Bush's AIDS Program Faces Congressional Hurdles

By Daniel W. Reilly

(The Politico)  Despite a hero’s welcome in Africa, President Bush still faces several congressional hurdles before his popular AIDS relief program can be extended, with Democrats raising concerns about funding levels and money for abstinence-only programs.

Bush has made combating the disease abroad a signature issue of his presidency and announced the five-year President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief with great fanfare in 2003.

Now, he’s hoping to cement his legacy on the issue by reauthorizing the program for another five years.

The reauthorization, however, has been held up in Congress over concerns about spending levels and policies that critics say place too much emphasis on abstinence or on faith-based initiatives.

Bush has called for an increase in AIDS funding to $30 billion, congressional Democrats have drafted their own plan to provide up to $50 billion and would not require money be set aside for abstinence programs.

Throughout his five-day trip to Africa, Bush has been lavished with praise for PEPFAR, which has provided over $15 billion for treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
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