Kirk Watson: “I just returned from South Africa, and I did a single codel visiting the various clinics and hospices that are receiving…”

“I just returned from South Africa, and I did a single codel visiting the various clinics and hospices that are receiving PEPFAR funds. And I happily report that the small donations they do receive are stretched beyond imagination. They are finally realizing that the NGOs have really made great strides. About 4 years ago, when we went offering them assistance and so on, most of our help was rejected. But I want you to know that one clinic, which is a hospice, gets $70,000 a year. And what they do is reach out to the NGOs in the area. There are volunteers from America there. They run an excellent facility, and you can see gradual progress. I was told by our appointed ambassador that he was going to reduce the amount of donation by $50 million, and I cautioned him because that would be the wrong message to send for the small successes they have had and that what we can do is say to the government there that we will cap it at a certain amount and then you need to also kick in. So I want to report to our committee and to Mr. Payne, the Chair, that the funds are working. They're improving our image, and they're helping to save lives in South Africa. Thank you so much, Mr. Payne.”