FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friends Applauds House and Senate Appropriations Committees for Robust
Funding for the Global Fund and International Assistance
Bills Demonstrate Continued Bipartisan Support for Global Health Investments
WASHINGTON, D.C.—June 21, 2018—This week the House and Senate Appropriations Committees reported out FY 2019 funding bills for the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS), both sustaining funding for critical global health programs, including $1.35 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).
“Friends commends the continued leadership of Senators Graham and Leahy, and Chairman Rogers and Rep. Lowey, for sustaining crucial funding for global health programs, including the Global Fund,” said Chris Collins, President of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Friends). “The appropriations bills wisely reject significant proposed cuts to the Global Fund and bilateral global health programs. U.S. commitment to these highly effective programs will enable continued progress against the deadliest infectious diseases of our time while advancing U.S. health security.”
The House bill includes $1.35 billion for the Global Fund, matching last year’s funding and consistent with the three year U.S. pledge to the Global Fund. It also allocates funding for critical bilateral programs that partner with the Global Fund, including $4.65 billion for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), $755 million for malaria and $302 million for tuberculosis, an increase of $41 million for TB over FY 2018. The Senate bill also includes $1.35 billion for the Global Fund, as well as $5.72 billion for PEPFAR – and overall a $50 million increase in global HIV/AIDS funding over the FY 2018 level – $275 million for tuberculosis programs and $755 million for malaria.
“By continuing to invest in life-saving programs like the Global Fund, the U.S. is demonstrating leadership by example,” said Jonathan Klein, Friends’ Board Chair. “This funding will encourage other donor governments, implementing governments and the private sector to maintain and expand the response to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria while spurring global economic growth and greater health security. The Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment Conference next year will be another prime opportunity for the United States to lead the fight to end the three epidemics for good.”
More information about the impact of proposed budget cuts to the Global Fund is available here. Read more about the Sixth Replenishment Conference for the Global Fund here.
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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 the goal to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. For more information about Friends of the Global Fight, visit www.theglobalfight.org.
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