March 10, 2021
Friends Hails Congressional Passage of COVID-19 Supplemental With $3.5 Billion for the Global Fund
Washington, DC – Today the House passed the Senate version of the American Rescue Plan Act that includes $3.5 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and $250 million for PEPFAR as part of a broader investment of nearly $11 billion in the international response to COVID-19. The package now awaits the president’s signature.
“Today’s vote is an enormous step forward in saving lives, controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing global health equity,” said Chris Collins, president and CEO of Friends of the Global Fight. “These resources will support critical public health aspects of the global COVID-19 response, including providing treatments, recruiting and protecting health care workers, scaling up delivery of rapid diagnostic tests, and paving the way for vaccine delivery. They will also help protect hard fought progress against AIDS, TB and malaria.”
“I want to thank President Biden for his inclusion of global investments in his initial proposal for the American Rescue Plan,” Collins said. “I also want to thank Congressional leaders in both parties who supported resources for the Global Fund in the final bill. In particular, thank you Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Leahy, Chairwoman DeLauro, Chairman Meeks, Senator Menendez, Chairwoman Barbara Lee and Senator Coons for their support. And a huge thank you to all the advocates who worked tirelessly over many months to make this funding a reality.”
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the Global Fund has utilized its innovative, public-private structure — based on accountability and community needs — and a worldwide network of partners to provide $1 billion in assistance to low- and middle-income countries fighting COVID-19. This assistance has become increasingly urgent as COVID-19 continues to disrupt AIDS, TB and malaria programming and countries work to provide access to COVID-19 treatment and prevention tools and prepare for wide scale vaccine delivery.
“The United States has a crucial role in helping low- and middle-income countries respond to COVID-19 and protect other health programming, including for AIDS, TB and malaria,” said Dr. Jeffrey L. Sturchio, Friends’ Board Chair and Chairman of Rabin Martin, a global health strategy consulting firm. “We are heartened to see strong leadership from President Biden and Members of Congress on U.S. engagement with the international community on the pandemic response. Many lives will be saved through today’s bill.”
###
ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA:
Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria advocates for U.S. support of the Global Fund, and the goal to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. For more information about Friends of the Global Fight, visit www.theglobalfight.org.
For more about how reinvigorated U.S. global health leadership will contribute to a safer and more equitable world, read our new presidential transition document HERE.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL FUND:
The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. As an international organization, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries. In partnership with governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector, faith-based organizations and people affected by the diseases, we are challenging barriers and embracing innovation. Learn more at https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/overview.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rachel Irwin