Barbara Boxer: “What he has done is shown that this is a national security issue. We know when people are sick and desperate there can…”

“What he has done is shown that this is a national security issue. We know when people are sick and desperate there can be a void in a country and people can do desperate things. I associate myself with the remarks of the Senator. Madam President, we talk about many issues in the Senate. There are moments when we know there is a particularly important issue, sometimes more parochial to our State. I say tonight that I am very proud to stand with Senator Durbin and Senator Specter. This is a Durbin-Specter-Boxer amendment to provide $500 million for the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. I was very stunned when I heard what happened to this debate. For weeks, I was elated that Senators Helms and Frist were going to support a $500 million number. And then when I heard that Senators Durbin and Specter were going to say we have to do even more, I felt so good because I thought at the minimum we will get the $500 million that we so desperately need for these diseases. Then I find out the whole playing field has changed.”