Jim Kolbe: “I count myself among the Fund's strongest supporters. Last year, I worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle…”

“I count myself among the Fund's strongest supporters. Last year, I worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to increase the U.S. contributions to the Fund from the President's request of $200 million to $550 million. Not including funds in the bill under discussion, the United States has made available nearly $1.2 billion of the Fund's $3.4 billion in pledges and contributions through 2004. However, this is a global disease, and we must have the commitment of many partners to fight it. That's why Congress requires that other donors match the U.S. funds, at a 2:1 ratio. Unfortunately, other countries have not contributed enough this year for the entire U.S. contribution to be released--we have nearly $190 million waiting for other donors to step up to the plate. I must note that it is more than unfortunate that some in the AIDS community continue to scold the United States for not giving more to the Global Fund. Their time would be better spent encouraging other donors to contribute and to improving the Fund's operations. Of the more than $3 billion that the Fund has approved in grants, only $428 million has even made it out of the Global Fund's account. That means nearly $2.6 billion in committed funding is simply sitting in the Global Fund's account.”