 million have already died.  We have a moral responsibility to use every tool at our disposal to address this global pandemic"

                                                 - Congresswoman Barbara Lee

As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Task Force on Global HIV/AIDS, Congresswoman Barbara Lee is dedicated to creating and supporting legislation that:

  • Increases domestic spending for HIV/AIDS prevention, education, care, and treatment for all.
  • Addresses the growing rate of infection within minority communities by increasing funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative to at least $610 million.
  • Develops a national AIDS plan with clear goals and timelines to provide accountability.
  • Maintains a strong commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and provides the United States’ fair share of funding of $2 billion.
  • Authorizes $50 billion over 5 years to fight the global AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria pandemics.
  • Provides support to build and sustain indigenous health workforce capacity and strengthen health systems in developing countries.
  • Reduces the cost of life-extending and saving AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria drugs, as well as medicines for other infectious diseases, and allows for their generic production and importation in developing countries.
  • Reduces the rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
  • Ties increased debt relief and debt cancellation to increased spending on HIV/AIDS and the health sector.
  • Provides care and treatment for orphans and vulnerable children.
  • Addresses the immediate needs of women and girls to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection.
  • Supports HIV vaccine development and programs that would ensure global vaccine access.
  • Ends the U.S. travel and immigration ban for people living with HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS Initiatives Introduced, Negotiated or Co-authored by Congresswoman Lee in the 110th Congress:

  • H. Con. Res. 35: Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. (Passed by the House)
  • HR 5501 (Co-authored): The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 – Authorizes $48 billion over 5 years to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in developing countries. (Passed by the House in July of 2008)
  • H.R. 178: Justice for the Unprotected against Sexually Transmitted Infections among the Confined and Exposed, (JUSTICE) Act of 2007 – To provide condoms in federal prisons and developing a coordinated five year strategy to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections in federal and state correctional facilities.
  • H.R. 1653: Responsible Education About Life Act (Formerly the Family Life Education Act) - Seeks to reduce the rate of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents by providing comprehensive sex education and disease prevention education and information.
  • H.R. 1713: The Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth (PATHWAY) Act of 2007 – Repeals Abstinence-until-marriage funding earmarks and broadens scope of HIV prevention programs to address the underlying social, political, cultural, economic, and legal inequalities that make women more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
  • H.R. 3337: The HIV Nondiscrimination in Travel and Immigration Act of 2007 – Repeals existing language in the Immigration and Nationality Act banning individuals living with HIV from traveling or immigrating to the United States, and requires a review of all existing travel and immigration policies regarding the listing of HIV as “a communicable disease of public health significance”.
  • H.R. 175: Adding India to the list of countries designated to receive focused assistance by the President.
  • H. Con. Res. 8: Encouraging the United States Postal Service to Issue a Commemorative Stamp honoring the victims of HIV/AIDS and recognizing the struggle to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS in the United States and around the world.
  • H. Con. Res. 166: Supporting the goals and ideals of National Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
  • H. Con. Res. 169: Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National HIV Testing Day.