---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 11:15:06 -0700
From: Washington State Africa Network <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: WASAN <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [WASAN] FW: Leaked Memo Shows President Betraying Promise to
    Africa]


-----Original Message-----

This is outrageous!

Sharon

From: David Bryden <[log in to unmask]>

GLOBAL AIDS ALLIANCE

Leaked Memo Shows President Betraying Promise to Africa;
White House Helps Derail Emergency Action on AIDS

Washington (July 16) -- Today, just as the House Appropriations
Committee was due to consider increasing global AIDS funding, the White
House sent a letter that urged Congress limit the funding.

While in Uganda, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice claimed that
Bush was urging lawmakers to allocate the full amount authorized ($3
billion), according to an AP report. The letter, however, urged Congress
fund only what the President had requested in February -- roughly $2
billion for AIDS, Tb and malaria programs as well as AIDS research,
including just $200 million for the cash-strapped Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tb and Malaria.

The Committee was to consider an increase in funding for the Global Fund
that had been approved last week by the Foreign Operations Subcommittee.
The Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), had approved a hike
in funding for the Global Fund, raising the US contribution to $400
million (a total of $500 including the contribution expected via the
Labor, Health and Human Services budget). But, the White House letter,
directed at Kolbe, attempted to discourage approval of this larger
contribution.

"This is a betrayal of the Africans who last week welcomed the President
to their communities," stated Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the
Global AIDS Alliance. "The President could simply have accepted the
increase for the Global Fund, approved by a Republican-led subcommittee.

Instead, he had to actively discourage increased spending. This is an
outrage, especially at a time when the Global Fund is facing a massive
shortfall in available funds for projects that can, in fact, responsibly
and effectively use them."

The letter, from Dr. Joseph F. O'Neill, Director of the Office of
National AIDS Policy, called the President's proposal "a solid first
step," even though the proposal meets just 14.8% of global need for AIDS
spending in 2004 and only 6.6 % of what the Global Fund needs next year.

The Committee did not follow the White House request regarding the
Global Fund contribution and instead passed the additional spending
approved by the Subcommittee.

Led by Congresswoman Barbara Lee and other members of the
Black Caucus, 116 Representatives had appealed to the President to back
emergency funding to fully fund the $3 billion level authorized. But, an
effort by Rep. Lowey to raise the overall amount for global AIDS
spending to the $3 billion level, via emergency funds, was defeated 28
to 33.

The Senate Appropriations Committee meets tomorrow to consider their
version of the foreign aid bill. The NAACP and other major organizations
have appealed to Senators to back the full $3 billion.

###

=====================================
David Bryden
Global AIDS Alliance, Communications Director
1225 Connecticut Ave., NW #401
Washington, DC 20036
202-296-0260 ext 211
[log in to unmask]


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Next WASAN meeting is Wednesday, June 25, 2003. Location: Safeco Jackson Street Center, E Main St, between 23 & 24th, Suite 200.
7:00 pm Business meeting.
7:30 pm Zimbabwean Film "Jit", followed by a discussion.
(Everyone is welcome).

We usually meet the fourth Wednesday of the month. For a calendar of local Africa events see http://www.ibike.org/africamatters/calendar.htm .  To post a message: [log in to unmask]  To subscribe send a message to [log in to unmask]  To unsubscribe send a message to [log in to unmask] . All past postings are archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wa-afr-network

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