Dick Lugar: “I rise to comment on H.R. 1409, a companion bill to S. 350, the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in…”

“I rise to comment on H.R. 1409, a companion bill to S. 350, the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005, which I introduced earlier this year. Prior to its passage, I want to address a concern that the administration has raised about the bill. I want to clarify that this legislation is in no way intended to undercut the existing authority of the Global AIDS Coordinator over all U.S. Government resources and programs relating to international HIV/ AIDS. The Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator has made tremendous progress in bringing together U.S. Government resources in addressing orphans and vulnerable children as part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. In accordance with section 102 of Public Law 108- 25, the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003, the Global AIDS Coordinator has primary responsibility for programming and directing funds for all international HIV/AIDS activities carried out by the U.S. Government. This legislation is not intended to create new or separate authorities in programming or funding under the emergency plan regarding orphans and vulnerable children and HIV/AIDS programs, but rather provides for an advisory position to ensure that the best approaches to addressing the needs of this population are employed in our foreign HIV/AIDS programs.…”