Conyers Supports Legislation to Help Fight HIV/AIDS, End Genocide in Darfur

Washington, D.C. – Rep. John Conyers, Jr. today joined a majority in the House of Representatives to support legislation that will help fight HIV/AIDS in countries around the world and work to end the genocide in Darfur. The 2008 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill was approved with a bipartisan majority late last night.

“As a world leader, the United States has a responsibility to help fight HIV and AIDS,” said Conyers. “Investing in treatment, prevention and care for those with HIV and AIDS is essential if we are to solve this global health crisis.”

According to the United Nations, 2.9 million people died of AIDS in 2006. Worldwide, more than 39.5 million people are living with HIV. The State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill provides $5.1 billion for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs including $550 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

The legislation also provides $210.5 million for critical humanitarian and peacekeeping programs in Darfur – 90 percent more funding than the President requested. The genocide in Darfur has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced more than 2.5 million people since the crisis began in 2003.

“America has a moral responsibility to respond to the genocide in Darfur,” Conyers added. “This legislation includes a significant commitment of resources to help meet our responsibility and work toward ending this crisis.”

The legislation also includes funding to strengthen development assistance to help increase global stability and resources for America’s allies in the global war on terror, including over $1 billion to continue reconstruction and counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan.