The US House of Representatives on 1 May passed a $15 billion, 5-year bill that will more than double the nation's annual contributions toward stemming AIDS overseas. The money will subsidize AIDS programs in the Caribbean and 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, among the hardest hit by AIDS. The bill, introduced in response to President Bush's announcement in January, is expected to go to the Senate by the end of May.
The so-called 'Hyde' bill mandates that $3 billion be distributed each year between 2004 and 2008; it recommends that 55% of the aid go to treatment programs, 20% to AIDS prevention, 15% to palliative care and 10% to AIDS orphans. One provision, however, is that at least a third of the funds for prevention must be spent on promoting sexual abstinence. Beneficiaries will be expected to endorse the 'ABC' approach—where 'A' stands for abstinence, 'B' for being faithful and 'C' for condom use—currently implemented in Uganda.
Under the bill, subsidized religious groups can reject prevention strategies that are against their beliefs. Organizations that offer abortion counseling will also be eligible for US funds, but only if such services are financed by an alternate source.
