Call With Reid on PEPFAR
July 15th, 2008 at 5:59 pm | posted by matt.higginsonI just finished a conference call regarding PEPFAR with Senator Harry Reid and a few fellow ONE volunteers. Senator Reid wanted to touch base with some of his NV constituents who have been following the progress of PEPFAR and actively pushing for passage this year, and share with us his gratitude for helping to move this important legislation forward.
Senator Reid mentioned that he had hoped to pass PEPFAR before the G8 summit and was disappointed that it didn’t, but was very pleased to announce that after the bill had been blocked for weeks by only a few senators, he was finally able to bring PEPFAR to Senate floor for a vote. Senator Reid said, “It is critical that we pass this important legislation. Diseases like AIDS, Malaria and TB are ravaging the developing world. In Africa alone AIDS kills 8,000 Africans every day, it takes no weekends off.”
ONE volunteers, Amber McIntosh, Adam Bellamy, Renee Meyocks, Karen Frost-Arnold, and Emily Miller were all eager for the opportunity to represent the 13,000 ONE members in Nevada, and we thanked Senator Reid for his leadership and commitment to pass PEPFAR.
Amber was able to ask Senator Reid how he envisioned the process will move forward, Senator Reid responded that he hopes the bill will pass tomorrow.
Karen was able to tell Senator Reid about her trip to Zambia, and how grateful she is to know that this legislation will commit resources to people just like those she met in Zambia who were suffering in their fight against AIDS every day.
We are almost there! If you haven’t already, call your senators and ask them to vote to pass this critical bill.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a day to celebrate.
-Matt Higginson, Nevada
July 15th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
There seems to be 2 amendments attached to this bill, one about immigration cards for the US and one I am not sure about Indian affairs. I would like more info about. Can these ear marks have anything to do with PEPFAR2008 not being passed?
July 15th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Every bill in Congress has this kind of thing done to it. It is a way of getting stuff done that would not otherwise get done. A wise friend once told me that if “I loved sausage and the Law you should never watch either one made.” I think we have to keep our eyes on the prize. Legislation is compromise. In a perfect world this would never happen. With 6500 people in Africa dying every day I think we can safely say we do NOT live in a perfect world. Call your Senators and let them know. I refuse to let mine off the hook.
For the children….
July 15th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Nice report, Matt but I have only these words left for EVERY Senator possible:
PASS PEPFAR NOW…
So that mothers in Africa and elsewhere can stop worrying whether or not they will be alive next year to take care of their children!
This is what PEPFAR comes down to - whether the U.S. Senate will be responsible for allowing millions of people to suffer and die in Africa after we had given them hope for their futures through PEPFAR.
Personally, I am exhausted with politicians this year from EVERY party & just wish this whole PEPFAR drama was successfully over.
I’m sure that I’m not the only person that feels this way.
Praying for PEPFAR’s re-authorization tomorrow.~
ONE HEART, ONE HOPE, ONE VOICE, ONE LOVE - debbie
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