Yesterday the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a bill to reauthorize the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Now the bill will move to the House floor -- as soon as next week. In the meantime, check out these news clips with more information and various perspectives on the bill.

PEPFAR Wins Money, Compromises Principle
RH Reality Check - Washington, DC, USA
The moment to improve PEPFAR based on reality and public health passed before the House Foreign Affairs Committee was ever convened. Americans frustrated with political game playing over dedicated problem solving will see this as one more reason Washington must change...

House Foreign Affairs Committee Approves PEPFAR Reauthorization Bill
Kaiser network.org - Washington, DC, USA
President Bush had called on Congress to authorize a $30 billion, five-year extension of PEPFAR. The bill also would remove a requirement that at least ...

The House Committee of Foreign Affairs is poised to mark-up a bill that will reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and correct the critical flaws in the existing program, which hinder its effectiveness. The new bill will provide greater access to contraceptives for HIV-positive women who desire to space and plan their births, as well as increase effectiveness and flexibility in the fight against HIV/AIDS by striking PEPFAR's restriction that mandates at least one-third of U.S. HIV/AIDS prevention funding be limited to abstinence-only programs

President Bush's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2009, released today, would dramatically cut funding for international family planning and sexual and reproductive health programs. The proposed funding level of $327 million represents a $134 million (or 29%) cut from current levels.

This budget proposal continues a disturbing downward trend in funding for these vital health programs for women and families. Since 1995, U.S. funding for family planning programs has fallen nearly $100 million -- a 39 percent reduction when adjusted for inflation and the FY 2009 budget request would equal a nearly 60% reduction below the amount provided for these programs in FY 1995 (adjusted for inflation). These cuts have occurred despite a growing need and demand for reproductive health care in the developing world. For example, the number of women of reproductive age in the developing world alone has increased by approximately 275 million women since 1995.