Today at the Clinton
Global Initiative, Senators Obama and McCain spoke about why Americans,
even in the context of financial crisis, should back bold action to end
global disease and expand access to primary education.
Each explained how aid was essential to strengthening American security
and promised further action, though only Obama made clear funding
commitments and set specific deadlines for success linked to the
internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals.
"I am thrilled at the clear funding commitment from Senator Obama to
provide $2 billion to establish a Global Education Fund," said Dr. Paul
Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance Fund. "Access to
primary school clearly reduces the risk of HIV infection," he noted. "In
fact, one recent study in South Africa showed the risk was reduced by 7%
for each additional year of educational attainment. Girls who complete
primary education are more than twice as likely to use condoms. Providing
education is also crucial to meeting the needs of children orphaned by
HIV/AIDS."
"The fact that Obama has made clear funding commitments and set
specific deadlines for success means we as voters have a clear promise we
can hold him to. It's not just rhetoric. That is the kind of leadership we
need," stated Zeitz.
Senator Obama also endorsed the bipartisan Education for All Act, first
introduced by Hillary Clinton, to prioritize basic education funding and
strategies for the most disadvantaged children. This bill would authorize
$1 billion for FY 2008, scaling up to $3 billion by 2012.
In FY07, the U.S. provided $485 million for basic education, far short
of the U.S. fair share of the $7 to $10 billion annual financing gap of
what is needed to ensure that the 72 million children of primary school age
who are out of school receive at least a basic education.
Senator McCain made a powerful moral and strategic case for increasing
aid. He stated: "We can never guarantee our security through military means
alone. True security requires a far broader approach, using non-military
means to reduce threats before they gather strength. And this is especially
true of our strategic interest in fighting disease and extreme poverty
across the globe. Promoting development, creating opportunities, and
eliminating disease not only serve our national interests; they also accord
with our deepest American values."
McCain stated he would work for the eradication of malaria, a major
killer of children and pregnant women, though he did not specify a
deadline, unlike Obama, or commit specific funding.
Obama has gone further than McCain by making a clear commitment to
contributing to the Global Fund, a life-line for malaria programs, as a
part of his promise to double US annual investments in foreign assistance
to $50 billion by 2012. This would be a major increase while still
representing a tiny fraction of the federal budget.
Obama has pledged in writing to provide full funding over five years
for the $48 billion Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde Global Leadership Against
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (H.R.5501,
S.2731), which authorizes a full US contribution to the Global Fund.
SOURCE Global AIDS Alliance Fund
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