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U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) today led a group of 75 Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House reiterating their strong support for fighting HIV/AIDS through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). 

In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy Ambassador Dr. John N. Nkengasong, the lawmakers backed PEPFAR reauthorization and made clear their commitment to combating mother-to-child HIV transmission. Additionally, they highlighted how robust investments in PEPFAR — which was initially established under former President George W. Bush — reduce political instability, increase economic development, and prevent violence in focus countries.

“We enthusiastically endorse PEPFAR’s reauthorization, which benefits from strong bipartisan support,” said Lawler, Spanberger, and their colleagues. “We also support the Administration’s commitment to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”

Their letter continued, “40 percent of the world’s population will be African by the end of the century, and our strategic competitors are investing comprehensively in the region. We know that the PEPFAR program remains one of our most potent soft power assets on this front.”

“Millions of lives have been saved as a result of the remarkable and visionary work of PEPFAR, however, critical gaps remain to achieve HIV/AIDS epidemic control and prevent the vicious cycle of mother-to-child transmission. We are heartened by this bipartisan support for mothers with HIV and their babies in Africa,” said Dr. Jon Fielder, Co-Founder, Chief Executive, & Board Vice-Chair and Mark Gerson, Co-Founder & Board Chair, Africa Mission HealthCare.“Because of the incredible leadership of all these members, led by Reps. Spanberger, Lawler, and Hoyle, along with Senator Cassidy and 19 bipartisan members of the Senate — PEPFAR can effectively design and implement clinical programs that will provide millions of mothers and babies a safe pregnancy and the delivery of a healthy baby.  We are always proud to be Americans — and this letter and what it represents articulates one of the most powerful reasons why.”

New York's 17th Congressional District is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester County.

Click here to read their letter, and the full text is below: