Last night Senate Majority Leader Reid issued a statement setting Tuesday, June 24, as the deadline to complete talks about PEPFAR and move the bill forward.
Some excepts from his statement:
“…Because Democrats and Republicans worked together and reached that common goal, we have had a positive impact on the lives of tens of millions of Africans. That is a tremendous start.
But the work still ahead is just as daunting as the work completed…
That is why we must renew the commitment that President Bush, Democrats and Republicans in Congress all made together in 2003. It is time to reauthorize the PEPFAR program. The House of Representatives passed the reauthorization bill by an overwhelming bipartisan vote. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee followed suit. President Bush and Senate Democrats strongly support this legislation.
As is the case with every compromise, the legislation is not perfect but it is a crucial next step. We stand ready to act because we know that AIDS is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem. No one owns this problem. It falls to all of us, Americans and all people of the world, to fight and beat it…
It is confounding and indefensible that a small group of Republican Senators have placed a hold on this legislation, preventing us from moving forward. They should have followed the lead of President Bush, Members of Congress from both parties, and a diverse group of world health organizations and nonprofits. They should have abandoned their obstruction long ago….
These negotiations are ongoing and we are all hopeful that we will soon have a compromise agreement. Given the importance of this legislation, I have set a deadline of next Tuesday for all parties to reach a final agreement. I want to be clear that I am committed to getting this legislation completed.”
You can read Senator Reid’s full statement after the jump. (more…)
The window to reauthorize PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) for five more years and $50 billion is closing. At this critical moment, a handful of senators are blocking all action on the bill.
We need champions to pass this bill and keep America on the path to saving millions of lives in the developing world. Luckily, we have you and two very important senators.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are the two most powerful members of the U.S. Senate, and we know they are strong supporters of American leadership against these global killers.
Please add your name to the petition and send a message that now is the time for Senators Reid and McConnell to stand up for the world’s most vulnerable people and get this lifesaving legislation to the floor of the U.S. Senate for a vote.
-David Lane
Aug 30th, 2007 10:02 AM UTC
By Field
This week I had the opportunity to attend the Elko County Democrats’ Roosevelt / Kennedy Dinner with special guest Senator Harry Reid. During the evening’s program, I was given a few minutes to introduce the ONE Campaign, the ONE Vote ’08 initiative, share some statistics on extreme global poverty, and to encourage all of those present to sign the declaration and get involved. The response was enthusiastic and committee leaders took declaration sign-up forms, ONE bands, and printed materials to share at their next meeting.
The next morning, I represented ONE at the Nevada AFL/CIO convention in Reno. In addition to meeting dozens of people interested in ONE at our table in the lobby, I was afforded a few minutes to address the entire group in attendance. I shared ONE’s message and encouraged the hundreds there to join the 17,000 Nevada ONE member’s already fighting to end extreme poverty on a global scale.
It’s exciting to be a part of the many events and gatherings at which ONE is making its voice heard throughout Nevada.
-Adam Bellamy
