WASHINGTON — Ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1st, The ONE Campaign, a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030 is honoring a group of bipartisan Members of Congress for their work combating the global AIDS epidemic. In 2018, 770,000 people died from AIDS-related causes.

“AIDS isn’t a disease of the past, it’s a crisis of now,” said Tom Hart, North America executive director of ONE. “In Congress, these lawmakers have been crucial leaders in the fight against the disease, working to foster bipartisan support for proven global health programs that will help end the scourge of AIDS in our lifetime. ONE, and the millions of people around the world who benefit from these life-saving initiatives, are fortunate to have these champions in Congress.”

The following leaders are being recognized for championing effective and efficient global AIDS programs like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria that have helped save millions of lives:

Senators Dan Sullivan (AK), Johnny Isakson (GA), James Risch (ID), Bob Menendez (NJ), Cory Booker (NJ), Lindsey Graham (SC), Patrick Leahy (VT), and Representatives Martha Roby (AL), Pete Aguilar (CA), Barbara Lee (CA), Hal Rogers (KY), Brenda Lawrence (MI), Ann Wagner (MO), Eliot Engel (NY), Nita Lowey (NY), Will Hurd (TX), Michael McCaul (TX), Kay Granger (TX).

ABOUT THE GLOBAL AIDS FIGHT

On October 10th, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, one of the most effective global health partnerships on the planet, held its 2019 replenishment in Lyon, France. The organization announced $14 billion in commitments from donors around the world to fight AIDS, TB and malaria.

Earlier this year at the State of the Union, President Trump pledged to “defeat AIDS in America and beyond.” However, just weeks later, he proposed a budget that slashed America’s global AIDS programs, including the Global Fund. Traditionally, the United States has contributed $1 to the Global Fund for every $2 contributed by other donors, and that steadfast commitment has incentivized billions of dollars in investments from others that would not have otherwise been made. This year, President Trump proposed a massive cut to the Global Fund in his FY20 budget that would weaken the U.S. commitment to $1 for every $3 contributed by other donors. This set up a showdown with Congress.

Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill that included $1.56 billion annually for the Global Fund. Then, in September, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a foreign assistance spending bill that did the same. In October, bipartisan lawmakers in Congress signaled a commitment of $1.56 billion to the Global Fund for three years, maintaining the United States’ historic one-third commitment. Together, with funding from other international donors and the private sector, the Global Fund will help save 16 million lives by 2023.

Learn more about the current state of the global AIDS fight here.

AIDS STATISTICS

• Globally, 770,000 people died from AIDS-related causes in 2018.

• Globally, 1.7 million contracted HIV in 2018.

• Globally, more than 23 million people are receiving antiretroviral treatment. This is 62% of people in need.

• Globally, roughly 850 young women [15-24] will contract HIV today. This is twice the number of young men the same age.

• Donor governments spent US$8 billion to combat HIV in low- and middle-income countries in 2018, similar to funding levels a decade ago.

• The world is investing 25% less than what’s needed to meet key 2020 targets.

The above stats are courtesy of UNAIDS here.

ABOUT ONE

ONE is a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, so that everyone, everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity. We are nonpartisan and pressure governments to do more to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, and empower citizens to hold their governments to account. Read more at www.one.org.