Senate committee
approves global AIDS spending

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a fiscal 2007 foreign spending bill that includes $3.4 billion for global AIDS efforts. Included in that total is $600 million for the United Nations-backed Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, double the amount President Bush had recommended be allocated to the fund. The foreign operations bill also would include about $1.9 billion for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which aims in part to reduce poverty and improve economic conditions in developing nations, including those hit hard by AIDS. Committee members say the bill provides funding for most programs at levels similar to what was received in fiscal 2006. The House earlier this month approved spending $3.4 billion on global AIDS programs in fiscal 2007, including $445 million for the Global Fund. (The Advocate)