September 18, 2019
Senate Appropriations Committee Posts 15.6% Funding Increase for the Global Fund and Affirms Three Year Commitment
“Since the Senate and House bills match, this should be considered the U.S. commitment to the Global Fund”
September 18 (Washington, DC) – Today the Senate Appropriations Committee posted the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs fiscal year 2020 funding bill, increasing funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) to $1.56 billion in fiscal year 2020, a 15.6 percent increase from the previous year. The bill is expected to be considered by the full Senate.
If this funding level is enacted, as is fully expected, this would be the first U.S. funding increase to the Global Fund in six years and the third largest increase in U.S. funding since the founding of the Global Fund in 2002.
The report accompanying the appropriations bill also specified that the Senate Committee anticipates maintaining this appropriation level in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, coinciding with the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment cycle:
“The Committee recommends $1,560,000,000 for a U.S. contribution to the Global Fund. In advance of the Global Fund Replenishment Conference in 2019, the Committee anticipates that the United States will pledge not less than this amount for each of the three fiscal years pertaining to the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment. The Committee does not support the administration’s proposal to amend the longstanding matching rates for U.S. contributions to the Global Fund and expects the United States to continue to match other donor contributions at a rate of $1 for every $2 received from other donors.”
A $1.56 billion annual appropriation would translate to a $4.68 billion U.S. contribution over the three-year Replenishment cycle, helping the Global Fund meet its goal of at least $14 billion.
“A huge thank you to Senator Graham, Senator Leahy and Senator Shelby, and the entire Senate Appropriations Committee, for your continued leadership in the effort to save lives and end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria,” said Chris Collins, President of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Friends). “Other donors around the world should consider this proposed 15.6 percent increased funding level, consistent with the House bill passed earlier in the year, the U.S. commitment to the Global Fund. Congress has firmly rejected the President’s proposed cuts and affirmed America’s support for the Global Fund and dedication to ending the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.”
Last October, Senator Graham and Senator Leahy organized a letter from a bipartisan group of 18 senators calling for an increased U.S. pledge to the Global Fund for the Sixth Replenishment. In May, the House Appropriations Committee passed its fiscal year 2020 funding bill for State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, increasing funding to the Global Fund to $1.56 billion as well. Other major donors around the world are also committing to similar or larger funding increases for the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment (see map).
“I applaud the Senate Appropriations Committee for taking this funding increase to the Senate floor. An increase in the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund will leverage significant funds from other donors around the world and get us back on track to end the world’s deadliest epidemics,” said Friends Board Chair Dr. Jeffrey L. Sturchio. “I hope that other countries watching the United States will agree that this is the year to increase funding for a smart, life-saving investment that has already saved more than 27 million lives around the world.”
Combined with a major increase in domestic resources, $14 billion in donor funds for the Global Fund will reduce the projected AIDS, TB and malaria deaths by nearly 50 percent, save an additional 16 million lives, avert 234 million infections or disease cases and spur $19 in economic returns and health gains for every $1 invested.
Next month, leaders from the United States and around the world will gather in Lyon, France to make their 2020-2022 funding commitments to the Global Fund for its Sixth Replenishment.
Note: On September 26, the Senate Committee on Appropriations passed the FY2020 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, further confirming $1.56 billion for the Global Fund.
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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.
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.
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