Congressional Democrats agreed last week to spend $4.5 billion in 2007 to combat AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis , signaling support of the Bush Administration’s earlier efforts to strengthen international programs aimed thwarting the diseases. New York Representative Nita M. Lowey said the joint support is a sign of the times:
“We’re in a different world now…. This is the first time since Sept. 11 we’ve had a power split in Washington, and there’s a growing recognition among the public and policy makers that foreign assistance is critical to stability around the world.”
Under Bush’s leadership, aid has quietly risen to more than twice the level of any previous administration. The upward trend reflects Washington’s renewed commitment to stemming the spread of AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, which continue to claim the lives of millions of people around the world each year.
A Publication of the Stimson Center.
