{"id":700,"date":"2023-10-25T13:06:58","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T13:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/health\/bushs-institute-issues-an-urgent-plea-for-congress-to-renew-his-aids-program\/"},"modified":"2023-10-25T13:06:58","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T13:06:58","slug":"bushs-institute-issues-an-urgent-plea-for-congress-to-renew-his-aids-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/health\/bushs-institute-issues-an-urgent-plea-for-congress-to-renew-his-aids-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Bush\u2019s Institute Issues an Urgent Plea for Congress to Renew His AIDS Program"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n

The institute founded by President George W. Bush issued an urgent call on Wednesday for Congress to renew the global AIDS program known as PEPFAR, a centerpiece of Mr. Bush\u2019s foreign policy legacy that has become a victim of abortion politics<\/a> on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n

PEPFAR \u2014 the President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief \u2014 has saved an estimated 25 million lives since Mr. Bush founded it 20 years ago. The $6.9 billion program, which must be reauthorized by Congress every five years, has long had bipartisan support and is often cited as a powerful example of America\u2019s moral leadership in the world.<\/p>\n

But it faces an uncertain future. The legislation authorizing the program lapsed on Sept. 30 after some House Republicans claimed, without evidence, that the Biden administration was using it to promote abortion overseas. Those Republicans want to attach abortion-related restrictions to PEPFAR that would doom its reauthorization in the Democratic-controlled Senate.<\/p>\n

The Bush Institute, which is nonpartisan, has thus far been reluctant to step into the debate.<\/p>\n

But in a bipartisan letter signed by more than 30 retired ambassadors, foreign policy luminaries and organizations \u2014 including the Carter Center, founded by former President Jimmy Carter \u2014 the institute pleaded with Congress to reauthorize the program. It argued that in addition to saving lives, PEPFAR was countering the rising influence of Russia and China and burnishing America\u2019s reputation as a global leader.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n