PEPFAR Passes 80-16
July 16th, 2008 at 7:28 pm | posted by Virginia SimmonsAfter weeks of ONE Campaign members relentlessly writing and calling their senators, and great work by so many partner organizations, we’ve successfully unstuck billions of dollars in AIDS, TB and malaria funding tonight!
We dodged several potentially devastating amendments over the last 2 days - pieces of legislation that would have put millions of lives at risk. We did lose one amendment-fight, however, so the total funding for PEPFAR for the next five years will now be $48 billion, instead of the original $50 billion.
After tonight’s successful Senate vote, the bill will go back to the House and then onto the president to sign. We are hopeful those processes will be swift.
Given how much we had to fight to reauthorize this bill this year- this is a great victory for us. Thank you to everyone who contacted their members of Congress to pass PEPFAR. Literally, millions of lives will be saved with this funding.
Below, a quote from our Legislative Director Tom Hart:
“Even as Americans face serious concerns at home, the Senate has proved America’s commitment to providing lifesaving medicines to the world’s most vulnerable people. PEPFAR is an investment in people around the world; but it is also an example of America’s generosity and a critical piece of American diplomacy. By treating and preventing disease and saving lives, we can help to create more stable communities and a more secure future for Americans.
Senators Biden, Lugar and Reid are true heroes for their persistence and patience in passing this bill. This legislation received strong support from co-sponsoring Senators on both sides of the aisle, including both Presidential candidates.”
After the jump find all the proposed amendments, their results, and those who voted for and against this bill.
-Virginia Simmons
……………………………………………………………….
Proposed Amendments to this bill:
1. An amendment to limit the number of countries receiving
assistance from the United States through global AIDS, introduced by
Senator DeMint ,Defeated by a “motion to table” 70-23
2. An amendment to reauthorize the 2003 AIDS, TB, Malaria Act as
is, introduced by Senator Bunning , Defeated by a vote of 16-80
3. An amendment to include cost-share agreements, introduced by
Senator Gregg, Accepted by voice vote
4. An amendment to reduce funding by $2 billion from $50 billion to devote to Indian health care, introduced by Senator Thune, Accepted by voice vote
5. An amendment to establish a sunset commission to review AIDS
programs, introduced by Senator Cornyn, Defeated by a vote of 32-63
6. An amendment on medical transmission of HIV, introduced by
Senator Sessions, Accepted by voice vote
7. An amendment to establish an Inspector General for the Global Fund, introduced by Senator David Vitter (R-LA), Accepted by voice vote
8. An amendment to establish an Inspector General for the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, introduced by Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), Defeated by a vote of 44-51
9. An amendment to reduce funding fro m $50 billion to $35 billion,
introduced by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Defeated by a vote of 32-63
10. An amendment that attempted to ensure that the final year of the
five year authorization did not exceed $10 billion, Defeated by a vote
of 28-67
Votes for and against this bill:
YEAs - 80
Akaka (D-HI)
Alexander (R-TN)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Brownback (R-KS)
Burr (R-NC)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Inouye (D-HI)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
NAYS - 16
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bunning (R-KY)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Sessions (R-AL)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)
July 16th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Great job everyone!!
July 16th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (can I add any more exclamations?)
July 16th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Great!
July 16th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
This is tremendous news. Everyone did a great job and we need to be greteful to the legislators who carried this to conclusion. It will light a fire under the rest of the G8 to keep their committment. What a moment !!!!!!
For the children…
July 16th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
The first thing that I did upon hearing the good news is to text message a friend in Africa whose life and the lives of those that they love & work with depended on the successful passage of PEPFAR.
It’s the middle of the night right now in Africa but they will wake up tomorrow morning with a REAL reason to smile!
To EveryONE - thank you for all your hard work. You didn’t have to care but you did & MILLIONS of people in Africa can continue to live.
And I can get off my soapbox - finally. (smile) Mission accomplished.
ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE - debbie
www.mpwn-uganda.org
July 16th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Even in a divisive election year…both Presidential Candidates made their support clear by being cosponsors of PEPFAR! Glad to see PEPFAR finally get outta the Senate with such a large margin! Go ONE!!!!!!
July 16th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Hooray!! That’s fantastic news! Great job.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Prayers are answered!!!!!!!!
This is a great step of many to come, please don’t stop your work!!!!!
July 17th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Great work everyone. Raise the joyful noise!
July 17th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Awesome!
July 17th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Absolutely thrilling news!!! Congratulations to all for your incredibly hard work.
Now if only the G8 would “get to the point” — 0.7%!
July 17th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
HOORAY!!!!! Congratulations to everyone who made this happen!
We have strength together as ONE.
Blessings,
Kathy
July 17th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Wow, it’s been a long hard slog to get here, but now we’re right at the goal line! Everyone invovled with ONE–and really all Americans–should be very proud about this historic commitment to do our part for those who need our help.
Now, let’s get this thing to the President’s desk and quick!
July 17th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Today is actually my b-day. Nice to hear some good news.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Amazing!!!
ONE love from Florida
July 17th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
This is wonderful! Thanks so much to those who put so much work into this!
God Bless
July 18th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
wow. one.org - you are making a difference in this world. please keep up the good work.
you are greatly appreciated.
July 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
America does nothing for americans,Not my point.Good luck.Nonamercains wiill have nothing .Either way Good Luck.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Am a 5th yr med student from Uganda. Am so encouraged,amazed and very grateful at what your country has done to help the helpless and dying people that I see everyday around me. You are doing so much,thank you.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Thanks nabukeera for your words. They mean a lot to me because the ideas and the viewpoints of the people who will ultimately benefit from all of the advocacy that we do AS ONE are of utmost importance.
We want to make sure that what we are doing and what we are advocating for is what the People we are advocating for REALLY want & need. Your comments point out that we are on the right track and I am grateful for them.
Please continue to share your ideas & viewpoints with us here in the ONE Blog. They will be very welcomed and listened to.
Much success in your medical studies, nabukeera.~
LIVING POSITIVELY, debbie
www.mpwn-uganda.org
July 21st, 2008 at 6:08 am
Residence of DC may not have representation in the Senate, but when we reach out to Senators in MD and VA for help they do come through. Thank you to all the Senators who said YES to PEPFAR.
I can not thank One.org enough for being such a powerful voice and giving me the opportunity for my voice to be heard. Until the next challenge - Peace
July 21st, 2008 at 7:09 am
I”ts very nice.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:14 am
I am encouraged that the bill had bilateral support and applaud the efforts of our lawmakers to get the bill through!
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 am
first n foremost i appreciate your effort “ONE”
My settled opinion now is to utilize the funds according to the justifiable demands and strategies which u have put forward.
I solute ya efforts which brought the fruits of victory.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Thank you Senator Nelson.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
great news..!!!!!!
July 27th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Yes it was great work done by all!!!
Has anyone who signed the petition and contacted congressmen received any emails from the UN regarding the disbursement of funds?
Please email me and let me know.
Thank you.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Thank you
July 30th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
This is truly amazing. Prayers were answered
Wow, we really did save millions of lives, Thank God.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Great job everybody! This is truly amazing.