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June 07, 2007
A Democratic Congress Acts
A House subcommittee approved the spending bill that provides for PEPFAR, and took a few shots at the social-policy riders that go along with the legislation. The bill includes a provision that would allow the president to waive the requirement that a third of PEPFAR prevention funding be spent on abstinence programs. President Bush could ignore the opportunity, so this is largely symbolic. But another provision, which would repeal the Mexico City rule prohibiting funding to groups that perform or promote abortion, could draw a veto threat.
In The Hill, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., a leading voice on global AIDS policy, responds to President Bush's call last week to double PEPFAR funding. She notes that Bush leaves out the Global Fund from his plans.
Elsewhere in the Capitol, AIDS activists are criticizing Democrats for increasing funding for abstinence-only education. "The move appears to be a ploy by the Democratic majority designed to win enough Republican votes to make the spending bill veto-proof," writes Housing Works' Michael Kink.
Posted by Adam Graham-Silverman at June 7, 2007 03:43 PM