August 1, 2008

The new version of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a $48 billion five-year commitment that will help alleviate the suffering of some of the world's most vulnerable people, was passed by the House and Senate and signed by President Bush on July 30.

"The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) welcome the bipartisan consensus reflected in this bill that preserves PEPFAR's focus on its foundational goals of saving lives, caring for the infected and the affected, and preventing the spread of deadly disease," said Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando, chairman of the USCCB's Committee on International Justice and Peace.

Bill O'Keefe, senior director of Catholic Relief Services’ Advocacy Department, said this PEPFAR bill is a shining example of what can be achieved when the House and Senate put aside partisan differences to focus on tackling a critical problem.

"This bill represents years of work by people who often came to the table with differing agendas," O'Keefe said. "That they were able to reach across those differences and come up with this bill means that millions of lives will be saved and improved over the next five years."

*Content adapted from USCCB and CRS.