July 20, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C.—The House Appropriations Committee approved the State, Foreign Operations funding bill on Wednesday, with total spending of $47.4 billion. Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Friends) welcomes the Committee’s proposal of sustained funding for: the Global Fund at $1.35 billion; bilateral HIV programming, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), at $4.65 billion; the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) at $755 million; and USAID’s tuberculosis (TB) program at $241 million.
The House Committee’s proposed funding for the Global Fund is consistent with the commitment made at the September 2016 launch of the Global Fund’s 2017-2019 Replenishment cycle, where the U.S. pledged to contribute up to $4.3 billion through 2019, matching $1 for every $2 provided by other donors.
“We are very thankful to State-Foreign Operations Chairman Rogers, Ranking member Lowey and all members of the Appropriations Committee for their continued commitment to the lifesaving work of the Global Fund and bilateral programs to address HIV, TB and malaria,” said Friends’ President Chris Collins. “U.S. leadership is essential to continuing our progress toward ending these diseases, and to leveraging investment from other donors and implementing countries. Advances against these diseases depend on a range of programming and we hope proposed cuts to other vital areas of international assistance can be corrected in the Senate.”
Overall, global health programs funded through the State Department and USAID would receive $8.3 billion, a cut of 5 percent ($404 million) compared to FY 2017. Also of note, although the bill provides a total of $755 million for malaria activities, $250 million of this total is provided through a one-time transfer of unspent emergency Ebola funding.
U.S. leadership through the Global Fund and U.S. bilateral programs has supported incredible progress in the fight against the three deadliest infectious diseases. The Global Fund supports programs that have saved more than 20 million lives. The Global Fund works collaboratively with PEPFAR, PMI and USAID across the globe, coordinating strategic delivery of innovative programs.
“We are very pleased to see continued Congressional commitment to U.S. leadership in the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria,” said Jonathan Klein, Board Chair of Friends and Co-founder and Chairman of Getty Images. “With all the progress we have made, we cannot afford to backslide now.”
In addition to saving millions of lives, these global health programs contribute to U.S. health security, bolster global economies, and leverage increased domestic investments from implementing countries to their own health programs.
“We look forward to working with the Senate Appropriations Committee on maintaining crucial global health funding. U.S. investments to end these epidemics help people worldwide to thrive and grow, as well as support our own health and economic security here at home.” Collins said.
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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 its goal to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. For more information about Friends of the Global Fight, visit www.theglobalfight.org.
Media Contact:
Katie Broendel, [email protected]
202.912.3833