Barbara Lee: “I thank our ranking member, Mr. Meeks, for his tremendous leadership on so many fronts especially as it relates to…”

“I thank our ranking member, Mr. Meeks, for his tremendous leadership on so many fronts especially as it relates to global peace and security. I thank him for yielding me time. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1425. Now, we have all seen and felt how global health threats don't respect borders. Any serious global health response requires cooperation, not finger- pointing. This partisan bill doesn't provide any pathway to protecting Americans and the world from the next pandemic. The good news is that we have an alternative, a positive example of how to build a global health partnership. I am talking about the effort to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Mr. Chair, 20 years ago, AIDS was a death sentence for millions. Entire countries and communities were literally facing oblivion. I, along with the Congressional Black Caucus, worked with President George W. Bush and top Republicans like Senate Republican leader Bill Frist and House Foreign Affairs Chair Henry Hyde to create PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. I believe now probably only about 20 to 25 percent of Members who are presently serving were here when we passed this first major global health initiative. Today, PEPFAR is the most successful assistance program in history. PEPFAR investments have helped save 25 million lives. That is what we did. Seven million orphans and vulnerable children have received support, and 5\1/2\ million babies have been born HIV-free.…”