The Medal of Freedom was awarded to the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.). His wife, Mrs. Annette Lantos, received the award on his behalf. By many standards, Rep. Lantos’ stature as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee was enough to make him a hero. This was a man who escaped a forced labor camp in World War II, emigrated to the United States and, after a career as a professor, earned his place as an esteemed member of the House of Representatives.

But Rep. Lantos didn’t stop there. Throughout his entire life, Mr. Lantos strove to extend the qualities of justice and equality throughout the world. He championed PEPFAR, working to make it a program that would be “sustainable for generations to come.” As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Lantos shaped and pushed legislation that has provided treatment for 1.4 million people. Even more, PEPFAR has provided care for AIDS orphans, prevented new treatments and made significant progress to treat and prevent new infections of malaria and tuberculosis.

President Bush also bestowed the award to invaluable PEPFAR contributor, Anthony S. Fauci. Dr. Fauci was appointed by President Bush to join a team that would transform the dream of PEPFAR into a living, breathing program. Dr. Fauci brought his expertise as head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD) to the drawing table, creating a plan for care and prevention of HIV in developing nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean.

Also honored with the Medal of Freedom: Dr. Benjamin S. Carson; retired Marine Gen. Peter Pace, formerly chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala; and lawyer Laurence H. Silberman.

Awards like the Medal of Freedom are an excellent opportunity to look back on progress made thus far when it comes to extreme poverty and preventable disease. However, we still have a long way to go and, right now, PEPFAR is endangered. Click here to sign the petition and ask the leaders of the U.S. Senate to push for a vote on this very important legislation.

-Chandler Smith

Archbishop Tutu said, “The U.S. has a wonderful opportunity to help make God’s world a compassionate place, so the vulnerable ones will know they’re not here to be taken advantage of but to be cared for. We belong together as a human family. I plead with the leaders in Congress for the sake of the world, for the sake of the future, expedite the passing of the legislation.”

Annette Tilleman-Dick said, “Freedom and prosperity come with responsibility. We have an opportunity to see this bill, which was my father’s final work, come to conclusion.”

You can listen to a recording of Desmund Tutu and Annette Tilleman-Dick speaking on today’s call on the ONE podcast.

-Taylor Royle

The legislation they passed yesterday, “The Lantos-Hyde US Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria Act” would transition PEPFAR from an emergency response to a sustainable response program, and provide for expanded training for 140,000 new health care professionals and community care workers. The bill also strongly focuses on prevention and includes comprehensive efforts that place a special emphasis on women and on the underlying factors which make them vulnerable to HIV infection, including a focus on violence against women.

In all, the U.S. would provide lifesaving treatment for at least three million AIDS patients; prevent 12 million new infections; provide care for five million AIDS orphans; and train and support 140,000 new health professionals. The bill also provides $4 billion for the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and $5 billion to fight malaria.

Although the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s action this week marks a critical momentum shift for PEPFAR’s reauthorization, the full House must continue to uphold this commitment to bipartisanship and pass the the bill (protecting all provisions) during a House floor vote.

-Virginia Simmons