SUNUNU: GREATER SUCCESS IN GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS, MALARIA, TUBERCULOSIS POSSIBLE WITH U.S. AID - photo attached

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                CONTACT: BARBARA RILEY

7/30/08                                                                        202-224-2841

                                                                                    LIZ CHAMBERLAIN

                                                                                    603-430-9560

SUNUNU: GREATER SUCCESS IN GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS, MALARIA, AND TUBERCULOSIS POSSIBLE WITH U.S. AID

“Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008” signed into law

WASHINGTON, DC – The global battle against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis will achieve greater success with historic funding levels contained in the “Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008,” said United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH), who attended Wednesday afternoon’s White House ceremony where the bill he has long supported was signed into law.

“American leadership against this global pandemic over the past five years has provided more than 1.7 million people with antiretroviral drugs and prevented more than 55 million new HIV/AIDS infections and 25 million malaria deaths. It’s an accomplishment of which we can all be proud, but we can’t stop here,” said Sununu.  “This law provides the funds to allow the United States to continue fighting a humanitarian crisis that has bankrupted the health and civil and economic stability of so many African nations. By helping to stabilize strategic regions around the world, we bring them hope as well as strengthen our own national security.”

            According to Tom Hart, director of government relations at the ONE Campaign, “Senator Sununu deserves the gratitude of people across the world. Because of Senator Sununu’s leadership and the support of 10,000 ONE members in New Hampshire, millions of lives will be saved from HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases, By treating and preventing disease and saving lives, we can help to create more stable communities and a more secure future for Americans.”

Sununu is an original co-sponsor of the legislation that funds the fight against this global pandemic over the next five years. The bill passed the United States Senate on June 16 by a vote of 80 -16.

BACKGROUND: Sununu’s leadership on the issue began as a member of the House Budget Committee in 1999. In 2000, he helped craft a budget resolution that addressed humanitarian needs and development issue in sub-Saharan Africa. He has consistently supported legislative proposals to fight poverty and increase United States funding to combat the global HIV/AIDS pandemic by:

·                           Backing an historic $15 billion, five-year legislative proposal to provide resources for the prevention, care, and treatment of HIV/IDS in 2003;

·                           Joining 13 other Senators in cosponsoring a bill to extend trade benefits to eligible sub-Saharan African countries in 2003;

·                           Cosponsoring a bill with 19 other Senators to extend and modify trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act in 2004; and

·                           Working with Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) to sponsor a resolution reaffirming the “President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief” and to strengthen basic health care systems in Africa to further combat HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in 2007.