The 2007 budget proposed today by Congress commits $4.5 billion dollars to fight HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Africa and the world’s poorest countries and $248 million for the President’s Malaria Initiative. With the highest levels of funding ever committed by America to fight these three diseases, the continuing resolution includes $724 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and $2.9 billion for the 15 focus countries part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Americans part of the ONE Campaign sent over 200,000 letters encouraging Congress to protect $1 billion in funding and ensure America’s continued commitment to the fight against extreme poverty and global disease. Today’s announcement goes even further, committing to a $1.45 billion increase for 2007. With this funding, over 350,000 people will receive life-saving AIDS medicines, over one million anti-malaria bednets will be distributed and over 120,000 people will receive treatment for tuberculosis.

“This historic funding is the result of the hard work of many champions: Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Obey and Senators Reid and Byrd for working to find a compromise in the midst of tough decisions, and Senators Durbin, Leahy, Brownback and Sununu and Congresswomen Barbara Lee and Nita Lowey and Congressman Shays for working together across the aisle to help save millions of lives,” said Meighan Stone of the ONE Campaign. “There are few places in the U.S. budget where dollars translate so directly into lives saved. Due to their leadership, Congress had ensured America will continue to lead the world in bringing hope, security and opportunity to Africa and the world’s poorest countries, giving people the tools to fight back against extreme poverty and win.”