Pass bill to fight disease worldwide

Stalled in the Senate right now is a bill that would reauthorize PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), originally passed in 2003.

The reauthorization bill would greatly improve and expand the U.S. response to the pandemics of HIV, TB and malaria worldwide.

A similar bill passed the House four months ago by a wide margin (308-116).

The bill has broad bipartisan support, is publicly supported by the current administration and both John McCain and Barack Obama have signed on. Unfortunately, the passage of the bill is currently being stalled by Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who has put a hold on the legislation. This is potentially the largest global health bill in history and Sens. Durbin and Obama need to support the legislation publicly and call for its passage before the end of July.

Its timely passage is made more imperative by the G8 meetings this month.

The president could potentially go to the meeting with a $50 billion commitment from the U.S. to fight AIDS, TB and malaria worldwide, which he could use to leverage larger commitments from the other wealthy nations attending the annual summit. These health crises are growing and require the response of the world's wealthy nations.

For the U.S. to lead the way, as it did five years ago with the original PEPFAR, the Senate must pass the global AIDS, TB and malaria bill by the end of July.

Adam Kost

American Medical

Student Association

Physicians for Human Rights Student Chapters, UIC College of Medicine

Carol Stream