Republicans in the U.S. Senate said they would exempt Pepfar, a U.S.-backed HIV/AIDS program, from cuts, a bigger effort to reduce government spending.
The senators said they would terminate a plan to cut $400 million (£300 million) from the president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, while the proposed cuts totaled $9 billion.
The proposal was made in the Senate Amendment to the revocation of the plan, meaning a bill that allows lawmakers to cancel previous funds approved by Congress. The cancellation of the program also includes funds for international aid and public broadcasting.
If the PEPFAR amendment is approved, the bill will return to the House for another vote by Friday’s deadline.
Several senators from both sides expressed concern about the cuts in Pepfar, initiated under George W Bush and believed to have saved tens of millions of lives around the world, especially in Africa.
The Republican-controlled Senate can only afford a few defectors, assuming that all Democrats oppose it. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he was “very interested” in keeping Pepfar funds intact.
Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, told reporters after Tuesday’s White House lunch that she was “very happy” that the cuts were removed.
Before the amendment, Collins had opposed the bill. She didn’t say whether the changes were enough to ensure her support.
Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), told reporters that the White House is in the Senate amendment, which means that the White House will be willing to sign in the form of current President Donald Trump.
During his second term as president, Trump made efforts to reduce government spending. Most of the cuts in the revocation bill aim to withdraw funds previously designated as the major humanitarian aid agency of the U.S. government, which recently announced its official closure under Trump.
Trump’s actions have led to Rapid decline in HIV/AIDS clinics In South Africa and other countries, life-saving medical and nursing shortages have been exacerbated.
Professor Helen Rees of the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, who is HIV-preventable disease and sexual health, welcomed the people of the approximate number.
“This is good news,” she told the BBC.
“Obviously, this does not replace the overall content provided by Pepfar, but it shows that the importance of Senate members in the U.S. Senate is to reduce the importance of the Pepfar program.”
She added that the sudden withdrawal of the funds was “a huge threat to the lives of many people, especially in low-income countries, especially in Africa”.
Other cuts in the revocation bill are intended to fund public broadcasters NPR and PBS.
Other reports by Ed Habershon in Johannesburg
Health & Wellness Contributor
A wellness enthusiast and certified nutrition advisor, Meera covers everything from healthy living tips to medical breakthroughs. Her articles aim to inform and inspire readers to live better every day.
