Russ Feingold: “the Feingold-Durbin-Kerry amendment would increase funding for the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria by $593…”

“the Feingold-Durbin-Kerry amendment would increase funding for the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria by $593 million, and it would offset that increase in funding by rescinding funds from the Navy V-22 Osprey aircraft procurement account. This is a chance for this body to move beyond rhetoric and take action in a fiscally responsible fashion to address the greatest health crisis of our time, a pandemic that has killed 22 million people and may infect 100 million by the year 2005. U.S. leadership in the fight against AIDS is desperately needed now. Obviously, there are problems with the Osprey program. Thirty Marines have died in Osprey crashes since 1991. This troubled program is currently suspended, pending the outcome of investigations and further research, testing, and evaluation. My amendment does not endanger the integrity of the Osprey production line. Let me repeat this. This amendment does not kill the Osprey program and does not affect the ongoing construction of planes that are being built with money from fiscal years 1999 and 2000. What we have here is a clear choice, to use funds that are currently allocated somewhat irrationally and to redirect them towards fighting AIDS, an unquestionably worthwhile purpose that reflects our values, serves our interests, and may well be the greatest challenge confronting the world today. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and oppose the motion to table.”