Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives took a major step forward today in the effort to combat three of the deadliest diseases in the world’s poorest regions.

With overwhelming 308-116 vote for approval of an expanded President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) on Wednesday, the House has increased pressure on the Senate to move forward quickly on the legislation that would provide critical new resources to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

“Thunderous applause goes to the House for passing this bill quickly and confidently. This legislation will save millions of lives,” said ONE President and CEO, David Lane.  “Not only do we save millions of lives today, but we act as an active partner in helping communities and countries build better futures-that’s the face of America that the world needs to see more of.”

Through this legislation, the United States will enable 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. Through this legislation, the U.S. will also ramp up its commitment to prevent and treat tuberculosis and provide universal access to preventive measures for malaria, particularly in Africa’s hardest hit countries. Assistance will be distributed through bilateral channels as well as through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) have led the way on this one. The ONE Campaign thanks them for their compassion and foresight. Now, we are looking to the Senate to make sure that this bill is passed with equally historic and broad support,” Lane continued.

This legislation builds on the success of the PEPFAR initiative which began in 2003.  At that time, 100,000 people were on treatment for HIV/AIDS.  Now, more than 1.4 million individuals are receiving daily anti-retro viral treatments with PEPFAR support and are able to rejoin their communities as capable and contributing citizens.  With the new, expanded PEPFAR, the United States has committed to save more lives, prevent needless suffering and enable more children to grow up with parents.

The ONE Campaign is a global advocacy organization uniting millions of people to press government leaders to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease around the world. For more information, visit www.ONE.org