Condoms Should Count

April 30, 2003

While the world has been focused on the war in Iraq, another battle has been waging quietly within the walls of Congress — the battle for the HIV/AIDS authorization bill. As the global AIDS bill is considered on the House floor, needless amendments offered by conservative members threaten to undermine the success of international HIV/AIDS prevention activities.

As Congress reconvenes, now is an opportune time to stress the importance of supporting comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment legislation.

House Prepares for Floor Action on Global AIDS Bill

The $15 billion HIV/AIDS initiative pledged by President Bush in his 2004 State of the Union address has taken halting steps closer to realization. Earlier this month, the House International Relations Committee completed mark-up of the global HIV/AIDS authorization bill, (H.R. 1298, United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003) which passed the committee by a vote of 37-8. In remarks delivered today from the White House, President Bush endorsed this version of the bill, and urged Congress to speedily do the same. (Transcript available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030429-5.html)

The full house is scheduled to debate the bill on Thursday.

Key provisions of the bill include a tripling of U.S. assistance for HIV/AIDS care, treatment, and prevention within five years, authorizing an additional $10 billion above existing U.S. efforts. It also contains an amendment offered by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), endorsing a multi-faceted strategy toward HIV/AIDS prevention — one that includes the full ABCs (Abstain, Be faithful, use a Condom).

The committee defeated on a vote of 21-23 an amendment offered by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA), which would have extended a "conscience clause" for faith-based organizations to allow them to receive funding for HIV/AIDS prevention activities, even if they refused to mention or provide referrals for factual information about condoms or other prevention approaches with which they may disagree. Rep. Pitts will likely introduce a similar amendment on the House floor, making the argument that the bill discriminates against faith-based organizations opposed to condom use. In fact, as it stands, the language of the bill already protects faith-based groups from discrimination.

Rep. Pitts is also expected to offer an amendment requiring a certain percentage of the AIDS funding to go exclusively toward abstinence-only activities. If adopted, such a measure will gravely limit the ability of prevention programs on the ground to offer comprehensive services that meet the actual needs of the communities they serve.

Commenting on these developments, Lisa Moreno, Senior Legislative Policy Analyst at Population Action International noted, "We know from the Uganda model that a multifaceted strategy such as the "ABCs" — Abstinence, Be Faithful, Use Condoms — can successfully prevent HIV/AIDS. When men in sub-Saharan Africa, however, only have access on average to fewer than five condoms per year, any lopsided focus on abstinence is irresponsible. Efforts to prioritize the 'A' or 'B' to the exclusion of the 'C' will only make condoms less accessible to those who need them most."

One bit of good news comes regarding the White House's threatened expansion of the Mexico City Policy (Global Gag Rule) to HIV/AIDS programs, which appears to have been withdrawn. According to a statement today by White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer, the White House is "not expanding the Mexico City policy to cover this (HIV/AIDS) initiative." If implemented, this unwelcome policy shift would make HIV/AIDS funding for any foreign nongovernmental organization contingent upon their declaration that they not provide, counsel, or refer women or advocate for legal abortion with non-U.S. funds. It may, however, be extended to reproductive health programs for refugee women.

Ms. Moreno added, "HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services should be available to everyone who wants and needs them. Congress and the Administration should remain committed to breaking down the barriers to accessing these life-saving — and life-preserving — services, not creating new ones."

The bill heads next to the House floor this Thursday, May 1st. Committee consideration of a Senate version of the bill has yet to be scheduled.

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.