Almost  half of all 15 year-olds in the African countries worst affected by AIDS will eventually die; AIDS has wiped out households, destroyed families emotionally and economically, severely damaged  entire economies, and in some countries, has killed so many teachers that it is beginning to affect basic education.   This disease has created millions of  "AIDS orphans," who face increased risk of malnutrition and will have very little opportunity to attain an education.

Although Members of Congress agreed in 1998 that "AIDS had the potential for undermining all development efforts to date," many here in Washington have ignored the devastation in Africa because they don't believe that assisting Africa is in the best interests of the United States.   We do not live in a vacuum.  I believe it is of utmost importance for Africa, the United States and the rest of the world at large to take our heads out of the sand and confront this crisis.     

The United Nations estimated recently that the amount of money devoted to fight the disease in Africa needs to rise 10-fold, to $3 billion annually if nations hardest hit by the disease are going to begin to see progress in the fight.  After years of attempting to convince Congress and the Clinton Administration about the danger of AIDS in Africa, our cries are finally being heard, and two initial steps have been taken to address the problem.      

On July 19th, the Export-Import bank announced that it will provide $1 billion a year over a five year period to assist 24 countries in sub-Saharan Africa to purchase medication as well as equipment and services for AIDS patients.   In addition to this program, 5 major pharmaceutical companies have already promised to sell drugs to Afica at reduced rates.     

Moreover, after a late night battle on the House floor, the Congressional Black Caucus succeeded in adding an amendment to the foreign operations appropriations bill which will provide an additional $42 million to increase AIDS research funding for the Agency for International Development's Child Survival and Disease Programs Fund.    

AIDS in Africa is not merely a humanitarian concern, but a direct threat to our country, especially in today's interconnected world.   It is no coincidence that recent reports show that just as AIDS cases in Africa are on the rise, AIDS in the U.S. is on the increase again.   In fact, experts are predicting that 40,000 new infections will occur this year.   Certainly, anyone who disputes the fact that it is not in the interests of the United States to defend our country against transnational security threats such as disease, are simply blind to the dangers of today's world.