Frank Lautenberg: “I rise to offer my overwhelming support for Senator Durbin's amendment on AIDS funding, of which I am a co-sponsor. I…”

“I rise to offer my overwhelming support for Senator Durbin's amendment on AIDS funding, of which I am a co-sponsor. I urge my colleagues to vote on this matter based on principle rather than politics. This amendment does nothing more than fulfill President Bush's promises to the international community that he made this year in his State of the Union Address. In January, President Bush called on Congress to increase U.S. funding for global anti-AIDS work to $15 billion. In the spring, he signed a bill authorizing $15 billion over the next 5 years. And he spoke often of this comment during his recent trip to Africa, the continent hardest hit by the AIDS plague. But while the President signed a bill to authorize this important and critical cause, he failed to appropriate adequate funding for it. While signaling his intent to help deal with the global AIDS crisis, he did not back his intentions with actions. Senator Durbin's amendment holds the administration's feet to the fire. It will fully fund the $3 billion authorized to combat HIV/AIDS in Fiscal Year 2004. This should be an easy vote for my colleagues, who seemed to support the AIDS authorization bill in May.”