Connie Morella: “I certainly want to salute and commend the gentleman from Iowa (Chairman Leach) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms.…”

“I certainly want to salute and commend the gentleman from Iowa (Chairman Leach) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for introducing this very important legislation, the World Bank AIDS Marshall Plan Trust Fund Act, and to the leadership for scheduling it for consideration today. This legislation would provide $500 million over 5 years for HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention, and research, beginning in Africa. Over the past several months, an incredible amount of attention has been directed to the devastating plight Africans are facing due to the AIDS crisis. More than 11 million Africans have died from AIDS. This represents more than 70 percent of AIDS deaths worldwide. The spread of AIDS in Africa has increased economic instability, is causing serious food and agricultural destabilization and will result in a severe drop in life expectancy rates. Thirteen million children have lost one or both of their parents to AIDS, and life expectancy is expected to plummet from 59 years to 45 years between 2005 and 2010. This bill directs the U.S. Government to seek the establishment of a new AIDS Prevention Trust Fund at the World Bank.”